Posts Tagged ‘fashion’
College Student Probs: It’s Tough Being Fashionable
Ages ago, in my middle school years (okay, and maybe the first half of my high school years), although I wouldn’t be aware of this until years later, I wasn’t exactly the best-dressed… At age 13, I still shopped at Limited Too and thought I was cool. In my Abercrombie and Fitch days, I only bought tops with the brand name on the front and thought $55 for an originally $70 sweater was a good deal.
Anyway, let’s fast-forward to now (pleeease). Though I do occasionally have my days where I give up on looking presentable, and I don’t read fashion magazines, I do have my own style (thanks, Pinterest) and put more thought into a purchase than the brand name. Because I generally want to look and present myself decently. Especially for class.
Apparently I am one of the 0.5% of students on campus who feel this way. I mean, as I’m walking to class, literally all I see is: T-shirts. Hoodies. Workout shorts. Yoga pants. Jeans. Tennis shoes. Every girl is dressed for a workout at the gym! Last I checked, most girls consider their workout walking to class (guilty).
So I’m looking down at my little self, in my flowy cold-shoulder top, maxi skirt, and wedges thinking, What’s the point? Is it even worth taking the time or money to put together outfits I find cute, when no one even cares about her own outfit?
Because, ladies, let’s be real. We don’t dress up to necessarily impress the boys. We dress up to impress or keep up with the girls. Don’t believe me? Have you ever texted your girlfriend, “What are you wearing?” so you avoid being over- or under-dressed? Have you gotten ready with a friend to go out, see her outfit, and decide to change because you look stupid next to her? I know I’m not the only one!
So one day I tone it down, and decide to wear a denim button-down with rolled up sleeves and white shorts. And someone still asked me what I’m dressed up for! Seriously?
Should I really feel a little silly or out of place because I try to be the tiniest bit of fashionable? Or should I embrace the fact that I stand out because of expression of my personality through my appearance?
And if that wasn’t enough, how do I know what to wear when it’s 89 degrees outside, but 59 degrees in half of my classrooms? How can I straighten my hair if it’s raining or super humid (so… every day)?
Such a tough life, huh.
Well, to any of you who feel my pain (if you’re out there in Kentucky, I’d like to shake your hand), I think I’ve come to my conclusion:
You know how whenever you actually style your hair or wear a dress, you usually feel better about yourself, and you have a better day? I think we should be good to ourselves by clothing ourselves with confidence and readiness for the long day ahead. I’m not saying we should dress like we’re on the runway, and looks are certainly not what’s most important. But flaunting a little style -not necessarily skin- doesn’t hurt. (Just resist the urge to rock your Steve Madden stilettos every day.)
Fall Fashion 2012
It’s officially back to school time and everyone wants to look fresh! Starting the year off in style is a great way to gain confidence and a cool way to begin a new semester. I’ve noticed a lot of fun trends this fall that I thought would be a good idea to share with all of you.
One of the biggest trends this fall is going to be the colored jeans. Jeans are coming in just about any color imaginable these days. Some of my favorites are the hot pink, white, and bright yellow. Owning colorful jeans is great because it expands your wardrobe in a quick and easy way. When wearing a colorful pair of jeans you add a pop to your outfit and you don’t even need an elaborate shirt. Pair your colored jeans with a basic v neck t-shirt for an easy going, yet cool look.
Flats are back! This semester girls will be sporting anything from Vans to Toms to Sperry’s. Not only are each of these adorable, they’re incredibly comfortable too. Pair your favorite pair of stylish flats with a pair of cuffed jeans and a simple t-shirt. Enjoy benefiting of walking all over campus in maximum comfort and style.
Un-styled hair is in! The messy look is back and most college girls are digging it. The look saves you time and it gives an effortlessly cool untamed vibe. If you have curly hair, let it curl. If you have wavy hair, bring on the wave. If you have straight hair, shake it out. The key is to let your mane be in charge of its own destiny. If you feel the need for some product a couple spritzes of hairspray of some surf spray should handle it. This look is best sported after a shower and bought to its full potential with a blow dryer. The best news about all of this is there aren’t any bobby pins, teasing, or frustration required!
This fall is going to be cool, effortless, and colorful. Try out some of these laid back styles soon and be prepared to look awesome when you return to campus!
Summer DIY Fashion and Accessories
As you save up your money this summer, you’re tempted to blow it all on clothes and new hair ideas, though you know you want to buy a new fall wardrobe. Decisions, decisions…Instead of buying a ton of new tanks and shorts, dig through your closet and find what you don’t wear anymore and make it into something new. It’s a win-win really.
One way to create a new summer look for yourself involves the smallest, simplest article of clothing: the sock. Get your hair off your neck with an elegant and simple bun high on your head—the sock bun. You just need a hair elastic, a sock and a pair of scissors. Take your sock (you might want to use one in a neutral color if possible) and cut off the toe so you have one long tube. Turn the sock into a donut shape and secure it. Put your hair up in a ponytail, wherever you want your bun to be. Then, simply pull your hair through the sock, spreading your hair around it. As you roll the sock down your hair towards your head, continue to position your hair around the sock so it’s fully covered. Voila, you now have a stylin’ sock bun!
