CL Interviews Sisters on the Runway

 

Three best friends from New Jersey never imagined by the time they were college seniors, they would have organized more than a dozen fashion shows. Gabriela Graham, Juliana Colangelo, and Elizabeth Eddy are the co-founders of Sister’s on the Runway. Each year the ladies plan a fashion show to raise money and awareness about domestic violence. Since beginning the organization in 2005, they have raised over $50,000 for women and children affected by this issue. CL had the chance to chat with Gabriela, Juliana and Elizabeth about how the organization began and their plans to keep raising awareness in the future.

 

CL:  How did Sisters on the Runway begin?

Juliana Colangelo- We started the fashion show as sophomores in high school. As a class we were assigned community service hours and we thought about putting on an event. Liz, Gabi and I really wanted to do something on our own because it was hard to get things done with that many people. I really liked the idea of a fashion show because it was different and we were all a little interested in fashion especially Liz. We wanted to do something involving women’s issue, so we chose domestic violence.

CL:  What made Sisters on the Runway combine domestic violence and fashion?  

Gabriela Graham- Fashion is something that is very relatable. It gets people very excited and gets people coming out to different events because they want to see different styles and to see people modeling. Domestic violence is oftentimes something that people don’t really want to tackle because it’s very serious and scary and people don’t want to sit down and talk about that. So with linking it with such a relatable topic such as fashion we were able to really open that platform and really have a discussion about domestic violence and lead people into it so they weren’t so intimidated by this dark cloud. We wanted people to become aware that it can really affect anybody and it doesn’t matter your race or economic level or culture. We try to break down that stereotype with Sisters on the Runway.

 

CL:  Did you know that combining fashion with a cause like domestic violence would work so well?

Juliana Colangelo- I thought that fashion and domestic violence combined would be interesting because that’s not something you would see put together. Also a lot of times fashion perpetuates negative images of women so we wanted to show that being beautiful and embracing different bod types was ok.

CL:  Has volunteering always been something you and the other ladies had an interest in?

Elizabeth Eddy- Yes, definitely. We were volunteering at a shelter before the project began so when as sophomores in high school we were asked to do a community service project as a class, we really jumped on it. Two of my friends suggested a fashion show but it kind of got shot down so we decided to go our separate ways. We put on our first event and it was extremely successful, it was one of the biggest student-run events to come out of our high school. It was really nice. It was initially a school project but it became our own thing after that.

CL:  Did you ladies always have an interest in fashion?  

Elizabeth Eddy- We chose fashion not because it was something we were really interested in but because it was something that involved a lot of people, it was something that people get really excited about and it was very social. We chose domestic violence because it is a topic that isn’t talked about a lot. It affects one in four women so it’s something that is sadly very prominent in our society

CL:  What kind of reactions do you get when people find out what Sisters on the Runway is doing?

Gabriela Graham- We received really great feedback. It’s starting really important and difficult conversations between people of different ages and geographical regions. People have come forward and said that I have dealt with something like this or my friend has dealt with something like this or I have seen something like this and I didn’t know it was so common or there were places I could go for help. [Our program] has made people feel more comfortable talking about this issue. We also try to stress that this is not just male to female but can also be female to male, there really are no boundaries to whom or where the violence can occur.

CL:  What life lessons would you say this has taught you?

Gabriela Graham- Time management because we have done these events solely involved with school and work. It has also helped me with people skills; whether we are working with volunteers or models etc. it also it helps me really understand what domestic violence is and who it is this money is going to. We have visited and volunteered at shelters to help us get a better understanding of what this issue really does to a person. We had the opportunity to work with children and we would sit and play with them while their moms were out looking for jobs. These kids had no idea what was going on. But it also helped us understand the severity of the situation. When we were 17, a shelter we were volunteering at gave us a woman’s address but told us please don’t give it to anyone else because that was the woman’s safe house. That’s when we really realized that this is a serious issue we are getting involved in.

CL:  What can we expect to see from Sisters in the future?

