The College Girl's Guide to Business Casual

Linen Pants
JCrew

Sweatpants, ripped jeans, hoodies. These are the staples of many college students' outfits as they rush to get to class on time or hang out in their dorm rooms all day. And when those days come up that call for "business casual attire" whether it be for a class presentation or an interview, cries of panic can be heard throughout campus. Here is a simple guide to the vague term of "business casual" that will help you look fashionable and presentable each time you are met with a business casual dilemma:

1. Find a great pair of black pants, make sure they are a little loose (but not bordering cargo)
2. Skirts- great for work, an interview, and even happy hour drinks. The key is finding the right length, make sure they reach just above the knee so as to make yourself not look stocky, or more importantly skanky
3. Dresses- my favorite of the three options. A few great dresses can make styling a million times easier, as you don;t have to mix or match.

Brown Linen Skirt
H&M.com

 -- make sure they are knee length
 -- no tube tops or halters or bra straps
 -- thick sleeveless is appropriate, but remember to bring a cardigan or cute blazer for those cold office cubicles!
4. Pencil Skirts- sexy and professional. They can't help but hire you.
5. Shirts- theres hundreds of different shirts that are appropriate. If you must wear a camisole, make sure you wear a pretty cardigan over it and tuck the shirt in your pants or skirts. Nothing see through. Button ups are great, but to create a more feminine look, a patterned or floral skirt really helps.
6. Great pair of heels. 1-2 inches is enough height to make your legs look longer, but short enough to make a long day bearable.
7. Pretty flats. So comfortable you could even walk to work in them.

Print Jersey Dress
Ann Taylor

Never, Evers:

1. Shorts.
2. Mini skirts
3. Any "too tight" clothing that you're dad wouldn't let you out of the house wearing.
4. Hide your undies, hide your bras.

Key stores:
H&M, Ann Taylor Loft, Banana Republic, JCrew

Remember, all of the clothes you buy for business attire should be of good quality so that they last for a long time. These are staples of your every day life, or will be, so invest now. Who knows, you might even begin to like them?

The Great Cape Debate

Cubus

So recently I've been thinking about superheroes, my semester abroad in London, and my love for vintage shopping. What do all three have in common? Beautiful capes. If your not familiar, capes are like half jackets, they have armholes but no sleeves, cover your body but don't constrict you. Most importantly, the perfect cape can give you a whole new wave of confidence as you walk down a crowded street looking effortlessly chic. The biggest deterrent most people have when deciding whether to buy a cape is the question, "But when would I actually wear this?" The answer: Every season. This spring, a cape is a great transition jacket from frosty winter days to the warmer months of April and May. For summer, a cape can be a great topper to a light summer dress, great for when there's a breeze by the beach at night but you still want to finish your sangria outside. As fall rolls around, the same cape can be worn over skinny jeans, with great boots and a long sleeve blouse. During the winter, use the cape as a great layering tool with trendy furry boots with thick socks peeking out, a knit sweater, long gloves, and a cute winter hat. One final tip. When shopping for the perfect cape, be selective. You don't want to end up in one of those tasseled ponchos circa 4th grade when you still had your batman lunchbox. Find simplicity and quality, and you will win the great cape debate. 

American Apparel

Alley Cat Vintage