Top 10 Fabulous Formal Dresses Under $40

It’s getting to the end of the semester, CL readers. So that means warmer weather, finals and for some, formal! If you’re anything like me, you want the best dress for an even better price. Yesterday I bought my formal dress hoping for a simple 10% off student discount, it ended up being on clearance. I almost cried from joy when the priced dropped to $7.79.

Randomly having your dress fall under ten dollars was a huge stroke of luck. But, if you’d still love to snag a dress that costs less than your tickets check out the fabulous choices (all under $40) below.

(Click on any store name for a direct link to the website)

Macys.com $29.99

Macys.com $22.99 (also available in silver and teal)

Charlotterusse.com $29.99

Charlotterusse.com $39.99

Lulus.com $33

Lulus.com $38

Forever21.com $32.80

Forever21.com $24.80

Papayaclothing.com $18.20

Papayaclothing.com $21.99

From super sweet to elegant and retro, there’s a perfect dress (at the perfect prices) waiting for you! Happy shopping, ladies.

Ariana Romero is a senior entertainment, fashion and sorority life writing intern for College Lifestyles. She is so excited for her formal this upcoming Friday! 

CL Exclusive: Meet aSociete Co-Founder Vanessa Gabriel

Everybody loves a good fashion deal. University of the Pacific student Vanessa Gabriel’s business revolves around them. The 19-year-old entrepreneur started a website call aSociete where college students can shop and not feel guilty.

“With everything rising, such as tuition, gas, living, textbooks, etc., at the end of the day students have less money to spend on themselves,” Gabriel said. “aSociete is by college students for college students and we just want to help our peers around the nation save money and look good.”

Gabriel’s ambition to find brand name clothing at a low price is what encouraged her to create the site. Take a peek into her life as she explains the in and outs of being an entrepreneur before even graduating college.

CL: How does aSociete work?

VG: Liz Zepeda and Jarrett Mattson who are my buyers for the men’s and women’s fashion merchandise departments  establish personal relationships with brands working together to create exclusive sales for aSociete. They travel several times throughout the year to meet with brand representatives personally and create unique relationships with each. They also attend several fashion trade shows to meet with brands and coordinate future aSociete sales such as famous Magic in Las Vegas, Agenda in Huntington Beach, and LA Fashion Market. A lot of these brands love that we cater exclusively to college students and want to expose their brand to our market. Every sale that’s curated is put together specially for aSociete.

CL: How would you describe your own personal style? How do you use aSociete to style your wardrobe?

VG: I’ve grown so much in my style since I started college! My style secret is my 15-year-old sister who is such a fashionista and I always look to her for advice. She is definitely ahead of her time and stays up to date on all the trends. I love aSociete because I’ve always been a conscious shopper ever since I was little; learning to bargain shop and make my money last so being able to have access to these amazing brands at great prices is like heaven for me.

CL: How successful have you been with the site?

VG: The success has been awesome! Since our launch in late October of last, we’ve seen how aSociete has grown organically viral. It’s been truly amazing to see through social media and the internet how students arespreading the word about aSociete. We’ve even been lucky to have so much support on some of our social media platforms such as over 11,000+ likes on our Facebook Fan page and over 4,000+ Twitter followers. It’s really fun to see how students truly love the site and what we’re doing. With over 4,000+ orders sent out around the nation from places such as the East Coast or even Midwest it’s awesome to see that students love what we’re doing.

CL: You may be a MTV reality show star soon?

VG: We’re one of the finalists in the running for a new MTV reality series about young entrepreneurs in America with special mentorshipfrom PR guru Kelly Cutrone. It’s been super exciting and we’ve been in communication with the producers so far while the show is still in development. This opportunity has been really exciting for us because we know the potential it has to reach college students around the nation and let them know about aSociete!

CL: How do you utilize social media to gain attention?

