Style by the City: Miami

You may be slaving away through finals, but your wardrobe doesn’t have to look like it. Take some inspiration from a tropical city like Miami, Florida, to add a little summer fun to your wardrobe.

 

Casual Outfit: Freedom Tower

With its fresh architecture, Miami’s Freedom Tower is a great inspirational outfit for a stylish summer casual outfit. Start with a pair of white pants (5), $24.95, and a cropped yellow shirt (1), $44.90, which is in keeping with the tower’s color scheme. Beige wedge sandals (4), $39.99, and a straw clutch (2), $16.80, neutralize the outfit and keep the outfit dressy but casual. But since it’s summer, don’t be afraid to go a little overboard on the brights – we chose  feather turquoise earrings (3), $14, and red lipstick (6), $14.50 in honor of the Cuban flag – the Freedom Tower is currently being used as a Cuban refugee center.

Sasha Graffagna is a New York University junior studying Journalism and Comparative Literature. She is currently on exchange at La Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Follow her on Polyvore at sasha74.

How To Get A Career Wardrobe On A College Budget

Whether you’re graduating this year or just on your way to a summer internship, developing a career wardrobe can be an expensive challenge. College Lifestyles helps you out with our collection of basic businesswoman staples at college student prices.

 

Shoes:

A pair of basic black ballet flats (1), $18, will get you through almost any work event. Want a little color? Red flats (2), $12.95, are cute and work-appropriate. Feed your heel obsession with a pair of nude pumps (3), $24.97, that go with almost everything and elongate your legs. And if all else fails, you can never go wrong with a pair of black pumps (4), $19.90.

Tops:

A black blazer (1), $29.80,  is the LBD of jackets – goes everywhere and with everything. Switch it out for a white blazer (2), $29.95, for a more summery look. A white button-down (3), $22, is another basic staple, but pay extra attention to the fit when you buy it, and keep it ironed! A wrinkled shirt that gapes at the chest just screams unprofessional. For a break from all the neutrals, grab a V-neck sweater in a muted bright or pastel, like this ice blue one (4), $16.90.

Accessories:

If you spend money on one thing in your wardrobe, invest in a large, structured bag (1), $35, that will last you for years. A french manicure (2), $2.14, might not seem important, but it’s an essential detail that will pull your look together. Don’t spend too much money on your pantyhose (3), $9, since they’re guaranteed to rip anyway. And find a simple watch (4), $9.99, that looks expensive but isn’t, because constantly checking your phone for the time will surely irritate your boss.

Bottoms:

A pair of black pants (1), $24.90,  is versatile and makes up a suit when paired with a button-down shirt and a blazer. If you’re more of a skirt girl, go for a pencil skirt (2), $20,  that hits just above the knee. A pleated A-line (3), $29.98,  is great for more casual days and keeps you cool in the summer. If you’re lucky enough to get to wear jeans, go for a dark-rinse pair (4), $19.90. Just make sure to keep the rest of your look immaculate.

Did we miss any of your career wardrobe staples? Have you ever gotten a great deal on an expensive purchase? Let us know in the comments!

Sasha Graffagna is a junior at New York University studying Journalism and Comparative Literature. Follow her on Polyvore at sasha74.

3 Post-Interview Need-To-Dos

Cheers! You successfully pushed past adrenaline, anxiety, and bullets of sweat, finishing the interview off strong. You’re feeling great, smiling at employees, and walking out the front door as if you just clocked out for the day. However, getting home and kicking your feet up on the coffee table isn’t the last phase of this process. The interview may be over, but give your future boss even more incentive to hire you by taking action with these three effective tips.

The Thank-you Letter

A thank-you note, either handwritten or sent by e-mail, clarifies you can finish what you’ve started. It’s a formal address to the interviewer, so be punctual by sending the note within 72 hours after the interview. If it’s handwritten, make sure it’s in the office by the third day.

Thank the interviewer (duh) for choosing you as a candidate, and then discuss your enthusiasm about the prospective job—just don’t over-do it… it’ll sound forceful. If you made use of your leather notepad, you won’t have to remember details from the interview (names, opportunities, etc) to mention in the thank-you because they’ll be right there! Also use this letter to ask a question or two and express an idea, further showing your interest and dedication. A quick Google search will provide you with a few sample letters if you aren’t sure where to start.

Wait Patiently

Don’t be bothersome by calling and e-mailing incessantly. Has anyone been hired yet? Can I interview for another position? How many candidates are being considered? Slow down and resist the pesky questions! If the interviewer gave you a two-week time frame in which you will hear back from them, give ‘em time. If no time was allotted, follow-up calmly about a week after the interviewer will have received your thank-you note.

