The Tailgate Outfits Every Fashionable College Girl Needs in Her Closet

Tailgate season has officially kicked off, which means it’s time to bring your A game in school spirit! Football tailgate season has become known not just for the football but for the unique and cute outfits that girls wear to these events. It has almost become a competition to see how creative and stylish you can get. Tailgate outfits may be specific to certain colleges, but it has become a nationwide trend. Whether it’s wearing an oversize football jersey or your own DIY college T-shirt, the possibilities for these styled outfits are endless. Multiple game days call for multiple outfits, so here are a few key elements that you’ll want in your closet to keep you game-day ready.

First Outfit

Basic pieces can go a long way and be mixed and matched with different shirts and bottoms. Pairing frayed jean shorts and a DIY college T-shirt crop top is a super easy and cute way to show your school spirit and personal flair. There are so many different ways a college T-shirt can be personalized and fitted to your style. Cutting shirts like these are super simple. For a crop top like this, all that needs to be done is to cut it to the desired length and roll the sleeves to show off your arms—this creates a more stylish look that is less boxy.

PHOTO: Sydney Zavadil

Tailgate Styling Tips

Pair this look with some white Converse and fun mid-calf socks that support your school colors. Don’t forget to add jewelry. Bracelets you have laying around that match your school colors will give your look a little extra oomph! Bring in trends from your everyday outfits as well; silver hoops and a simple black choker help tie the look together.

Second Outfit:

Another super simple and cute outfit to wear to tailgating events is your school’s jersey. The trend is to wear an oversize jersey so you have the option to wear it as a dress. Of course, you’ll want to throw on some shorts and a cute bralette underneath since it is short and slightly see through. Overall, the look is a cool spin on a classic game day outfit.

PHOTO: Sydney Zavadil

Tailgate Styling Tips

Add a double wrapped beaded necklace to match your school colors. If you can’t find a necklace like this that matches your school colors, it’s super easy to make with supplies from your local craft store. Depending on your school’s geographical location, your shoe choice may lean towards sneakers. But if you’re in the South, you could throw on some cowboy boots for a little Southern charm. To finish the look, throw your hair up into a high pony—it not only keeps your hair out of your face, but it also amps up the athletic look while keeping you looking sleek all night!

What’s your favorite tailgating outfit? Let me know in the comments below or share on social media. Don’t forget to tag @CFashionista in your post!

Collaging in College in 3 Easy Steps

I’ve always been terribly sentimental. That picture frame that I hate but was gifted to me from my grandmother? I can’t throw that away. Old birthday cards? I’ve been saving those for years. A skirt that I once loved but the zipper is broken? Better save that just in case! I’m one step away from being featured on Hoarders. However, I am also a neat freak who hates piles of cards and unwanted knickknacks lying around the house. These two parts of me seem to clash. However, after spending an embarrassing amount of time on Tumblr, I found my solution—collaging.

PHOTO: Jordyn Wissert

The golden rule of collaging is that once you incorporate those scraps into the collage, those scraps take on a purpose. Scraps lying in the back of the closet? Trash. But scraps in a collage? Now that’s treasure. I just moved into my very first big girl apartment, and there are five bedrooms and three living rooms (aka lots of wall space). This is every collage maker’s dream. Here are three easy steps to make a collage.

1—Gather materials

You will need glue, scissors, poster board, and scraps. For my collage, I collected scraps that included everything from magazine clippings, old birthday cards, and fabric from a skirt that has a broken zipper.

2—Glue it down

Before you glue the scraps down permanently on the poster board, play around with the arrangement of the scraps. When you finally find the perfect positioning, glue it down onto the poster board. (Added bonus: holding a glue gun will make you feel like such a boss).

3—Hang it up

Find a perfect spot in your apartment or dorm to display your collage! I’m going to hang mine up over my bed so that I can see it first thing when I wake up. I’m planning on buying more wall art to fill the rest of the blank walls in my apartment.

September is a prime time to collage to make your dorm or apartment look sharp! Share your results on social media and don’t forget to tag @CFashionista.

Additional photos by Lex Kelly and Valerie Cammack.

