Winter is almost upon us! Some of you may be excited about the prospect of snowball fights, skiing, and having an excuse to cuddle more. If you’re like me, the second the leaves start to change color, you are ready to pull out the heavy coats and wool gloves. And, like the fashionistas out there, we are all excited for the new coats and jackets that we get to bring out! For all those cold-sufferers out there, here are a few tips to help you stay warm this winter:

1. Boots, scarves, and winter coats. In order to survive the winter, you will absolutely need to invest in the best winter gear you can afford. It is really easy to find really cute winter wear that will keep you warm. Just be on the look out!

2. Space heater. These little babies can really pack a punch when you are sitting at home, working in the office, or even when you are going through your morning routine in a cold bathroom.

3. Electric blanket. Nothing helps you sleep at night when it’s cold outside like cranking up your electric blanket or electric mattress pad. If you live in a particularly drafty bedroom, you might even consider getting both. Just don’t heat them up so much that you turn into a toasted human marshmallow by the time you wake up.

4. Regular exercise. Exercise is one thing that typically gets put by the wayside during the winter months. Not only can you not go outside to exercise, but daylight hours are shorter. Shorter days often means that you feel more tired and sleep more. Don’t let the winter blues get to you. Make a concerted effort to go to the gym at least three to four times a week. You can run on the treadmill, lift weights, or even do a dance class to help you get those muscles moving. You will appreciate it when the summer months come!

5. Learn to layer. It’s fortunate that the layered look is so “in” right now. One of the best, and cheapest, ways to stay warm in the colder months is to layer your clothing. Try these combos: tank top, long-sleeve shirt, t-shirt on top, complete with a scarf; t-shirt, sweatshirt, beanie; leggings, jeans, boots.

6. Hot chocolate and soup. Drinking or eating something liquid and warm really does help take the chill off. Make soup a regular staple in your diet. You could cook up a big pot over the weekend and eat it all week long. Not only is it healthy, but it will help you stay warm even on the coldest days.

7. Gloves. Gloves get their own category because hands are particularly susceptible to cold and thus deserve special treatment. If you find your fingers going numb after just a few minutes outside, you’re going to have to suck it up and invest in some real gloves. If you plan on spending significant time outside, you are going to have to invest in the bulky, thick gloves of skiers and construction workers. If you want something a little more classy for casual wear, you can try polyester, fleece or spandex gloves. Stay away from the cheap little knit gloves—they won’t do a thing in keeping your fingers warm when it’s zero degrees. You can match your gloves with your scarves for a cute look!

About the Author
Tiffani Azani is a freelance writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers is a great resource for those looking to earn a college degree and land one of the top careers in their field. Finding time to fit school into an already busy schedule can be difficult, which is why getting an online degree can be incredibly convenient for many looking to improve their style of living.

I go to college, and I see one thing as being the most common in a college student’s wardrobe: hoodies. They are a college student’s best friend. You can’t live without them. They are perfect when you need to throw something on when you are running out the door, or they are great when you want to lounge around in your apartment. I literally have a collection of hoodies—and I am always looking for more. My roomates and friends also love their hoodies. Here are 5 reasons why you should consider wearing a hoodie today.

1. They are comfortable
Hoodies are made to be extremely comfortable. Depending on the hoodie, they can be lined with soft fleece inside. They are perfect if you want clothes that aren’t too form fitting or uncomfortable.

2. They show school spirit
There are many hoodies that have your school’s logo on them. If you are going to any sporting event, hoodies are the way to go. They also serve a dual purpose because you will be comfortable while supporting your team.

3. They are warm
No matter where you have to go, a hoodie will keep you warm. The hood will keep your head warm and your hands can stay toasty in your hoodie pocket. If you are going out on a late-night hike, a hoodie can be a great idea to take along with you. You can tie it around your waist and when it gets cold, you can put it on.

4. You can dress them up
Hoodies look good with just about anything. If you are going out, you can pair a hoodie with some nice jeans. It will make you look like you aren’t trying too hard. Many designers also make really nice hoodies if you want to dress up your look even more.

5. It’s a great place to store things
As a college student, having a hoodie with pockets is a great place to store all of your things. You can put your cell phone in the pocket, your student ID, your keys, and you will have quick and easy access to them!

Hoodies are perfect when you are in college. You can wear them for just about anything. They are perfect for going on a hike or when you need to take a study break. They will keep you warm and you can put all of your things in the pockets.

About the Author
Neltje Maynez is a freelance writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps people determine if an online education is right for them and helps them understand which colleges are the best online colleges for them and their specific situation.