VG: With social media being the most populated websites by college students it is marketing that we really use to our advantage. With so many different platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Vimeo etc. we try and connect with students every which way possible. Through each we try to offer something different so each audience feels like they can relate and connect with us as people and not just as a company.

Our favorite social media currently is connecting with other students through our videos. Not only are they fun to make and our video editor is amazing (he went on tour with Justin Bieber and Sean Kingston!) but we feel like students can relate to us on a deeper level and see for themselves that we’re college students just like them.

CL: How do you balance school and work?

VG: After hours spent adding, dropping, and researching potential classes to take I was able to work out a two day a week school schedule which leaves me three days to work on aSociete and not to mention a four day weekend. School and aSociete are very important to me and I try and prioritize my time to each. With school I try and stay ahead on homework and reading so on my off days I can solely focus all my attention on aSociete. The days I do attend school I’ll stay late in the library to get ahead on future homework/assignments for the following week so I never fall behind.

CL: Advice for college students looking to start something similar or branching out into the fashion industry?

VG: My #1 tip of advice is that always remember that there is no age requirement for success. I believe there is still a stigma around being young and inexperienced that people automatically rule you out thinking you can’t be successful. With having no business experience but an idea I immersed myself in the fashion industry and the people embraced my passion, ambition and eagerness to learn as much as I could from them.  I was relentless and didn’t let anything stop me from making aSociete a reality.

 ”Never did I expect to be running a full-fledged business with some of my best friends and really making an impact among my generation,” Gabriel said. “Everyday is really a blessing and I hope our story can be of inspiration to other college students or young people to know that anything is possible.” 

aSociete is offering an exclusive offer to College Lifestyles readers! For 20% off your first order, use the discount code: CL20 during checkout! 

 

Jessica Fecteau is a senior fashion, etiquette and apartment/dorm life writer and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Jessica loves fashion magazines, listening to indie/folk music and traveling to big cities.

Dress For Success : Office Attire

Hi ladies, it’s almost summer time ! All of us are probably going out on numerous internship or summer job  interviews while some of us are preparing to head back to work. My favorite part of summer work is office attire. It gives us another reason to shop and to buy items we know we would never wear outside of the office but we think is office appropriate and fabulous.

 

My favorite item for office attire is pencil skirts. Cute and affordable, pencil skirts come in various design types and colors. There are so many different types of pencil skirts including numerous designs or you could opt for a solid black or navy blue. The high waisted pencil skirt lengthens the legs and gives you the perfect tiny waist.

Here are some options :

 

 

Shanae Hatchett is a sophomore English major with a minor in Public Relations at Hampton University. She is obsessed with fashion,shopping, magazines, celebrity drama, and reality tv all while wearing cute shoes with a caramel macchiato in hand.

 

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Guess What’s In This Interns’ Closet

I will always have room in my heart (and closet) for warm, natural hues. I hardly noticed the obsession I have with browns, clay colors, and greens until glancing at my wardrobe and realizing most of it is an assortment of earthy tones–nothing wrong with that! Without further ado, take a look at some items I can’t do without.

Being 5’9, it took a lot of convincing for me to buy these leather stunners, even after parading around the store going on and on about how much I wanted them. This was my first time purchasing 5-inch heels! I feel so confident with them on, which is what fashion is all about They look fabulous with any wash of jean and look particularly vibrant with my white, ripped jeans, which you will see in the picture below.

There comes a time when you can’t pass up on a certain item because you’ll never see it again. This cropped jacket was one of those items! I was shopping with a friend at Goodwill when we came across this piece. I especially love the buttons, which are made of some sort of wooden material. It has a very Native American feel to it and there’s no label on it of any sort, so I’ve always assumed it to be handmade. Who knows, maybe it was crafted in a colony (which would be awesome!).

The jeans were really inexpensive ($20), so I was skeptical about the fit, but desperate for a pair of white jeans. I tried them on (which I hardly do), and my mind was instantly changed–they looked perfect! These are my miracle jeans, as every time anything spills on them, the stains magically wash out (even after letting the stain sit for two weeks–I don’t like laundry!).