Gabriela Graham- We would love to make it a non-profit organization in the next 2 years. That would make it easier to link up with other organizations. Right now, we just want to keep spreading our message. [Our program] is at a couple of high schools and university’s right now. We just want to keep getting the word out. Our generation really needs to take matters into our own hands and make changes in our communities.

CL:  Are you ladies working on any upcoming projects?

Elizabeth Eddy- We would like to continue doing fashion shows. We have done about 13 already and two more coming up in the spring. We currently have three different chapters; one at the University of Massachusetts, one at Montclair High School and one at Parsons School of Design. Two more schools are also currently in the process of developing a Sisters on the Runway chapter.

CL:  How could someone get involved with Sisters on the Runway? What kind of opportunities do you offer?

Gabriela Graham- If anyone is interested in volunteering or modeling or becoming a designer we feature in our fashion show send us an email. At the last event, we had about 15 student designers and we are always looking for more.

 

If you would like to get involved with Sisters on the Runway contact them at benefit@sistersotherunway.org and check out their website http://sistersontherunway.org/for more information. 

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

Minyvonne Burke is a fashion and lifestyle writer for College Lifestyles ™. She graduated from Point Park University and is currently pursuing her master’s degree at Hofstra University. She loves online shopping, cute bags and NYC.

Fearless Collegiate: CL Interviews Nicolette Winn, Founder of the No Longer Silenced Movement

It’s rare to find a person like Nicolette Winn. As only a Junior at Southern Illinois Carbondale she has been able to take her experience of growing up in a household rattled with abuse and addiction and turn her efforts into helping others and raising awareness. Nicknamed The Fashionable Philanthropist, Nicolette has her own blog which features regular posts about her fashion and volunteerism inspirations. Earlier this year she launched her website the No Longer Silenced Movement to help teens realize they are not alone and to give them inspiration. Her efforts have already garnered media attention in a segment with Channel 12 Heartland News. When Nicolette’s not helping build houses for Habitat for Humanity or working with The Women’s Center she likes to catch up on episodes of “The Real Housewives” and indulge in chocolate. This ambitious and determined collegiate is never without a smile and we can all learn something from her.

Q: Many victims of childhood and teenage abuse don’t share their stories. What makes you inspire others to seek help and make a difference?

 A: “As a child, I never had a positive role model to whom I could relate. I was the tiny, cute girl who excelled in academia, dominated sports fields, worked two jobs, wore high heels to school, and almost always had a smile on my face. I think it would’ve helped me so much to see another female who is similar to me who survived child abuse and continued to succeed in life. My goal is to serve as a role model to teenagers to show them how to seek help. During my teenage years, I never knew that I could report what was occurring in my household, and I definitely understand which resources to utilize to do so. Most importantly, I want to become the first nationally recognized face of child abuse survival in order to inspire teenagers to pursue their dreams. Abuse often hinders self-esteem, and I want them to understand the important of increasing their self-confidence and following their passions.”

Q: How did you start the No Longer Silenced Movement?

 A: “Throughout high school, I would journal my abuse and how it made me feel. Because I feared the wrath of my father, I always shredded and promptly disposed of my writings. In June of 2011, I decided that I wanted to publish a book of stories of people who had survived child abuse and found success. After posting in numerous Craigslist advertisements in various cities and receiving no response, I halted this effort. In a plea of distress, I e-mailed Jo Coleman, the CEO of Psychology Today and begged for his assistance. I figured, “Hey! This man is successful. He should have some beneficial tips or connections.” Mr. Coleman’s response was basically that this is my mission and that I needed to make it happen, and everything suddenly made sense. This February, I launched my blog, No Longer Silenced, which ran a week long feature pertaining to and in honor of National Children of Alcoholics Week. My father has a drinking problem, so I decided to share a few of my stories. The response I received from readers was astonishing, and I decided to continue my blog but give it a new twist. Soon after, I launched The Fashionable Philanthropist, which combines my love of community service with my passion for fashion. After blogging for National Children of Alcoholics Week, I felt like I needed to do something more…something bigger. I thought about what I would’ve needed as a teenager in order to help myself during my abuse, and I wished that I would’ve had an example to follow. At this realization, I decided that I would become that example for other teens and decided to organize and launch my first event, the No Longer Silenced National Child Abuse Prevention Month Awareness Walk. Approximately a week after the walk, I launched my official No Longer Silenced Movement website.”