Has your wardrobe been lacking color for the summer? Take simply boring pencil skirt and turn it into a fun, and still elegant, skirt with a brilliant border. Go out to a near by fabric store and find about 2 meters of embroidered trim—this can be Aztec design, animal print, whatever suites your fashion desires! If you need to make your skirt shorter, use another skirt as your guide and cut carefully; if you do this step, make sure to hem your skirt again to avoid fraying. Follow the waistband and hem of the skirt with your trim, carefully cutting your pieces to match the appropriate lengths. Sew the trim along the edges, making sure to keep your fabric straight (you may want a sewing machine for this step!). And now you took your not-so-fun skirt up a notch into a totally cute summer look.
The summer season is all about the shorts, and this summer they’re more colorful and full of pattern than ever before. Turn your boring jeans into a pair of super cute cut off tie dye shorts! Simply take whatever pair of pants or shorts you’re working with and cut them to the desired length (make sure you’re even all the way around so your butt’s fully covered). Pick out whatever color dyes you want for the shorts—yellow, pink and blue always look fab together—and dampen your shorts. Apply the dye horizontally so you have rainbow bands, and let dry when complete. Throw your shorts in for a quick wash, and ta da! You now have unique and trendy tie-dye cut offs.
Crop tops are also big this summer. While you can transform just about any t-shirt or tank you want into a tummy bearing top, for a more chic take on this style, use a classic button down shirt. If the shirt has sleeves, cut them off symmetrically—you can make thin or wider shoulders depending on what style you want. Decide where you want the shirt to end, drawing a line and carefully cutting the shirt across. Grab your sewing machine and hem the bottom and shoulders until you’re satisfied, and voila! Dad’s old shirt is now a comfortable fashion must-have.
There are plenty of ways to update your wardrobe this summer without having to buy all new outfits. Take a peak in your closet and find your old, worn out shirts and jeans being ignored at the back, grab a pair of scissors and some needles and you’re on your way to the most fashionable summer of your life!
Killer Summer Nail Designs
It’s easy to put together a totally killer outfit and neglect what your nails look like. But any outfit ranking in at a 7, can easily become a 10 with these awesome—and easy—nail designs. So, jazz up your nails with these fun ideas!
1. Acid Wash Jeans?
Do you love the look of your acid wash jeans? Ever consider doing that to your nails? Luckily, you can—and you don’t even need acid. Start with a layer of blue nail polish, whatever shade you’d like. Make sure you also add a top coat to protect the blue. Next, paint on some white nail polish and allow it to dry without a top coat this time. Now, grab your nail polish remover and with a q-tip, carefully and lightly rub away at your white layer of polish. This might take some practice to avoid taking off the blue, but you have 10 nails to perfect this design with!
2. Catch Up on Current Events
Interning at a newspaper or magazine this summer? Get newsy! You’ll need newspaper clippings, rubbing alcohol, and your nail polish. Start with a layer of white—though you can use any solid color you want, if you’re not going for the strict newspaper look. Put your nail in the rubbing alcohol for 5 seconds once it’s dry. Put your newspaper on the nail with the print facing down towards the nail, and gently rub. Peel off the newspaper and voila! If you don’t like how it looks, simply wipe the print away with a cotton ball and try again. Finish with a top coat to secure this stylish news look.
3. Summer Melon
If you like watermelon, this is the nail design for you, perfect for a summer BBQ. Start with a pink base, and paint a bright green tip—just like you would for a French tip, but more colorful. Make black dots under the tip and with the help of a toothpick or your nail wand, stretch the dots into elongated ovals to look like seeds. Then, with a light green polish (you’ll probably want to get a nail pen for this one), make little squiggles on your green tip. Finger lickin’ good!
4. Get Formal
Does anyone remember Zooey Deschanel’s fabulous tuxedo nails from the Golden Globes? Now you can recreate that look with ease! Begin with a simple white nail. Make your bow tie at the base, by making two pacman like squiggles with a dot of black in between—you can also change the color of your bow tie! Depending on the length of your nail, make at least three more dots down the middle of your nail (shirt buttons). Finally, just like a French tip, paint a black tip. This is a fun look for any formal event.
5. Sponge On, Sponge Off
By using a makeup sponge, you can create countless swirled looks with any colors you want. Start with any color base you want—this is better for a light color so you can build on top of it without making the new colors look strange. Then sponge on your additional colors, making sure to have some of the base and prior colors showing through. To avoid putting on too much polish, apply the polish to the sponge and dab some off on a tissue or paper before applying. This way you won’t end up with globs of nail polish and ruin your lovely swirl pattern.
These are just a few of my favorite, fun nail designs that don’t take a lot of time to perfect and always look great. Experiment, have fun and be prepared for all of your friends to ask you for manicures!
