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A Cup of Tia: Confessions of a Broke Collegiette

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Quinnipiac chapter.

I ventured out this morning to the crisp and dreary weather that will make up the next months. Autumn has arrived. I felt a chill run down my spine and up my bare legs. I was sporting a dress and sweater which proved to not be very fall-worthy. I wilted a bit on my walk to the parking garage and by 3 p.m., I gave in to sweats and strutted across campus this way for the remainder of the damp day.

Now, I’m the type of girl that will open up her tiny (thanks QU) but stuffed to the brim closet and say, “Ugh, there’s nothing to wear.” There’s always a wonder of clothes at my fingertips but nothing deserving the public’s eye. I’m the same girl that will journey into the mountains of clothes at Forever 21 to find the perfect outfit that will be worn one night and then pushed to the back of the closet, “the black hole,” never to be seen again.

However, this isn’t the current case. I have no fall clothes and I’m not ready to freeze every day on my walk to class. When I took a look into the even bigger black hole that is my wallet, I discovered more disappointment. I’m definitely due for a shopping spree but where can I go to create the perfect autumn outfits on a cheap budget? After sifting through several issues of Cosmo and Vogue, I was about to cry.

The fashionistas are telling me to drop $500 on a pair of shoes to go to Toads in. No big deal right? Not! Well, I have the answers collegiettes. I’ve sifted through the Hello Kitty clothes and Gucci mamas to make you girls the perfect list. Just remember, you need to go to the right mall to find the right clothes, stores differ by their whereabouts. If you prefer to play it safe, online shopping is about the best way to go.

Happy bargain hunting! <3T

1.     Outlet Malls– Tanger Outlets and Clinton Crossing are very close to us. They have great stores such as BCBG (which I found a $250 dress for $40!), Levi’s, Hollister, Nine West and some other great places. If you search, you can find really great deals. Plus, don’t you feel so accomplished after saving that much money?!

2.     Forever 21– You can get a headache the second you walk in there so be sure to have a coffee in hand to go on this journey. They have tons of great clothes for cheap, so sifting through the rubble of this store is usually worth it. I love getting t-shirts there for $4.

3.     TJMaxx, Marshalls, Target, Kohls- I know you might back away from your computer as I say this but these places can have great finds. Especially if you’re lucky enough to go on a day where they’re just putting everything out. Thank you small sizes!

4.     H&M, Charlotte Russe, Urban Behavior- All at the local mall they’re great for going out outfits and we all share that collegiette love for New Haven nights.

5.     DSW– Looking for some great shoes for cheap? DSW has a huge selection to choose from between boots to flats to heels.

6.     Online Shopping– Here are some websites for the lazy ones and the collegiettes that love to surf in class:
                  http://us.asos.com/
                  http://www.fashionjunkee.com/
                  http://www.rustyzipper.com/

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Tia Meyers

Quinnipiac

Tia is a senior public relations and marketing major at Quinnipiac University. She enjoys singing, kayaking, cooking, travelling, and dance. She is an only child and it has made her a very outgoing young woman. Tia’s motto is “you can’t be old and wise if you’re never young and crazy” and believes that you should be a person to look up to, always be true to yourself and to try anything and everything you can. Tia loves to watch tv and read, her favorite show is New Girl and her favorite book is “Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”. Tia is addicted to Dunkin Donuts coffee, rings, peanut butter and the beach.
Molly is a senior print journalism major and psychology minor at Quinnipiac University. She enjoys cooking, baking, reading, and spending as much time on the beach as possible. Molly loves to travel, and recently brought home a dog, Kodiak, from Rincon, Puerto Rico in January 2011. She is an aspiring food writer for publications such as Gourmet, and Fine Cooking. In preparation for this career, Molly spent the summer of 2011 working on an organic farm, and hopes to attend the Culinary Institute of America after graduating from QU in the spring. Having been a transfer to Quinnipiac in the fall of her sophomore year, Molly knows the importance of being outgoing and friendly, and hopes to make many wonderful memories during her last year in Hamden.