Jeans: they’re tight, constricting, and if you happen to be outside of the “average” proportions, they never fit right! As a declared pants hater, I am always looking for alternative ways to cover my lower half. One style that I’ve found the most versatile (I’ve avoided wearing pants all month thanks to it!) is the shorts + tights combo -- all the fun of a mini skirt with none of the hassle!

For those weekdays when I feel like showing a little leg, shorts + tights is a great look. Skirts feel a little too dressy for me to wear to class, especially when the girl next to you is still in her pajamas. And let's not forget the main the argument for choosing shorts over skirts is that you don't have to pay attention to that annoying rule about keeping your legs crossed.

Courtesy: lauraonstyle.com

See how the shorts give her all the sex appeal of a mini skirt, but the vibe is more casual? I like styles like the one above with a wider leg: they make your legs look like they go on forever.

For a super polished look, pair them with flats and blazer.

Blair Waldorf rocks the school girl look.

To take the shorts/tights combo up a notch for a night wear, I wear them with thigh high boots or pumps.

Courtesy: ericaonstyle.com

Since there's less fabric than pants (and they’re cheaper!), it's easy to experiment with funky patterns and fabrics. I am a big fan of velvet and leather.

Lauren Conrad, Nicole Richie, and Alexa Chung show us how it's done.

The multitude of tights patterns out there (see American Apparel for some ideas) will expand your outfit possibilities exponentially. With all of these options, who needs pants?

It’s already February and winter will be be over before you know it. So if you haven't yet, I suggest investing in the greatest winter accessory (and probably my favorite accessory of all), namely, a scarf. I love scarves not only because they are practical (and they really are. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten sick just because my throat was exposed.), comfy, look great and are very pretty, but also because you can match them with almost any outfit. You can wear it with a sweatshirt as you hastily visit the corner store, a sweater or a jacket for a date or a meeting with friends, or maybe as an addition to some fancier outfits for a night out.

Cranberry Grung Jersey Snood, topshop.com, $32

Top L to R: Tabitha Black Unicorn Print Scarf, spoiledbrat.co.uk, $150; Polka-dot scarf, jcrew.com, $23; Lulu and Nat Cashmere Star Scarf, austique.co.uk, $200; Alexander McQueen Leopard Skull Print Scarf, harveynichols.com, $670; Bottom L to R: Alexander McQueen Skull Print Silk Scarf, net-a-porter.com, $295; Sailor Stripe Yellow Scarf, katespade.com, $148; By Malene Birger 'Serpina' Scarf, farfetch.com, $155; Foulard Colorful scarf, mango.com, $28

L to R: French Connection French Follies Faux Fur Grey Snood, vanmildert.com, $28 (sale); Teal Chunky Rib Snood, janenorman.co.uk, $16 (sale); Ochre Grunge Jersey Snood, topshop.com, $32; Red Polka Dot Snood, topshop.com, $32

You can choose from a variety of shapes and sizes to match your style, and you can find scarves in any number of colors, patterns, or materials. Opt for a larger one that you can coil around your neck a few times to keep you warm, or wear a small scarf, just because it’s cute. And while most agree that scarves look great, few know the proper way to wear them. Here are some helpful tips on how to wear a scarf:

Courtesy: thefashionrow.com

So fight the cold and protect yourself from those nasty winds with a fashionable scarf!

Courtesy: Lady of Mayhem

I've been trying my best to avoid writing a post like this for some time now, as I feel I'm going to harp on the obvious, but I just can't do it anymore so here goes: winter sucks. Of course, aspects of winter, such as the holidays and being at home and gorging yourself on good food, etc. etc. are– in a word– awesome, but the other aspects of winter, i.e. waking up for a grey sky and a shivering shuffle to class each morning, are no fun. At all. And, because I tend to be more superstitious than scientific when it comes to my weather predictions, I'm terrified that the bizarro warm December much of the US had this season means a bizarro cold March is looming in our future. Thus, I've taken it upon myself to will the return of spring (and, hopefully along with it, my sanity), by incorporating bright elements into all my outfits. Below are some of the things I've been sporting lately to fight frost with fashion:

1. Pastel and Neon Nail Colors

Essie in Turquoise and Caicos, target.com, $7.79
Courtesy: Temptalia

Color Club in Explosive, enailsupply.com, $4.95

2. Bright Jeans

J Brand Twill Skinny Jeans in Bright Green, revolveclothing.com, $176

3. Colorful, Oversized Bag

Linea Pelle "Dylan" Medium Tote in Zucca, lpcollection.com, (Past Season)

4. Vivid Print Scarves

Collection XIIX Oversized Print Scarf, nordstrom.com, $38 (sale)

Disclaimer: It was actually only after I loaded the pictures of all these items that I realized they are all basically yellow/orange or turquoise/green. I think this shows where my subconscious has been since returning to college -- in the sun and on the sea. If only it could take me with it.

Let's talk about flannel.  And I mean, let's ALL talk about flannel.

When I think flannel I automatically think of hipsters, punks, creepy guys who live alone in the woods and frequently star in horror flicks, lumberjacks, picnic blankets, and Jay Leno (I wish I could explain that mental connection, but I'm just going to chalk it up to a repressed childhood memory and call it a day).  Because of these immediate associations, I naturally assumed that if you couldn't fit neatly under one of these categories, wearing flannel was strictly off limits under punishment of weird looks and/or a job in the logging industry (considering even thinking about The Lorax makes me feel guilty, I wouldn't do too well here).