3 Guilt-Free Guilty Pleasure Snacks

The food police would cuff me in a millisecond for my terrible eating habits. Every January, I try to turn a new leaf and eat healthy, but I fail within days of making my resolution. My palate is so not refined that it could be considered coarse. I just really love greasy pizza and fake cheese, okay?

One thing vegetarians, carnivores, and everyone in between can agree on is that comfort foods are imperative for sanity. In each individual’s diet, there’s at least one food item that can pull us out of our darkest of days.

There are countless excuses to eat, and the easiest foods to grab seem to be the least healthy options. I chose three go-to snacks that typically give me post-consumption guilt, and I substituted a healthier option, the sweet potato, in for a major ingredient.

PHOTO: Lex Kelly

1—Fries. If you don’t like fries, I don’t trust you. Cut a sweet potato into long, thin rectangles, and evenly coat them in corn starch if you prefer extra crispiness. Spread them out on a baking tray. Drizzle olive oil over the entire spread, and add any preferred seasoning besides salt. Adding salt during this stage will minimize the crisp-factor of your final product. Bake the fries for 10-15 minutes on each side at 400 degrees. You’ll know they’re ready when the edges start to brown. Take them out and then add salt… or don’t if you’re healthier than I am.

2—Nachos. Another fan favorite. Chop the sweet potatoes into thin discs to mimic chips. Turn them around in olive oil on a baking sheet and bake them for 10 minutes at 425 degrees, then for another 10 minutes on the flip side. And now for the fun part: add tomatoes, cheese, beans, and basically anything else that brings your nachos to life. Go the extra mile and make some guacamole. Once you dress the chips with colorful accessories, bake the nachos for another two minutes to melt everything together.

3—Cinnamon sticks. What kind of junk food connoisseur would I be without dessert? Cut the sweet potatoes into long slices similar to the fries and coat them in corn starch. Bask them in olive or coconut oil, and add your desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Toss the fries around until each has a fair share of sugar. Once again, place the cinnamon sticks on a tray and bake for 10-15 minutes on each side at 400 degrees. While waiting for your masterpiece, gather marshmallows or fluff spread to make your dessert even sweeter.

Sweet potatoes have a lot of health benefits. There’s more fiber, vitamin A and C, and less carbs and calories; however, the best part about each dish is that you can eat a whole tray and not feel guilty.

Try choosing orange potatoes over white potatoes and see what magic you can cook up, and share with us on Instagram by tagging @CFashionista!

All photos by Lex Kelly.

How to DIY Your Own Embroidered Beach Hat

As a college student on a budget and a DIY queen, I always say, “Why buy when you can DIY?” In other words, why spend tons of money on something that is incredibly easy to make yourself, for half the price?

One of this summer’s must-haves is beach hats with bold statements or words embroidered on them. They’re all over social media, fashion blogs, online, and in stores. Of course, being a Style Guru, I just had to have one, but I thought that they were a little too expensive. I tried finding one on sale, but I had no luck. Finally, I decided to make one myself because not only would I save money but I could personalize my hat. I wouldn’t have to worry about it looking “cliche.”

Here’s a simple step-by-step tutorial on how to create your own embroidered beach hat:

Materials

1—A canvas or straw wide brim hat. I bought this one at Target, for just $12!

2—A pencil or Sharpie.

3—At least one foot of thread, twine, or yarn (you may need more or less depending on the size of your letters and the length of your word).

4—An embroidery needle.

Steps

1—Think of a word or phrase that you’d like to put on your hat. I came up with the phrase “Shell Yeah!” to express my enthusiasm for the beach. Begin by lightly writing the words with the pencil or Sharpie in big letters, on the far right side of the back of your hat. For a shorter word or phrase, start the beginning of the word closer to the center of the hat.

2—Using your needle and thread, hand-stitch each letter.

It’s that simple! Now, go to the beach and rock your hat on with confidence!

The beauty of DIY fashion is that you can give your project a sense of originality, personalize it, and make it your own.

If you create your own embroidered beach hat, I’d love to see it! Share it on social media by tagging @Cfashionista!