Q: As a Fashionable Philanthropist you share great finds on your blog. Where do you go to find the best deals?

A: “Oooo! I have specific stores that I like for specific items. For example, I always get my jeans at Hollister. Because I have such a small frame, they fit me perfectly and are decent priced. A few weeks ago, I got two brand new pairs of jeans for about $40 each. As far as socks, I’m addicted to Old Navy and haven’t worn much else since my freshmen year of high school. I think it’s about time that they give me a VIP card! Each Christmas, I would receive between 20-30 pairs because that was about the only thing I ever wanted. I have two places that I go for underwear – Victoria’s Secret and Wet Seal. For full coverage, I opt for the spandex boy shorts at V.S. and for lacey, less coverage, I hit Wet Seal. When shopping for basic wardrobe staples, I always search stores such as Old Navy and Wet Seal. Around Christmas, I purchased approximately 13 camis at Old Navy for $5 each, and I believe 8 long sleeved tees for $6 each. Normally, these items cost more, but I found them on Old Navy’s “Act Fast” sale. For solid color v-necks and camis, I also hit up Wet Seal. Wet Seal has a mix-and-match 5 for $20 deal, so last time I got a fabulous color palette of v-neck t-shirts and a few camis. When considering my more stylish pieces, I generally stick with Marshall’s or TJ Maxx. My philosophy with these stores is, “Shop Hard, Shop Often.” Both stores are constantly changing their inventory, so they tend to be hit-or-miss; however, I guarantee that one hit trip will make up for all of your other misses. Also, I shop end-of-season clearances, but I usually steer clear of Marshall’s and TJ Maxx clearances during these times. As far as and nail polish is concerned, I’m a drug store junky. I usually purchase makeup at Wal-Mart; however, if you’re looking to play with new colors, you may want to consider purchasing a less costly version at Dollar General or Dollar Tree. I love to buy $1 lipsticks at Dollar Tree to test out the colors.  Dollar General is also a gold mine for $1 nail polishes, and if you like the acrylic/gel French Tip, you can purchase DIY nails and save approximately $700 a year. Oh, Queen Helene cocoa butter lotion, which is fantastic and smells great, is cost efficient and can be purchased at Wal-Mart or Dollar General. One more thing…athletic clothes. Always go to TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, or Gordmans.”

 Q: How would you describe your personal style?

A: “My personal style depends on my mood. Some days, I love to wear white lacey dresses with pearls and chic red lips, while other days I find myself in bright, fun patterns with tall, yellow wedges. For class, I usually dress more casual and wear a lot of jeans and layered basics. I try to dress up this look by adding accessories such as headbands and scarves. I absolutely do not own a pair of sweat pants because I made myself donate them all. As a student, it is easy to become lazy because most people wear sweats to class. If I don’t own them, I can’t wear them; however, if I’m feeling athletic, you may find me in a matching track suit or neon Nike running shorts. Overall, I would say that my personal style is forever involving. Because I was forced to grow up at such an early age, I did enjoy fashion, but I didn’t have much of a chance to develop my personal identity. So now, at the age of 21, I am always shopping and trying out new looks to discover what best suits me.”

Q: As a student you have an organization and participate in events to raise awareness about child abuse. How do you manage your busy schedule?

A: “Time management! My planner is my life, and I would be completely lost without it. I have also become a talented at multitasking, and I try to focus on what’s important. For example, if I catch myself surfing social media, I remind myself that I am only gifted so much time, and I could be using that time more appropriate to focus on school, work, and the No Longer Silenced Movement.”  

 Q: Who is your support system now?

 A: “Professionally, I see a psychiatrist and a counselor. On an everyday basis, my support system consists of my boyfriend and his mother, my friends, and some of my co-workers. An addition and important support system is the high volume of those who read the Fashionable Philanthropist and contact me with words of support.”