OH GOD THE JUDGEMENT
Courtesy: squidoo.com

Still, even though I fear change like dogs fear the V-E-T, I found myself increasingly drawn to the style as I got tired of my staple cardigans.  If we ignore all of flannel's mental associations, there's no arguing that it's a soft, warm, and pretty darn cute look (maybe not on the creepy guys who live alone in the woods, but let's not nitpick here).  So, after a few days of debate, tears, and identity crises, I finally bought a flannel jacket from urban outfitters.  And, after throwing it over a feminine dress, it turned out to be basically the best thing ever.

Sure the jacket's cute, but have you SEEN the model?! IN. CRED. IBLE
(Ignore any similarities between this person and the person writing this post, it's probably just a coincidence)
(I'm unbiased I swear)
Courtesy: butseriouslythemodellooksgreatguysright.com

Flannel works perfectly if you want to dress down an outfit, as well as if you need a little extra layer against the winter chill (granted, in Michigan's arctic tundra, anything short of whale blubber won't do you much good, but until whale blubber comes in cute plaid patterns, I'm sticking to my guns).  However, I did find it hard to track down the right kind of flannel.  I found that in PacSun and other similarly 13-year-old-infested stores, the jackets they sold were starchy, neon-y, and ultimately too stiff to really work for anything besides as makeshift traffic signs. (I'm currently drafting a petition to remove eye-bleedingly-bright-pink from the Crayola Crayon box- it sets a bad example for the children).  Ideally, the jacket you want should be a comfortable, movable, and generally earth toned item- it really works well to achieve a boheme kind of look.  Just check out how these ladies wear it!

Just looking at this outfit makes me feel cute.
BDG Flannel Boyfriend Shirt, urbanoutfitters.com, $39

This is leaning a little bit towards the hipster side of the street, but the flannel just gives the basic shorts and tee look some extra chutzpah.
Courtesy: collegefashion.net

Fun Fact: The people of Easter Island have this word "Tingo" which literally means "the act of taking objects one desires from the house of a friend by gradually borrowing all of them". Basically what I'm trying to say is we should be friends.
Courtesy: Urban Outfitters (sold out)

All in all, flannel is the perfect accompaniment if you're going for a cute, dressed down look -- whether you're lounging around the house, heading to class, or just having a pleasant chat with the creepy guys who live alone in the woods! And, one of the best things about flannel is that you can just about wear it to death, and it'll look good the entire time.  Worn out flannel just adds to the softness of the style, so you're really given a run for your money by taking a walk on the bohemian side of life.  So, regardless of whether you're a hipster, a punk, or Jay Leno (I'm sorry, I just have no idea why he keeps popping up) flannel is an accessible style for everyone.  And hey, even if it's not totally your thing, at least we can all appreciate lumberjacks.

Oh hello.
Courtesy: thebecomingyear.com

...and Jay Leno.

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m getting kind of sick of all my winter clothes. Can you blame me? This cold Connecticut weather has been gradually forcing me into a fashion rut of cable-knit sweaters, wool socks, and winter boots for about four months now. Now it seems like every time I open my closet the only things I want to put on are spring and summer clothes. But sadly, it’s still the middle of winter, and I have to face the fact that cropped pants, tank tops, and sandals just aren’t going to cut it in terms of warmth and sensibility. Luckily, I found a few ways I can incorporate spring into my wardrobe without freezing to death.

1. Colored skinnies: Yes, they’re back! These little numbers were probably my favorite trend of 2008, and I could hardly contain my excitement when I started seeing them in stores again. After all, nothing says spring better than bright colors, so why should we limit these hues to our tops and accessories? There’s no rule that says legs can only be covered in neutrals. And who says this is strictly a spring and summertime trend? The right pair of full-length colored skinnies can be just as warm as a pair of denim jeans, so they’re totally weather-appropriate if you have to endure arctic winter temperatures like me.

Low-Rise Colored Skinny Jeans, forever21.com, $29.90

2. Sunglasses: Suffering from a severe case of the winter blues? The quickest fix is to just throw on your shades! Wearing sunglasses always makes me feel like I’m about to hit the beach—even if it’s mid-January. Plus, don't forget that UV rays are just as damaging to your eyes in the winter as they are in the summer. So you'll not only be looking effortlessly cool and ready for spring, but you'll also be protecting your eyes. It's a win-win situation.

Trying to decide which pair to buy? Well, as you probably already know, choosing sunglasses really depends on face shape and personal style. The same pair could look awesome on one person but terrible on the next. Personally, I always prefer plastic frames—especially for the winter. I’m not really sure why, but they just seem more appropriate for this season. If you agree, and you’re looking for a trendy new style of sunglasses, I highly suggest trying the cat eye look. I’ve seen these shades on a ton of celebs lately, and I’m pretty sure Kourtney Kardashian never takes hers off. So give them a try! (They look particularly stunning if you have a heart-shaped face.)

Oversized Cat Eye Sunglasses, urbanoutfitters.com, $16

3. Crop tops and high waists: If there’s one thing I like to show off, it’s a bare midriff. You can only imagine how crazy I went when crop tops started trending last year. Fun, light, carefree—they’re pretty much the epitome of summer-chic. Hence, they also aren’t the most practical things to wear in thirty-degree weather. So how do I incorporate these tops into my winter wardrobe? It's pretty simple: I started pairing my favorite crop tops with high-waisted bottoms (perhaps jeans or a skirt with tights). This has actually become a huge vintage-inspired trend lately and can look really fashion-forward. Plus, you get the spring style of a crop top without exposing too much skin for winter!

Courtesy: Blooming Leopold