- ToonyToon
Fashion Trends to Watch for Spring
It is springtime and that means a fresh start for your closet! Here are a few must-have fashion items for the spring season.
Color Blocking
This year color blocking is huge! What’s interesting about color blocking is that it appears somewhat retro yet very modern at the same time. When it comes to color blocking, there is no such thing as clashing! Have fun mixing any assortment of colors together for some fresh spring excitement. From celebrities to runway, color blocking is everywhere!
Neons
Along with the color blocking trend, bright neon colors are in as well! The theme this spring is, the more color the better. Specifically, bright yellow is very popular this year. This is a great color to wear with a tan.
Color, Color Everywhere!
Colored pants are another trend this season, they are everywhere! You can match these bold colored pants with a simple white tee or dress it up with a corresponding color to follow the color blocking trend. Many of the pants that are in style this spring at slim, simple capris that cut right below the knee.
Nails
Following the color trend is the nail polish! Nails this season are short and colorful! This is great for us girls who tend to bite our nails; it’s nice that they don’t need to be long! Don’t be afraid to use bold, neon, or even glow-in-the dark colors to make your nails pop. Many girls are even using two bold colors as a french manicure.
Clean white
If you’re not a color girl and you are starting to freak out about this coming spring, stay calm! Crisp clean white is a classic that’s not going away, at least not this spring! You can pair a clean white sundress with a colorful cardigan and stay simple while being a fashionista!
Patterns
If you’re a pattern person, floral and stripes are especially bold this spring! Thicker stripes are tending to be the fashion, but beware the wrong stripes can make you look much wider than you are. Wearing vertical stripes can also help you look much taller than you are, which is never a bad thing. The floral patterns this year are bright and cheerful! Most seen on the runways seem to be a simple print using 1-3 colors only. Don’t get to busy with your floral print, you do not want to look like Grandma’s curtains.
Accessories
As for those accessories, it’s bold watches and sheer spring scarves! Scarves are beautiful for spring, and you can tie them in different ways based on the occasion. A popular item this spring is infinity scarves because they are so easy to wear. Make sure the scarf you choose is sheer to keep you from getting to hot! Again, the more color the better! Although they can be harder to read on the fly than digital watches, the trend this year is for classic watches with a bold strap and an even bolder face. Many watches come with interchangeable straps so you can change your colors depending on your outfit!
Have fun with color this spring and don’t be afraid to mix it up! This year, mixing and matching is a good thing! Happy shopping!!!
-Speedy G.
I’m reading Literature for Composition: Essays, Stories, Poems, and Plays
Become a College Athlete Fashionista
As an athlete, it’s so easy to lose your sense of style. When you have an early morning practice and possibly and afternoon one as well, it’s hard to find a reason to dress nice. We end up walking around in our athletic gear all day every day. If we catch an off day, the laziness sets in and it’s back to the sweatpants and t-shirts. I’m here to remind you of your personal style so you don’t fall into the athletic clothing rut.
Despite being an athlete, I am one of the biggest girly girls I know. I love to dress nice and put effort into getting ready in the morning. The best advice I can give to those of you who are like minded is to do your best to embrace your personal style when you’re not actually working out.
On days when we have morning and evening practice I shower and get ready as normal in-between. I may take a little crap from my teammates for always dressing up, but to me it’s worth it. It’s just who I am, who I’ve always been. One of the hardest things about college is not falling away from who you are. On days when practice is in the middle of the afternoon, if I have classes before, I get ready as usual. Here are a few simple tips to stay looking great no matter what.
- WATERPROOF! When I get done running my teammates always ask me how my makeup still looks just as good as when I started. The secret, waterproof! People tend to think waterproof makeup is harder to remove than regular. This is true if you use water to remove your makeup. If you’re using baby oil or makeup remover, this is not an issue at all. I remove all my makeup at night and start fresh without residue every day.
- STYLE AS NORMAL! It’s tempting to wake up and throw in a straggly ponytail or bun if you have practice later. I style my hair as I normally would in the morning, when it comes to practice time it’s easy for my ponytail to look nice. Whether I straightened, curled, or scrunched my hair that day, my ponytail goes up flawlessly. Always having your hair tied up just isn’t as fun. Let your hair down loose and enjoy the breeze.
- KEEP PRACTICE CLOTHES IN THE LOCKER ROOM. Keeping your practice clothes in the locker room will keep you from carrying a duffle around campus. It will be a higher convenience for you as you wear what you wish to class and then simply change right before practice.
- BE YOURSELF. If you’re a sweatshirt and jeans kind of girl, and that’s who you’ve always been, don’t pay attention to my advice. It probably sounds insane to you. But, for those of us girly girls that don’t want to sacrifice our girly ways for our sport, this advice can be very helpful. The most important thing you can do in college is to be yourself. Don’t be afraid to show off your personal style and take time getting ready in the morning. Have fun with your style, and you’ll know when the tennis shoes go on, and the hair goes up, it’s time to get serious.
-Speedy G.
I’m reading Vis-a-Vis: Learning French