Q: What are your career goals?

 A: “My highest ambitions are to obtain a Ph.D in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and work in an applied field. Currently, I believe that I would prefer to have a career in which I interact with people as opposed to working at a computer all day, so I’m currently exploring job opportunities within this field. I believe that it would be so incredible to improve the work lives of numerous people because it can drastically impact their health and mental state.”

Q: As a kid you were made fun of for being too skinny. What motivates your confidence today?

A: “Growing up, I was often called names such as, “Twigalette,” but today, I love my body. I am so proud to have a healthy and strong frame that is capable of such high achievement. Each day, I started looking at myself in a full length mirror, and I realized my body looked much different than how I pictured. I had always pictured myself as looking starved and gangly, but in all actuality, I look physically fit! What motivates my confidence today is looking in the mirror and admiring my beautiful body and all that it has achieved and appreciating its strength.”

Q: At College Lifestyles we have the Beauty by Confidence Campaign. What is your definition of beautiful?

A: “My definition of beautiful is looking and feeling my best in a way that pleases my expectations. I am not defined by what others say or believe.”

To connect further with Nicolette follow her on Twitter and like the No Longer Silenced Movement on Facebook. She’s truly amazing.

 

Amber Ferguson is a senior Fashion/Health Intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is a sophomore at Prince George’s Community College. She’s obsessed with reality TV & loves traveling. Follow her on Twitter @Ms_AmberDawn!

Exclusive!: Siggy Flicker talks men, relationships and why you’re still single

Ladies, CL had the privilege to chat with Siggy Flicker, matchmaker and star of VH1’s dating show Why Am I Still Single?! She dishes on ways to meet guys, her recent wedding and finding Mr. Right.

 

Siggy Flicker has been giving out dating advice for almost 20 years. I think it’s fair to say she knows what she’s talking about. After going through a divorce and joining the single scene, Siggy began to follow her own dating tips and recently married the man of her dreams. “I found a man who thinks I’m the first word in the dictionary and the last. That’s how it should be,” says Flicker about her husband Michael. She said if she can find love, anybody can and she shares some of her greatest tips for single ladies looking for love.

 

‘Rejection is God’s protection’

“The best way to get over rejection is to get back out there. Keep moving forward and push through the hurt and the pain… it will build character and make you smarter and wiser. Everybody is afraid to fall flat on their face and I say you can’t be interesting until you have bruises, scars and scrapes.”

Respect yourself

“If a man didn’t call me by Wednesday he wasn’t going to see me on Friday. It’s all about loving yourself inside and out, respecting yourself and not giving yourself up too easy. If you’re going to have sex easy with a guy he’s going to think you’re having sex easy with every other guy that comes along and that’s not what you want him to think.”

Date older men

“Mistakes women make are dating someone younger. I don’t believe in that. I never match a client with someone who is younger than them. Women develop and are more mature than men… so if your 25 you should be dating someone who is at least five years older.”

Toss ‘The List’ 

“It’s not bad to say ‘I want to meet a man who is successful or good looking or kind’. All these things are good but how many people do you think come to me looking for the same thing. Sometimes you could be closing yourself off because that person is not exactly what you have on your vision board.”

Date twice a week

“Twice a week do something you normally wouldn’t do or have wanted to do and get out there. Try volunteering, taking a class, go to a concert or a museum. Meet other people. It’s a way to connect with someone.”

Compliment a cute guy

“The best way to approach a guy is to do one thing and it’s very short and simple- compliment him. You don’t have to ask him out or buy him a drink, just give him a compliment. If he’s single and available it could easily start a conversation. There’s no reason why you can’t be nice, show positive energy and compliment somebody.”

Get a wingwoman

“As long as she’s not single, I’m for it. If she’s single, she’s going to try and take that man. If she’s in a healthy and committed relationship, she’s not looking for [a man]. At the end of the day, she wants to see you happy and she wants to be your love picker.”