Bleach Tie-Dye—A DIY Twist on This Great Trend

Tie-dye, as we know it, has been around for decades—the colorful dyeing technique rooted in the hippie culture that thrived in the ’60s. However, similar dyeing techniques date all the way back to ancient times. My experience with tie-dye has been a long journey filled with rainbow-stained hands, crafting with friends, and super casual T-shirts. I’ve probably had at least one DIY or store bought tie-dye shirt in my wardrobe since elementary school—I’m no stranger to tie-dye.

But… this time I tried out a new (and improved?) method.

Directions

All you need are three things: bleach, a T-shirt, and some rubber bands. I got my plain black shirt from a thrift superstore, which is a great idea because it’s cheap and shopping at second-hand stores supports sustainability.

Just a little warning: I highly recommend doing this project outside and wearing clothes that you don’t really care about. This is especially true if you are messy like I am!

You take a shirt and simply pinch the part of the shirt where you want the center of the spiral to be. Then twist all of the fabric until the shirt is in a spiral and secure it with several rubber bands. Afterwards, grab the bleach and have fun with it!

Those last steps are where you can get creative—there are a bunch of other designs for tie-dye besides the traditional spiral, and the amount of bleach you pour on will obviously produce different designs as well.

This is the first bleach-dyed shirt that I have ever made. The design is closer to a splatter than it is to a perfect spiral, but hey the uniqueness is half the beauty of tie-dye! Next time I would add more bleach for a more prominent design.

This look is a little less hippie and a little more grunge, which I love. Plus, it’s one of those shirts that feels super soft and comfortable but has more style than just any old T-shirt. Not to mention that tie-dye has been trending lately in all types of products. So basically it’s like cheating but in a good way. You get to have a unique and cute top while feeling like you are wearing a shirt to sleep in. It’s truly the best of both worlds!

Would you/have you tried dyeing with bleach? Comment below or tag @Cfashionista to show us!

Distress Jeans to De-Stress From Life

One of my favorite timeless trends is distressed jeans. As a millennial, I am sure I am not the only one who has been mocked by the older generation when I wear them. They say, “Why do you pay for holes in your clothes?” I would always just roll my eyes at this, but then I started thinking… I do pay a lot of money for holes in my jeans. I should just do it myself!

I picked up a pair of Levi’s for only $5 from a thrift store in New York City. They were oversize and had no holes in them—so I had some fun with them. And let me tell you, it is fun—and relaxing!

I had seen a bunch of different ways to distress jeans, but I used a combination of techniques that I found worked the best for me. Here’s how I was able to achieve this classic grungy look.

Step 1—Get yourself a pair of slightly oversize jeans with few or no holes in them. Try your local thrift store, or even a Marshall’s or T.J.Maxx. These are the best places to find a cheap pair of good quality jeans.

Step 2—Cut slits in the jeans that are about one inch wide. Start out with just two, and then you can build your way up.

Step 3—Grab a pair of tweezers and start pulling out the blue strands of denim that run vertically so that only the white strands that run horizontally are left.

Step 4—Cut another slit above or below the first one. Make sure it’s parallel to the other one, but don’t end it in the same place so the rip doesn’t look like one big box. You can pull on the edges of the holes to make them less boxy and more rounded.

Your first pair may not be perfect, but hey, ripped jeans aren’t supposed to be perfect! You get the hang of it the more you do it. You might even find it extremely relaxing like I do. Last semester, during finals week, I started working on a pair of Bermuda shorts, and every time I needed a break during studying, I would make a new hole in them. I was distressing jeans to de-stress from school and ended up with an adorable pair of shorts that no one else has.

Did you try this distressed jeans DIY? Make sure to share your unique jeans with @CFashionista on social media.

5 Secrets to Becoming a Savvy Shopper

Affordable fashion is one of my absolute favorite topics to write about. Seriously guys, don’t you feel so good when you’re strutting down the street like it’s a runway in a $30 coat? I know I do. However, sometimes it can be difficult to find clothes you love for prices that also rock.

As the proud owner of an affordable fashion blog and also a super saver, I will tell you, it can be done. In this article, I am going to give you my top five savvy shopping secrets so you can look sleek and slay all day but not break the bank

1—Go to the sale section first. Trust me, it is very tempting to browse around the store and stare in wonder at the beautifully dressed mannequins… but don’t do it. We’re in college and have to save our money for that emergency midnight coffee sesh! So when I’m shopping I always go straight to the sale section. You would be surprised what you can find in there.