I always wear this sheer blouse with a black bandeau underneath. It has drawstrings along either side, but I usually connect them to the back and tie a bow.

These Steve Madden sandals have lasted me the past two years. There are chains and really shiny imposter diamonds along the denim fabric they’re made out of. They’re always an attention-getter! Check out an up-close view of them below:

I take a dance class every semester. This semester, I took ballet, requiring me to buy these Bloch slippers at a quaint dance store in Pennsylvania called The Dance Shop. I didn’t take a beginner level course because I enjoy a challenge. I’ve loved every minute of it!  The studio is the only place I get to wear my white, thigh-high American Apparel socks which are always a class favorite. They look very feminine with tights and a leotard for all of my tall dancers! You can roll them down, or keep them at full-length.

Summer is soon approaching, so let’s end this list with my favorite bathing suit! I’m looking to buy a bandeau or halter style top in black which will give a ton of contrast to the very vibrant bottoms. I hardly go to the beach or pool (hopefully that changes this season), but I always throw this on when I do!

Tiana Blue is a Senior Writer for College Lifestyles™. This fourth semester sophomore at Penn State is a print journalism major with a penchant for food, stilettos, and the city that never sleeps.

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Dress For Success: Classic Black Suit Looks

Hello ladies, its almost time for summer ! Many of us are heading out on numerous interviews for internships and jobs this summer and we here at College Lifestyles have got you covered to stay classy, professional, and fashionable while heading out into the work world. It always best to stay professional with classic black suit. There are a variety of options down below :

To add splash of your personality try maybe colored collared shirt. Its always best to keep the color choice an earth tone nude ( shown above), a classic pin strip blue and/or a crisp white. The classic black pants works for all types of styles – from girly to sporty. For the more girly girl there is the skinny tapered black pants or if you prefer a sporty style, stick with the basic cut black pants.

Now for the accessories and shoes. Nude and black pumps are the safest. If heels are not your style try a cute pair of oxfords or basic black ballet flats. Show personality with your black suit with a splash of color.  Remember ladies, light on the jewelry, maybe a pair of pearls and studs.

Here are some options below :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shanae Hatchett is a sophomore English major with a minor in Public Relations at Hampton University. She is obsessed with fashion,shopping, magazines, celebrity drama, and reality tv all while wearing cute shoes with a caramel macchiato in hand.

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Top Five Spring Must Haves

Summer weather has come early in Michigan leaving students scrounging for the latest spring trends. Although it feels like we have skipped over spring and jumped right into summer, these trends are versatile for both seasons. If you’re heading out to stock your wardrobe for the warmer conditions, be sure to buy something bright. This season is all about experimenting with colors and patterns and being unique with the transition to hotter temperatures.

 

1) Floral print

The classic pattern can now be seen on every type of clothing or accessory. These floral print shorts from Target don’t overkill the trend and add a girly touch to classic denim.

 

 

2) Bright colored bottoms

Take an outfit from boring to bright by dressing up in colorful bottoms. From skinny jeans  to short shorts, any bright summer colors makes this a fashion do.

 

3) Maxi skirts

I bought this skirt last week when the temperature sky-rocketed over night. I love the versatility of it making it comfy and classy for work and class.

 

4) Lace/crochet

Although this 70s inspired trend carried over from fall and winter,  it is still going to be a summer hit.  Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 are two hot spots that carry this spring trend in many colors and styles.

 

5) Canvas shoes

Lightweight and comfortable, these  canvas shoes are perfect for walking around campus all day. The bright colors that Forever 21 sell make them an eye-catching part of any outfit.

 

 

What are your must haves for this season?  Check out the College Lifestyles Pinterest Boards for more fashion ideas!

 

Jessica Fecteau is a senior fashion, etiquette and apartment/dorm life writer and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Jessica loves fashion magazines, listening to indie/folk music and traveling to big cities.