P.S. Siggy met Michael through her wingwoman/best friend who is married

Put down your cell phone

Have you ever noticed how many people walking down the street are so absorbed in their cell phone or IPod? Chances are most of us haven’t paid attention to this because we are guilty of it ourselves. Siggy’s advice- “Don’t be so involved in your cell phone and your Ipod when walking down the street. Look up and make eye contact with someone. All it takes is a look and a smile.”

Siggy’s best dating advice- change your attitude

“Be the type of person you want to date. That all goes back to attitude. Would you want to date a downer or a show off or someone who talks about themselves? No. Be that person because that’s what you’re going to attract.”

 

Want more dating wisdom from Siggy? Every Wednesday from 11am to noon catch her new webinar/radio show the Siggy Flicker Show. Four callers can phone in and get personal advice about their dating dilemmas. Siggy will also be returning to VH1 in October 2012 for her new TV show.

Be sure to connect with Siggy Flicker on her website, Twitter and Facebook page!

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

Minyvonne Burke is a fashion and lifestyle writer for College Lifestyles ™. She graduated from Point Park University and is currently pursuing her master’s degree at Hofstra University. She loves online shopping, cute bags and NYC.

SarahFit Talks College Diets & Establishing a Brand to CL

Perhaps you’ve come across Sarah Dussault while browsing her over 200 videos on her popular YouTube channel looking for the latest fitness idea or read her blog for some cool recipe ideas. This University of Delaware alum has over 80 million views on YouTube and is your trusty source for everything diet, exercise, and lifestyle related. When she’s not watching her favorite T.V. show “Revenge” she eats her favorite treat, cupcakes, while sipping some SmartWater. With a dedicated “College” section on her blog, Sarah spoke to College Lifestyles about the challenges of being a healthy collegiate and how she navigated a hectic schedule and eating right.

Q: How is your website different from other health/fitness sites?

 A: “I think I symbolize what most women struggle with. I love fitness and not all the girls do but granted I love the cupcakes and I love college. Telling someone in college to completely not dink and cut out sweets because that’s not realistic. That’s what every diet and weight loss group says. So when I started to do my channel I found that I have a lot of college followers. My site’s different in that I say it’s okay to have a drink or two and I show that I do screw up sometimes but its not one of those things where you should throw in the towel if you have a mess up. Get back up on the horse and try again. I’m one of the few bloggers that also has a strong YouTube channel.”

Q: Do you have any tips for busy college who say they don’t have the time to exercise?

 A: “I don’t like accepting excuses. I was a college student I know what it is like to make the time. All you have to do is 20 minutes. Whether that’s 20 minutes in the morning or before your classes, that’s the easy answer. Those who are really strapped for time I tell them to move their body more and focus on their diet. You cannot exercise enough to overrule a bad diet. If you’re going to drink 10 beers and have late-night pizza, you’re not going to be able to exercise enough to not have a weight gain. In order to counterbalance you need to make good decisions when it comes to your diet. When it comes to moving your body, walk to class and take the stairs. If your on the phone and want to call your mom or call your friend at another school instead of sitting on the couch and talking, walk you burn more calories.”

Q: How did you compose the College Diet Plan?

A: “It’s a combination of literally what I’ve used to lose weight when I was in college. Sophomore year I lost all the weight I gained freshman year and kept it off. The College Diet is a mix between I did and what I do now. It’s clean eating (for the most part) and you have to use what you have available. It’s quick suggestions of what you could put together in your dorm room, dining hall, or student center. The foods don’t necessarily need to be cooked or stored in the fridge.”

Q: What are quick healthy meals for college students on the go?

A: “One of my favorite things is having an apple, a handful of almonds, and a Laughing Cow mini Babybell cheese. Its portable, you can put it in your bag, and it will stay fresh for a few hours. When you don’t have time to eat lunch that’s a quick little 250-calorie lunch. If you can run home to your apartment in between classes try making a smoothie. Other things are stir-fry. If you have a kitchenette stir-fry is awesome. At the dining hall go for brown rice and a salad.”

Q: For YouTube how did you gain so many subscribers? Do you have any tips?

