Spotlight: The Yellow Button and Exclusive Coupon

Graduation season is upon us and while finals may be on your mind, finding the perfect dress or presents for the new grads in your life can be just as stressful. No fear, U of Style has the solution: it’s called The Yellow Button!  Located conveniently in downtown Harrisonburg at 191 South Main Street. The Yellow Button is a fashion boutique that offers “clothing that makes you feel great and look effortlessly stylish,” according to owner and buyer Miranda Lancaster.

Throughout the end of April and the whole month of May, The Yellow Button will be offering U of Style readers an exclusive coupon to shop the amazing selection of unique clothing and accessories. To receive this $5 off for every $50 you spend coupon, simply print the coupon and take it with you on your next trip to the Yellow Button.

With new inventory arriving daily, The Yellow Button is the right place to stock up on the perfect graduation ensemble and  new summer accessories that you will not find at home. The Yellow Button offers the best of two worlds with a small boutique atmosphere and many brands to choose from including:

• Free People
• Lucky Brand
• 7 for all Mankind
• Tulle
• Frye
• TOMS
• BCBGeneration

 Recently I bought these two dresses pictured above (left: Free People Flamingo Pink Shift Dress  right: Gentle Fawn Dress) and I am absolutely in love with them. I can’t wait to wear my cowboy boots with the Free People dress and the Gentle Fawn dress is perfect for a night out with my friends! So fashionistas head to The Yellow Button today and enjoy your exclusive coupon! Happy shopping!

Spotlight: A Dress Fit for a Princess

As the countdown to the Royal Wedding quickly approaches, all eyes are on Kate Middleton’s wedding day fashion. One of the most talked about topics and a question that is on every girl’s mind is the style of Kate’s wedding dress!  Recent speculation has cited Sophie Cranston of the Libélula label as the designer of the wedding gown. Even though I don’t know the identity of Kate’s dress, I do know that it will make fashion history and inspire future brides for years to come.

While we wait in anticipation till April 29th, here are some of my picks for a princess inspired wedding dress without the royal price tag!

The dresses (in order left to right) are White by Vera Wang, Oleg Cassini, and Galina Signature from David’s Bridal. Will you be watching Kate walk down the aisle? What are your royal wedding day predictions?

How to: Wear Cowboy Boots

Cowboy Boots 

Growing up as a northern girl, cowboy boots were never really a big fashion hit for girls in my high school. Usually the only time I saw someone wearing them was if they were going to a country music festival. So naturally coming to college further south I saw girls who could pull off the cowboy boots look effortlessly. As a freshman I immediately decided I needed to buy a pair and figure out how to wear them. Here are some tips that I live by for how to wear cowboy boots, enjoy!

• Decide on a color, style and shape: Leather boots are the most common type and they come in several color options. Cowboy boots with a pointed toe look the most authentic. If you’re not comfortable going full out cowboy then you should choose a pair with a rounded toe. The last option you must decide upon is the length of your boots. You can go for the traditional look of the calf-length boot or opt for cute ankle cowboy boots.

• Embellish your boots: Do not be afraid to embellish your boots by buying a pair with studs or rhinestones like the boots in the picture above. These small details on your boots will be the perfect touch to add style to a casual look!

• Consider your budget: If you only want to wear your cowboy boots once and a while, you can find many cheaper options at places like Payless, Bakers or Forever 21. However, if you plan to keep your boots for a long time you should splurge and invest in a nicer pair like Fyre. Over time they will mold to your feet and be the most comfortable pair of shoes for both day and evening fashion.

• Dress them up or down: You can pair your cowboy boots with a casual dress to dress your outfit up or pair an embellished pair with jeans and a top. Add a few accessories like the Stella & Dot necklace above (I bought this last weekend and it is the perfect summer necklace) and you’re ready to go!

What are some of your favorite things to wear your cowboy boots with? Happy shopping fashionistas!

SPOTTED on Campus: Spring Fashion with a Touch of Denim

Meaghan, a junior at James Madison University, was spotted on campus during a beautiful spring day. She pairs a navy, floral design dress with a cropped denim jacket. With her Longchamp bag and Ray Ban sunglasses in hand, Meaghan is ready to head to campus in style.

Meaghan’s look is perfect for springtime because she effectively uses layering. Adding a denim jacket to a dress or a skirt completes the outfit and is practical at the same time. If Meaghan gets warm, she can throw her jacket in her bag and still looks cute in her floral dress and embellished sandals.

Want to appear in our next SPOTTED segment? Dress extra fabulous this week and you may see your picture on UofStyle!

Bargain of the week: J.Crew Factory

If I were to pick one brand of clothing that represents the majority of my closet, hands down it would be J.Crew. I can always count on creating a fresh and put together outfit from my J.Crew wardrobe. But having a J.Crew addiction can come with an expensive price tag for college fashionistas.