Looks for Spring Break – Beach

Ladies I know you’ve been wondering “What am I going to wear to the beach?” . Look no further I’ve got you covered, it’s simple lots of cover ups and shorts. I know you all want to show off your bikinis and summer time bodies you’ve worked so hard for so why not strut your stuff in a couple of cute see through cover ups. These cover ups show off your great body and help you stay classy at the same time. If its too late for you get cover ups try cute colorful shorts and tank tops. Tank tops also show your bathing suit if over sized and worn correctly. Here are some cute examples below.

Have fun in the sun ladies !

 

Shanae Hatchett is a sophomore English major with a minor in Public Relations at Hampton University. She is obsessed with fashion,shopping, magazines, celebrity drama, and reality tv all while wearing cute shoes with a caramel macchiato in hand.

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Looks for Spring Break – Plane Travel

Now for my ladies heading to Cancun, South Beach, Panama City, and more. Let’s start this vacation early. Head to the airport warm weather ready. Put on some cute printed shorts with a comfy tee. Don’t forget the accessories add sunglasses and fedoras. If your worried about it being cold on the plane just grab a sweater. Have fun in the sun

Shanae Hatchett is a sophomore English major with a minor in Public Relations at Hampton University. She is obsessed with fashion,shopping, magazines, celebrity drama, and reality tv all while wearing cute shoes with a caramel macchiato in hand.

Keep the Spring Break Feeling all Semester Long!

If you’re headed off for spring break this week, don’t be disappointed when you come back to finish the semester off! You can still enjoy the rest of the school year even while you’re hitting the books.

Put up photos. No, not on Facebook. Get prints of some of your best photos and put them into frames, especially beach pictures if you have to go back to a cold place.

Incorporate spring themes into your wardrobe. Check out Shanae’s Colorful Jeans article and Morgan’s NY Fashion Week Looks for Less.

 

 

Eat fruit. There’s no better way to keep a beachy feeling than biting into an orange or strawberry!

Exercise. Take some time to go to the gym or go for a walk – working out will leave you feeling less stressed.

Get a mani-pedi. Try the colors suggested by CL Intern Sasha.

Stay in touch with friends from home. Make plans to see each other over Easter break, and keep one another updated on your lives while you’re at school. This is also a great time to start planning a spring brunch.

Start planning your summer vacation. Check out a few locations and cruise lines. It will keep your vacation appetite at bay.

Buy a new book. There’s nothing better than reading at the beach, but a dorm room will have to suffice for now. Try some of these CL readers’ recommendations you may have missed last semester and the CL Book Club reading “The Violets of March.”

Take a nap. After a long week of vacation time, your sleep schedule is probably a little bit off, especially if you were in a different time some. So, get your Z’s!

But don’t slack off! Keep up with your work – SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE!

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INTERN CLOSET: Sundays at the Park

At a young age, I became addicted to fashion. While many seven year old girls were playing Game Boys and Barbies,  I would tear out everything from my closet, lay it on my bed and plan outfits for the school week. Looking back, there may have been a few too many rhinestones and hair bows, but it never stopped me from creating the perfect outfits for Monday through Friday.

Although now I only dream of having the time to plan anything in my life, let alone outfits, I haven’t lost my love for fashion.

From my favorite headbands down to my worn-out Converse shoes, I will give you a glimpse into some of my daily outfits. I can’t classify how I would describe my wardrobe in one category because it’s all across the board. Some hangers hold the girliest of dresses while my closet’s top shelf is covered with t-shirts and jeans. My outfit for the day usually just depends on how I am feeling and what I am doing that day.

For a recent Sunday afternoon at the park, this is what I went with:

Sweater: I found this gem at the Salvation Army. Fifty cents later I found myself wearing this guy everywhere. Although I’m sure it was made for a man, probably one named Bill Cosby, it is just too cozy to pass up.

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