A: “I started making YouTube videos in 2006 and basically it’s about being honest, be yourself, and have consistency within your brand. This is something I don’t have because I started so early and Twitter didn’t exist when I started my YouTube channel. Have your YouTube name, Twitter name, and Facebook name all under the same. Interact with your fans. When they leave you a comment, respond. If they give you a suggestion on a video to make, make it.”

 This season Sarah’s sporting the neon trend. To watch her bikini ready or prom workouts be sure to check out her YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook page!

 

 

Amber Ferguson is a senior Fashion/Health Intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is a sophomore at Prince George’s Community College. She’s obsessed with reality TV & loves traveling. Follow her on Twitter @Ms_AmberDawn!

CL Interviews Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler, Part II

Wrapping up her email interview with College Lifestyles, Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler participated in a Q&A with questions of importance to classy co-eds like you, questions about the College Lifestyles Beauty by Confidence Campaign, and about where she sees herself next.

 College Lifestyles: Time management is so important  – how do you do it? Any tips?

 Laura Kaeppeler: “The best way to conquer time management is to prioritize. Every day I make a list of the top 5 things I must get done in one day and as I complete a task, I cross it off my list.”

 CL: College Lifestyles believes in classiness – how would you describe a classy lady?

 LK: “When I think of classy women, I think of confidence, charm and elegance. I believe classy women are always aware of their surroundings and will portray themselves in the most positive way possible.”

 CL: CL wants to help prepare girls for intern and job interviews. What are your do’s and dont’s?

LK: “I don’t believe there are any right “do’s” or “don’t” for a job interview. First and foremost it is important to academically prepare to the best of your ability but once the preparations have been completed, I believe the second most important aspect is to be yourself. Allow your true personality to shine through. Most people remember presentation, eye contact, presence and poise more than the actual words that come from your mouth. Don’t be afraid to crack a joke, either. After all, even an interviewer is human and likes to laugh every once in a while. J”

 CL: College Lifestyles LOVES beauty and fashion. What are your must-haves for this season?

 LK: “My fashion models the expression “less is more.” I like to emulate women like Grace Kelly or Kate Middleton who represent timeless and effortless beauty. This season you will see me wearing beautiful colors and patterns paired with classic staples that remain in style no matter the season.”

College Lifestyles started a movement called the Beauty By Confidence Campaign, which, “not only promotes good health, nutrition and lifestyle practices but also the power of confidence and positive thinking in today’s college lady.”

Finish this quote – I love my …. “Family, and dog, Smokey J”

 CL: What do you love the most about yourself?

 LK: “I have learned to love being vulnerable. Being open to both criticism and praise allows me to continuously grow as a young woman and rather than loving only one thing about myself, I am learning to love all that I have to offer and give in this life.”

 CL: What makes you feel most confident?

 LK: “Being prepared, and making a killer entrance. The best feeling is giving an incredible speech or presentation and receiving compliments afterwards. Positive feedback is what motivates me to continuously work harder to make the next speech, presentation or performance better than the last which in turn constantly provokes confidence.”

 CL: Describe yourself in three words.

 LK: “Empowered, compassionate and genuine.”

 CL: What advice do you have for girls struggling with confidence and body image issues?

LK: “Having competed in the pageant world, I completely understand the pressure and stress to have the ‘perfect body.’  However, I will be the first to say, I in no way, shape or form have the perfect body. I am not a size 0, nor do I want to be. I have learned to be comfortable and confident in own skin, and comfortable and confident can come in all different shapes and sizes. The media portrays a negative view of what the ideal woman should look, walk and talk like, and I hope young women realize every person is made beautifully different and rather than all fit the mold of what the media portrays, we should embrace our unique body types. I believe true beauty shines from within.”

 CL: How do you stay healthy?

 LK: “Traveling 20,000 miles per month and living out of hotel rooms it is extremely difficult to maintain a workout regime or routine so I have to focus on nutrition. I look at food as fuel for my body. With an incredibly rigorous work schedule I know that I must fuel my body with the proper nutrients to maintain the stamina it needs to perform day in and day out. “

CL: Looking, ahead, where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years? Twenty years?