That’s why this week’s bargain of the week is the J.Crew Factory! The company launched this online factory store, opened only during the weekends, to appeal to shoppers like college students. J.Crew designed clothing exclusively for its online factory store, which features lower prices, frequent sales and free shipping deals. What more could you ask for?!

So if you are J.Crew lover like me and love to find great deals, go to the online J.Crew Factory Store this weekend (open Friday 12 am till Sunday at midnight). Fill your shopping cart with the amazing bargains and tell us what you think!

Happy shopping!

What to Wear: Sweat in Style at the Gym

As many college students know, logging in hours at the gym is an essentially part of GTL. So why work out in the same old t-shirt and shorts? Instead sweat in style with the latest trendy gear! Below are some examples that will help you look great when you work out.

Sweat In Style by rpalumbo08

Detailed Capris- Instead of wearing long pants or shorts to the gym, try this cropped style. Look for detailed capris that have flattering waistbands and contrast stripes.

Mix it up with Cool Combos– Next time you’re looking into your closet for your workout clothes try pairing your top with a contrasting sports bra! Tanks are always great especially in the summertime when the temperatures rise.

Bright Sneakers-If you’re in the market for a new pair of sneakers go for these bold high-performance sneakers! It will add just the right kick to your workout routine.

Eye-Catching Jackets-Layer up with these zippered jackets that will surely catch everyone’s eye at the gym. Best part about layering at the gym is that as your workout progresses you can shed a layer!

Now the next time you head to the gym you can sweat in style! What are some of your go to workout styles for the gym?

What a Guy Wants: St. Patrick’s Day Inspired

In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day I asked my friend Tony, 21 year-old college student, what he would like to see girls wear out when celebrating this Irish holiday. He described playing up the festive aspect of Saint Patrick’s Day by incorporating green into your outfit. Here are some ideas of what Tony would like to see:

 

First invest in a cute green shirt that Tony would like to show a little skin, but nothing too revealing. He appreciates girls who get festive with a little shamrock temporary tattoo on their check or a green hair accessory like a bow.  According to Tony, “accessories can be a plus if utilized right”, which is very true!

Even though Saint Patrick’s day is a great day to theme your outfit, make sure you do not overload on the green! Keep it simple, keep it festive and enjoy your Saint Patrick’s Day!

Flying Fashionably

With spring break right around the corner, my mind is officially in travel mode. Packing for me is normally a challenge because I alway end up wanting to bring everything in my closet. Usually I get so caught up in planning outfits for my trip that I skip right over what I should wear on the plane. If this is the case for you too, fear not! I have created some useful tips for how to fly in style and still be comfortable.

 

Fly Fashionably by rpalumbo08 on Polyvore.com

• Layer, layer, layer! Start with a loose fitting tee and add a lightweight cardi. Airports can get chilly so bring a scarf with you to throw on in case you get cold.
• Skinny jeans or leggings are two great choices for traveling. I prefer leggings when I fly because they are more comfortable to wear on the plane.
• Since airport security makes you take your shoes off, invest in some comfortable ballet flats. They’re practical (easy to slip on and off) yet cute!
• Add the finishing touches with a few accessories, but keep it minimal. When you go through security you don’t want to be weighed down by several pieces of jewelry. Instead try some earring studs and my favorite a boyfriend watch, it’s a big enough accessory to also function as a bracelet!

Now that you know some of my how to tips for flying fashionably, what other travel style tips do you live by?

Ruche

After doing some online retail therapy, I’ve become obsessed with one site in particular that I must share with you! Ruche is their name and and modern boutique with a vintage touch is their style. I find myself checking their site every other day to see what new styles they add or bring back in their “back in stock” section. From tops to shoes to office and home they cover all the bases with a unique style.

I fell in love with this dress, vanity fair corset dress, and knew it must find its way into my closet! The sweetheart neckline of the black lace corset is very flattering and the removable black elastic belt with rhinestones gives the dress a little edge. My favorite part has to be the pink-champagne skirt of the dress because of the tulle…it reminds me of wearing a tutu!

So next time you’re looking for a online shopping site look no further! Ruche is reasonably priced and has great customer service…I recently asked a question about one of their items and I received a response within 24 hours!

Hope you fall in love with Ruche just as I have!

Target: Back and Better Than Ever

I’m always browsing for new spring dresses now that the weather is starting to warm up.So I was excited to find on The Huffington Post that Target has re-released their most popular designer collaboration dresses!

Here are two great looks from Zac Posen, one of 17 designer collaborations that Target is re-releasing as part of their 5th year anniversary celebration of its GO International program.

The collection of 34 dresses will sure to make any bargain shopper happy with the most expensive dress priced at $44.99. What do you think of Target’s re-release? You can check out other designs at Target’s website or visit the Target nearest you!