Are you excited to start college? It is a time in your life where you will get to learn about yourself. As, a college student, you will most likely have late nights. You might not get a lot of sleep. When you go to class you will want to be comfortable. You won’t want to be wearing something that is too tight or too loose. Because many campuses require a lot of walking, you won’t want to be wearing high heels and skinny jeans. You will want to wear something that is Here are 9 things that you should always have in your college wardrobe:

1) Flip flops
This is essential in every college student’s wardrobe. It does not matter what region you attend college―you will always want to have a pair of flip flops on hand. These are nice because they are so comfortable and you can dress them up or down. These are a perfect pair of shoes for college.

2) Jeans
Jeans are a great basic. They are comfortable enough for class, but they look like you put a little bit of effort into what you are wearing. Jeans are also easy to use for just about anything. You can use them for a service project or a night on the town.

3) T-shirts
Most college students wardrobe consists of t-shirts. T-shirts are great because they go with anything. Sometime, you can even win a t-shirts in drawings. Then you will never have to go shopping again.

4) Sports Jerseys
This is a great way to show your school pride. Especially on game day!

5) Hats/beanies
These are perfect when you are trying to cover up a bad day. Or if you woke up 5 minutes before class started and you didn’t have enough time to shower. These are perfect to cover up any bad hair you may want to hide.

6) Hoodies
Hoodies are great when it gets cold in the morning. They are easy to layer underneath, and if you wear your college logo on it―you are supporting your team!

7) Sunglasses
Sometimes it can get really sunny on campus. A lot of college students like to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. It may also be a good idea if you are trying to hide your red eyes because of a sleepless night.

8) Jewelry
Jewelry is a great accessory that you can have in college. You can use it to make a statement, or to add to your outfit. Remember to keep it simple.

9) Yoga Pants
These are perfect if you don’t want to wear swats, but don’t want to wear jeans. Yoga pants are very deceptive. They can look like you are wearing dressy pants. If you want to fool everyone, try some of these pants.

Having these basics in your wardrobe will make college life easier. You will be covered when it comes to having a bad hair day to wanting to be comfortable. Being comfortable is essential when it comes to college. However, you want to make sure that you aren’t too comfortable, you might end up falling asleep in class!

About the Author

Neltje Maynez is a freelance writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps people determine if an online education is right for them and helps them understand which colleges are the best online colleges for them and their specific situation.

Jeans are the staple of every women’s wardrobe. They are practical, durable, and versatile, but they can be fashionable as well. You can dress them up with a blazer for work or wear them with a hoodie for an impromptu tip out to the grocery store; you can add high heels and a silk blouse for evening or a turtleneck and sweater for going strolling around town. Whether you go to the mall or shop online, you can find jeans for every personal style and occasion.

Traditional Jeans

Dark blue jeans in a natural fit are a timeless classic. Wear them with a collared shirt, simple leather belt, leather shoes, and a classic blazer for a business casual look. Don this for everyday things like shopping to just taking a stroll outside this fall. Classic outfits project maturity and responsibility, and never go out of style.

Wide-Leg Trouser Jeans

Wide-leg jeans, especially those with dress-trouser style waistbands, are a fashion-forward business casual option. Try them in black, grey, or dark navy with a cashmere sweater set or silk blouse and scarf to add a touch of feminine charm.

Flared or Boot Cut Jeans

Boot cut, or the even more extreme flared jeans, are stylish and practical. They add a touch of retro glamor to your look as well as fitting comfortably over heavy winter boots. Pair them with a form-fitting stretchy shirt and let the extreme width of the pants leg show off your toned waist by contrast.

Skinny Jeans

Whether in this year’s bright colors or traditional blue, skinnies are a perennial fashion trend. Tuck them into big boots on cold days or pair them with high heels for a glamorous evening look. Wear them with a sleek knit top for an important date or with a cozy sweater for long hours outside in the cold this winter.

Boyfriend Jeans

Everyone has a favorite pair of baggy boyfriend jeans that just get softer and more comfortable every year. They never go out of fashion because you never want to stop wearing them. Try them with an ultra-feminine lacy camisole or cute colorful T-shirt and a big flannel shirt or jacket borrowed from your boyfriend’s closet for a lazy weekend afternoon watching football or hanging out with friends.

Fabrics

Denim comes is more styles and colors now than ever before. Pure white jeans are the fashion forward “winter white” choice for the style conscious. Bright, solid color jeans in stretchy fabrics are creative and fun choices for weekend and campus wear. The patched jeans of the 1960s are making a comeback, in do-it-yourself options for the thrifty and edgy high fashion versions for the stylish.

Avoid sand-blasted jeans. The news is filled with stories of workers in denim factories getting silicosis from the process, and ethical companies and socially-aware students are boycotting them. Stick with jeans certified as hand distressed or just keep wearing your favorite boyfriend jeans for a few years for a natural distressed effect.

A touch of lycra makes jeans stretchy and comfortable. For long walks between classes on cold winter days, try flannel- or fleece-lined jeans.