Classy Rejection

Let’s face it, you won’t obtain every job you interview for, and that’s ok! Breathe and accept that some opportunities aren’t meant to be. A suggestion from cnn.com states to send another thank-you note post-rejection to stand out in a positive manner. Who knows, maybe the second letter will make them reconsider or keep you in mind for the future.

Tiana Blue is a Senior Writer for College Lifestyles™. This fourth semester sophomore at Penn State is a print journalism major with a penchant for food, stilettos, and the city that never sleeps.

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Job Challenge Day 11: What is/are Question(s) You Were Asked in a Job Interview?

By now, many of us have been on job interviews via in person, phone, and/or SKYPE.  What are questions you were asked in your job interview?  Let’s build our list to help each other out!

Day 11:  What is/are question(s) you were asked in a job interview?

Job Challenge Day 10: What is Your Dream Job?

We all have those days in class where we ‘dream’ of our, well, dream job.  Tell us, what do you want to be when you ‘grow up!’  Remember TONIGHT is our Job Search Chat where we will discuss ways on finding your dream job!  Join us on twitter at 9pm EST/8pm CST using the hashtag #clchat!

Day 10:  What is your dream job?

Job Challenge Day 9: What Was Your Favorite Internship and Why?

With so many individuals looking for internships, give us a little taste of your favorite internship!  This will help others in searching for the good (and bad) on internship opportunities!

Day 9:  What was your favorite internship and why?

 

 

Remember to RSVP for our Job Search Twitter Party on 4/18 9pm EST/8pm CST using the hashtag #CLchat.  On 4/19, you will be able to upload your resume to our site to aid us in your job search!

Technology + Fashion: We ‘Model’ with Verizon Wireless.

Everyone has heard the expression music + fashion is a marriage made in heaven.  At College Lifestyles, we also believe technology + fashion makes a wonderful marriage!    While writing, tweeting, posting, interviewing – our personal style AND technology needs to be on par.

As a proud Verizon ambassador, we have been testing 2 fabulous Verizon products, the Droid RAZR and Motorola Droid XY Board.  We have been tasked on combining how tech and fashion can go hand in hand.  From running to a studying session OR writing a great post, we have developed some of our favorite looks to accommodate our technology.

 Interview Chic

 

We can carry our pen, notebook, AND Motorola Droid XY Board in this fabulous tote and look chic (without the stuffy suit) while interviewing our favorite authors and stylist.

 Casual Work Day

 

Heading to the coffee shop, library to edit, or going to study group?  Surf the internet and pull up your notes on your Motorola Droid XY Board while looking casual chic.

Networking Gala

 

If attending a networking event at a conference or in your hometown, you can look stylish AND carry your technology while enjoying the event.  Store business cards and your Motorola Droid XY Board in these totes while chatting it up with the crowd.  Take pics, tweet, and video the fabulous night!

 Writer Chic

Be sure to carry your composition book AND Motorola Droid XY Board on a Saturday stroll.  Jot down great notes in your composition book AND take great pictures for your article.  End the day at the local coffee shop putting the pieces of your article together.

Looks created by our fabulous team of Lauren Townsend, Shanae Hatchett, and Jessica Fecteau!

Disclosure:  We’d like to thank Verizon Wireless for selecting College Lifestyles as a Verizon Ambassador.

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Job Challenge Day 8: What’s the Toughest Question You Were Asked on a Job Interview?

You have researched the company and practiced interview questions in the mirror.  You look polished and professional.  You arrive 10 minutes early.  You are called into the interview room.  You shake hands and take a seat.  And the first question is….well…..difficult and one you did not practice in the mirror.  What was that question?

Day 8:  What’s the toughest question you were asked on a job interview?

Job Challenge Day 7: What Should You Wear to a Job Interview?

Dress for the career you want.  What if your career does not require a suit?  Should you wear pants, a skirt, or only one piece of jewelry?  Bring a handbag or not?  Put your keys on the table or not?  Times have changed from the stuffy suit to a more relaxed look.  What do you suggest?

Day 7:  What should you wear to a job interview?

 

 

Remember to RSVP for our Job Search Twitter Party on 4/18 9pm EST/8pm CST using the hashtag #CLchat.  On 4/19, you will be able to upload your resume to our site to aid us in your job search!

Job Challenge Day 6: What You Should NOT Do in an Interview?

Time and time again we hear statements such as…

‘Turn off your phone.’

‘Dress appropriately.’

Many of these ‘do not do in an interview’ we already know.  What are some ‘realistic’ do NOTs in an interview?

Day 6:  What you should OT do in an interview?

 

 

Remember to RSVP for our Job Search Twitter Party on 4/18 9pm EST/8pm CST using the hashtag #CLchat.  On 4/19, you will be able to upload your resume to our site to aid us in your job search!

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