I bought these jeans at Topshop for $16 while trolling through the sale section. I did rip them a little extra for personal flare.

2—Make a list of things you need. Then, don’t diverge from your list! If you are looking for a new pair of sunglasses, go and do just that. Don’t get tempted by the sea of BOGOs you’re going to have to swim through. Always keep your end goal in mind so you can save for a shopping spree later!

I bought theses sunnies at Urban Outfitters for $17.

3—Sign up for store emails. Yes, I totally get that an email a day from every retailer under the sun gets super annoying. However, every once in a while, getting word of a super sale that is coming up is so worth the full email box. I save a lot of my pretty pennies checking for that email, it just takes time.

4—Shop around the holidays. Labor Day sales are real! I definitely carve out a way to shop during that prime holiday deals weekend. Yes, the store may be crowded, but I promise you, if you bring a snack and a water, you can sit through any checkout line!

5—Do some DIY. So I bought my favorite pair of black jeans on sale for $25 at Gap. I ripped holes in the knee myself because every other pre-ripped pair I found was too expensive. Sure, you should practice a bit to get confident with scissors but as long as you take your time, DIYing is easier than it looks. P.S. I am the clumsiest person I know so if I can cut rips in my jeans, you can too.

These are the Gap jeans I was talking about.

How do you save when shopping? Let us know in the comments below!

How to DIY Makeup Organizer on a Budget

Sometimes it’s hard to keep our makeup and vanities organized. Let’s be real, makeup organizers can get pricey. This DIY makeup holder is cheap, cute, and clutter-free – plus, you can customize it! I’m going to show you step-by-step how I made this for my tools.

Supplies

a shoe box
ribbon (around ⅝ an inch thick is probably best)
decorative paper
filler

Step 1—First you will need to take your shoe box (the top isn’t needed) and fill it with a filler. This will give your makeup something stand up on, and keep it from falling down into the box later on. Originally I bought a bag of small decorative pebbles to use for this, but the layer wasn’t thick enough to hold my makeup up so I had to improvise. To be honest, I stuffed the box with crumpled up tissues and I liked the result much better! If you prefer the decorative filler, just make sure you have a layer of it at least a few inches thick—depending on the depth of your box—so that your makeup doesn’t sink.

Step 2— Once your filler is in the box you’re going to make a grid across the top with ribbon. To do this I hot glued each piece of ribbon to one end of my box, folding it about ½ an inch over the side, stretched it across to the other side and hot glued it to the opposite side. Make sure to pull the ribbon tight (if you leave it loose it won’t hold your products up).

You will do this down the entire length and width of the opening of your box in order to make your grid. Be sure to space your ribbon out enough that your product can fit in between the spaces. I used a ColourPop liquid lip to measure my spacing out as I went along.

Step 3— After your grid is completed, it’s time to decorate! I covered the long sides of my box in floral scrapbooking paper and the small sides in plain paper to match. I hot glued the paper down and then labeled one side with “lipstick” and the other side with “brushes” since that’s what I planned to keep in mine. Covering it with the paper allows you to hide the fact that it’s a shoe box.

There’s no wrong way to decorate. Cover it all in plain paper or bedazzle it to the heavens—sticker it or doodle on it.

Step 4—Fill in that grid with all your makeup!

I like my things to be easy to see while I’m doing my makeup rather than being cluttered in a cup, jar, or bag. This project is easy and super affordable. For the most part, it can be made with things you have around your house. The items you may need to buy can be bought at your local craft store for really cheap (my total: $9).

If you try this out, post a picture and tag @Cfashionista so we can see your DIYs!

2 Dorm Decor DIYs for Under $20

Almost every college freshman gets excited to decorate their dorm, but when it comes time to buying dorm essentials, even the most basic items can add up. Here are two of my favorite and cheap dorm decor DIYs!

1—Brandy Melville-Inspired Wood Sign. This sign is probably one of the easiest (and cutest) DIYs I’ve ever made.