Images: Fashion Products

Nicole Rodgers has been blogging in the fashion, fitness, and health industries for three years. Nicole decided it would be a good idea to pick up some new jeans for the fall after she started eating well to lose weight. She wanted to find new jeans that were flattering and durable for the fall weather. As she was at the mall looking for the perfect jeans she also decided that she would pick up breaking dawn t-shirts for her niece.

You would think that finding the perfect jeans for your body shape simply requires looking for your size. Unfortunately, the fashion world makes it a bit more difficult for women these days because of all of the different sizing and fit systems available, which vary between stores. You may be a size 8 in one store and a size 4 in another, and even determining a reliable size range doesn’t guarantee your jeans will have the perfect fit. Although all women have different body shapes, the shapes are usually divided into four categories: banana, apple, pear, and hourglass. Consider the following to learn how to find the best jeans for your body shape in each of these four categories, so you can flaunt your frame, get the most out of your style, and have more successful shopping trips.

Banana Fit

Banana:
If you’re looking to add a little more curve to your shape, skinny jeans are a great style to really accentuate your natural curves and give them a more dramatic look. Skinny jeans come in a wide variety of styles ranging from extra tight to form fitting, so you can choose the look you feel most comfortable with. For extra brave bananas, you can even try out the new “jeggings” style, which is a mixture between jeans and leggings that puts your curves on full display and looks great with a long, flowy blouse.

Apple:
With an apple body shape, you want to look for jeans that are not too tight, but not too loose either. High-waisted jeans may seem like a strange solution for flattering an apple shape, but they actually do a pretty good job of flattening out your midsection to create a more curvaceous figure. To cover up the high waist, choose a feminine, but loose fitting shirt that ties at the waist and flows over the top of the jeans for a supremely stylish look. Apple shapes should also look into capri jeans to show off your shapely calves.

Pear:
Flare jeans do an excellent job of balancing out a pear-shaped frame because of the eye-pleasing effect of the wide cuffs. One of the best stores to visit for dressing a pear shape is Old Navy. Old Navy jeans always have the signature tiny waistband with plenty of room in the hip and thigh region for the perfect pear-shaped fit. Since you are trying to minimize the bottom half with a pear shape, you’ll want to avoid jeans with special designs on the pockets, since these designs tend to just draw attention. Try to avoid jeans with any kind of patterns or decorations in the upper half of the jeans and be sure to stay away from low rise jeans, since low rise doesn’t do a good job of accentuating your waist. Balance out the top half of your frame with a nice blazer for a complete look.

Hourglass:
With an hourglass frame, you don’t really need any special type of jeans and would usually do best in just your average straight cut pair of jeans. With an hourglass frame, the main goal is to accentuate, rather than elude, so try to pick the pair of jeans with a form fit. Although skinny jeans look great on a banana-shaped figure, they can also look pretty good on an hourglass form as well. However, shoppers should make sure to choose skinny jeans that aren’t too extreme and should probably stay away from jeggings.

Diane Johnson writes about a number of things including fashion, Rasmussen College, traveling, and much more.

From the original Levi jeans in 1873, jeans are now available in a dazzling array of choices. Different fits, cuts and denim washes mean that choosing a pair of traditional blue jeans can be quite a minefield, especially if you are buying jeans online.

Fits and Cuts

The fit or cut of a pair of jeans (many people use the terms interchangeably) refers to how the denim is tailored. Some styles, such as bell-bottoms come in and out of fashion but certain cuts, such as the traditional straight cut are eternal classics.

Straight Cut
This is the original cut of jeans. As its name suggests, the leg of the jeans does not taper in any way. It’s perfect for people with shorter legs as the cut accentuates the length of the lower leg. It is a timeless style which never goes out of fashion and so is available in almost every store.

Flares and bell bottoms
Also known as loon cut, this style of jeans was popularized in the 1960s and 70s. However, bell bottoms originated in the Royal Navy in the late nineteenth century. Bell bottoms become wider from the calf down – with the bottoms often being as wide as 18 inches. Flares widen from the knee downwards and so the bottom can be anything up to 26 inches wide. Although not in fashion today, an original pair of flares or bell bottom jeans can be found in many vintage stores.

Boot cut
Probably the most popular cut of jean today. Boot cuts are similar to flares, with the denim widening from the knee down. However the flare is much narrower than in jeans from the 60s and 70s. Men’s boot cut jeans tend to be baggier around the thighs than women’s jeans. Boot cut jeans suit any body type and are of course ideal for wearing with boots.

Skinny jeans
Extremely tight and skin hugging, only those with perfect legs look good in this style of jeans. Fortunately for the majority of us, skinny jeans seem to fall out of fashion quickly.

