Style Guide: Leggings - A Girl's Best Friend

I hated leggings all throughout high school. Maybe I was stuck in the jeans-and-T-shirt rut or maybe the girls at my school just wore leggings badly (*cough* as pants). However, after one semester of college in Chicago, I'm totally loving leggings.

They are so versatile and go with absolutely anything. You can wear them to class, for dinner at your boyfriend's parents, to go shopping, for a jog in the cold weather, for a night out, anything. And they're incredibly comfortable too.

Their soft and stretchy texture is amazing for those days after you've indulged in a little too much Ben and Jerry's or for sitting through those mind-numbing final exams. When you're scrambling to recall the difference between meiosis and mitosis or struggling to find the integral of some complex equation, the last thing you need is the uncomfortable feeling of the top of your jeans digging into your skin.

What do you think of leggings? What about the "jeggings" that are all the fad lately?

Below are two ways you can wear leggings, the first for going to class, the second for going out with friends:

With this look, you can be just as comfortable as the girl sitting next to you in class sporting the giant hoodie and sweatpants, but you'll look so much cuter. Another great thing about leggings is that they can be worn with any type of shoes. Well, except maybe not flip flops. They look great tucked under a pair of boots (as above), with booties of pumps, or you can even wear them with flats.

Going out look

I just got a pair of liquid leggings like the ones above over the holidays and I absolutely love them. They're so unbelievably soft and really feel like liquid on your skin. Plus, they're so trendy and edgy at the same time. Pair them with some sky-high studded pumps, a sequined clutch, rockstar bangles, a simple tunic top and you're ready to rock the town.


What do you think of leggings? What about the new "jeggings" that are all the fad this season?

Style Guide: Boots Boots Boots!

Boots boots boots. From the hate-em-or-love-em Uggs to Miley Cyrus' cowboy boots in Party in the USA to the kelly green Hunters that gets me through those gloomy, rainy days, I love them all. In the harsh Chicago winters, boots are a must-have for me.

Lately I've developed an adoration for those mile-high over the knee boots, which I first coveted after seeing them on Louis Vuitton's fall 2009 show. To my joy, various designers and fashion companies have made affordable versions this fall. Here's some of my favorites:

I'm a huge fan of the gray Chinese Laundry suede boots on the top right. Suede is such a versatile material and is great when you want to appear effortlessly chic on your way to class. It can also be dressed up for a night out when paired with a minidress or a tunic top. The top also folds down and can be cuffed into a knee-high boot.

Below are three possible outfits: one for going to class on a cold winter day, the other two for a night out in town. The color and fabric of these boots work with almost anything. I stuck with mostly neutral tones although they'll also look great with a pop of color.

Going to class look

Going out looks

Over the knee boots are an excellent investment as they can be worn in the fall, winter, and spring. With so many varieties out there, there's something for everyone. Steve Madden and Chinese Laundry carry many great styles in under $100. One warning of advice though: be careful about buying a pair with high heels. While the Boutique 9 above is very classic, a pair with a leathery exterior and pointy heels can easily appear trashy-girl-does-Halloween.

Would you wear over the knee boots? Do you have a favorite pair?