What you’ll need:

A piece of scrap wood
Ruler
Pencil
Acrylic paint
Paintbrush
Sandpaper
Wire
Scissors
Drill

Step 1—Using your ruler and pencil, draw the border of your sign about two centimeters from the edge of the wood.

Step 2—Draw or trace the word onto your wood. For precision, you can print out what you want to write and transfer the print onto the sign.

Step 3—Paint over your pencil marks with the acrylic paint. Black or navy blue tends to work best so that the pencil marks do not show through.

Step 4—Once the paint has completely dried, use the sandpaper to achieve a weathered look. There is no wrong way to do this, but I like to start on the border and sand down most of the edges first before going over the words.

Step 5—Cut a piece of wire about two feet long. Drill two holes in the upper corners of your sign and insert the wire for hanging.

2—Wire “Neon” Sign. Neon signs are the most Instagram-worthy decor trend today… but also the priciest. Many neon signs like the ones you see at Urban Outfitters have to be created using hand-blown glass, thus the high price. This DIY neon sign will give you the freedom to choose what word you want to display in light and best of all, it won’t break the bank.

What you’ll need:

Neon wire ($7.99+)
Malleable metal wire
Twist ties
Scissors

Step 1—Choose what word you want to create. If you aren’t sure what word to use, do a Google search for beautiful words, or browse your Tumblr and Pinterest for inspiration.

Step 2—Cut a long piece of your wire. It is best to cut the wire longer than you think you need and then trim it later. Once you cut your wire, shape the wire into the word that you chose. Make sure that the wire can keep its shape, which may require twisting the wire around other pieces of the same wire.

Step 3—Cut your twist ties into half-inch pieces. These will be used to attach your neon wire to the metal wire.

Step 4—Line up your neon wire with the metal wire starting, then attach the two wires together using the twist ties where necessary. Do this along the entire wire until you have spelled out your word. There should be excess wire left over to plug into an outlet. Plug in your neon light and marvel at your creation!

Which DIY was your favorite? Show us how your project turned out by tagging @Cfashionista on Instagram!

Mesh and Patches—A DIY Love Story

This years summertime DIY project began when I fell in love with a midi mesh dress from Forever 21. As soon as I laid eyes on this dress, I knew it was the perfect canvas to transform it into something special. After searching through my beloved fashion Pinterest board for inspiration, I stumbled across a photo I saved months ago of a Valentino trench coat. It was decked out in sparkly embroidered bumblebees, beetles, and butterflies. I was once again in love. Not fully convinced of its trendiness? Lots of other designers including Gucci and Dior have also played around with buggy fashion. And with that, my project was born. I bought my patches from Jo-Ann’s but if you’re looking for uniqueness I recommend Etsy. Here are the steps to create this nature-inspired dress.

1—Before you begin to sew, remove your patches from their wrappings. If the patches have an almost sticky backing to them, do not try to remove it! It’s there to keep the patch together. Next, play around and arrange your patches exactly where you want them to go. It’s your personal piece, design it exactly how you like it. Be creative! Take a picture when you’re done so you can always go back and look at your original layout.

2—Make sure you have a sharp sewing needle, pins, thread, and scissors. You’ll want to pick a thread color that matches the edges on your patches unless you’re your inner creative goddess desires a contrasting color for design reasons. Thread your needle (you can double up the thread to strengthen it, which is smart when working with mesh fabric) and tie a knot at the end of your string. You don’t want the length of your string to be too long because it can become a hot mess very quickly.

3—Secure your patch with pins so it doesn’t move when you’re sewing.

4—Start your stitch on the inside of your garment to hide the knot at the end of the thread. Push the needle through the fabric and the patch. Weave in and out around the edge, making sure to keep the stitches close together.

5—Once you’ve made it all the way around your patch and it is completely sewed on, a knot needs to be made so your stitching doesn’t unravel or become loose. On the backside of the garment, insert the sewing needle under the first stitch you made and pull until a loop forms. Stick your needle into the loop and pull gently. This will create a knot. Repeat this about four times.

6—If you’re feeling glitzy, try sewing on beads for the perfect finishing touch like I did!

Finish this outfit with a crop top and bodycon skirt, a tank with pants, or a simple nude slip underneath!

What DIY projects have you mastered this summer? Let us know in the comments below!