Low rise jeans
This fit of jeans sits slightly lower on the waist than a standard fit. Ultra low rise jeans are a more extreme version with the waist slung low on the hips. Less-athletic body types should avoid this style of jeans so as to avoid the dreaded ‘muffin top’ look.

Washes

Traditionally jeans were only available in blue using an indigo dye. As jeans became more popular as casual wear, wearers soon wanted to buy jeans with a fashionable ready worn look. Processes such as stonewashing (where the jeans are washed with heavy stones after being made) and even sandblasting were developed to give jeans a distressed look. It is even possible to buy jeans with holes and patches ready applied.

Pre-shrunk jeans are now the norm but it is still possible to buy jeans which require the wearer to immerse themselves in a bath whilst wearing their jeans to obtain a snug shrink to fit style.

Amanda Revie writes regularly for various fashion blogs and her favorite Jeans are Jack Jones

If you are interested in finding the right jeans for you, perhaps you should take a little bit of time to learn some more about jeans. Most people do not realize that finding the right size and fit of jeans can be very complicated! There are several factors concerning this that all women should learn.

One of the most important things to realize is that there are different sizing systems for jeans depending on the brand. In the United States, most women’s jeans are assigned a number from 00-24, or sometimes larger. If the sizing is done in all even numbers up to 16, the jeans are from the misses department and fit according to misses sizing standards. If the jeans you are looking at are sized in all even numbers above size 16, then these are from the women’s or plus size department and fit according to plus size standards.

If you are looking at jeans that are sized in all odd numbers, then these are from the junior’s department and fit according to junior’s standards. Jeans from the misses department are designed to fit most mature women, jeans from the women’s department are designed to fit most full-bodied or heavy women, and jeans from the junior’s department are designed to fit teenage girls and very young women. Typically, the size of jeans is on a continuum from misses into women’s. However, that is not the case with junior’s sizes. Junior’s sizes are typically smaller than misses sizes. For example, a size 9 in the junior’s department generally will not be between a size 8 and 10 in the misses department. In fact, often times a junior’s size 9 will be even smaller than a miss’s size 6!

In addition to these sizing standards, some designer brands may use waist measurements to size their women’s jeans. In the US, this is done in inches. For example, if you have a 26 inch waist, you would wear a size 26. The waist size standard is not the same as a women’s size 26 like we mentioned before. It is a completely different sizing system.

Aside from size, you must also take into consideration the style of jeans you would be interested in wearing. There are both waist styles and leg styles. Waist styles include low-rise, hip-hugger, high waist, and more. Leg styles include skinny jeans, boot cut, flare, slim, wide, and many others. The best way to decide what waist type and leg style combination is good for you is to simply try on a lot of jeans.

One more thing to consider is the wash or color of the jeans. Jeans come in many different denim washes, acid washed, just about any color of the rainbow, and now even patterned or bedazzled! Be warned, however, that sometimes dark-washed jeans may fade, and quite often the jewels on bedazzled jeans will fall off with wear. At the end of the day, however, what you like determines your personal jean style.

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The original designer jeans are said to date as far back as the 1850’s when a textile merchant by the name of Levi Strauss developed a durable pant that could be worn by laborers in the California mines. For several decades, they were used by factory workers and coal miners as a sturdy trouser and, in a sense, embodied the hard-working, persevering spirits of American laborers during the late 19th century. Then in the 1950’s, Hollywood movies such as “Rebel Without a Cause” inspired anti-conformity notions among teenagers, and the image of blue denim jeans transformed into a statement of rebellion. This concept continued throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s during the Vietnam War. The emergence of bell-bottom jeans attracted anti-war hippies and feminist revolutionaries who considered jeans to be a symbol protest. From the 1980’s through the 1990’s, the blue jean trend caught the eye of many major fashion designers, and the manufacturing of designer jeans proliferated at an exponential rate. Famous celebrities were being seen wearing designer jeans everywhere, and everyone instantly caught on. They were ubiquitous and affordable. Anyone who was anyone had a pair of designer jeans, regardless of their economic or social status. It wasn’t until the turn of the millennium that designer jeans became what they are today: a status symbol.

As production costs increased in the late 1990’s, so did the price of jeans. Designers realized the potential for increased sales and profitability by creating a product that screamed “luxury” and “status” to those trying to climb the ranks. Companies used popular celebrities to endorse their brand name and created an unprecedented buzz around these “must-have” products that sent people of all ages running to department stores everywhere. As designer jeans evolved into a status symbol, it gave rise to another issue: counterfeiting. Popular brands were becoming more expensive and trendy, but as a result, less people were able to afford them. This resulted in counterfeit versions of “cool” brands that were being sold on the streets for 30% or less of the retail value. Unfortunately, this issue remains a big problem for many major fashion companies as it continues to be a detriment to their overall profitability. But then again, maybe they shouldn’t be charging so much in the first place? I suppose that’s up to you to decide.