LK: “In five, ten and twenty years I hope to be happy, in whatever I find myself doing. My career ambition is to become an attorney so in the next five years I hope to be finishing law school. One day I hope to have children and a family of my own but I am one to not put a time limit on expectations for life because ‘life’ happens and plans will most likely change along the way. I believe God will steer my life in the direction He wants it to go and I will be most happy doing what I believe He has called me to do.”

Did we forget to ask Kaeppeler something you’re dying to know? Let us know in the comment box below!

Missed Part I? Check it out here!

Debra Schreiber is a senior journalism and Spanish double major at Duquesne University. She is a Senior Writer for College Lifestyles, and hopes that this article will inspire all classy co-eds as it has inspired her.

Pin It

CL Exclusive: Meet aSociete Co-Founder Vanessa Gabriel

Everybody loves a good fashion deal. University of the Pacific student Vanessa Gabriel’s business revolves around them. The 19-year-old entrepreneur started a website call aSociete where college students can shop and not feel guilty.

“With everything rising, such as tuition, gas, living, textbooks, etc., at the end of the day students have less money to spend on themselves,” Gabriel said. “aSociete is by college students for college students and we just want to help our peers around the nation save money and look good.”

Gabriel’s ambition to find brand name clothing at a low price is what encouraged her to create the site. Take a peek into her life as she explains the in and outs of being an entrepreneur before even graduating college.

CL: How does aSociete work?

VG: Liz Zepeda and Jarrett Mattson who are my buyers for the men’s and women’s fashion merchandise departments  establish personal relationships with brands working together to create exclusive sales for aSociete. They travel several times throughout the year to meet with brand representatives personally and create unique relationships with each. They also attend several fashion trade shows to meet with brands and coordinate future aSociete sales such as famous Magic in Las Vegas, Agenda in Huntington Beach, and LA Fashion Market. A lot of these brands love that we cater exclusively to college students and want to expose their brand to our market. Every sale that’s curated is put together specially for aSociete.

CL: How would you describe your own personal style? How do you use aSociete to style your wardrobe?

VG: I’ve grown so much in my style since I started college! My style secret is my 15-year-old sister who is such a fashionista and I always look to her for advice. She is definitely ahead of her time and stays up to date on all the trends. I love aSociete because I’ve always been a conscious shopper ever since I was little; learning to bargain shop and make my money last so being able to have access to these amazing brands at great prices is like heaven for me.

CL: How successful have you been with the site?

VG: The success has been awesome! Since our launch in late October of last, we’ve seen how aSociete has grown organically viral. It’s been truly amazing to see through social media and the internet how students arespreading the word about aSociete. We’ve even been lucky to have so much support on some of our social media platforms such as over 11,000+ likes on our Facebook Fan page and over 4,000+ Twitter followers. It’s really fun to see how students truly love the site and what we’re doing. With over 4,000+ orders sent out around the nation from places such as the East Coast or even Midwest it’s awesome to see that students love what we’re doing.

CL: You may be a MTV reality show star soon?

VG: We’re one of the finalists in the running for a new MTV reality series about young entrepreneurs in America with special mentorshipfrom PR guru Kelly Cutrone. It’s been super exciting and we’ve been in communication with the producers so far while the show is still in development. This opportunity has been really exciting for us because we know the potential it has to reach college students around the nation and let them know about aSociete!

CL: How do you utilize social media to gain attention?

VG: With social media being the most populated websites by college students it is marketing that we really use to our advantage. With so many different platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Vimeo etc. we try and connect with students every which way possible. Through each we try to offer something different so each audience feels like they can relate and connect with us as people and not just as a company.

Our favorite social media currently is connecting with other students through our videos. Not only are they fun to make and our video editor is amazing (he went on tour with Justin Bieber and Sean Kingston!) but we feel like students can relate to us on a deeper level and see for themselves that we’re college students just like them.

CL: How do you balance school and work?

VG: After hours spent adding, dropping, and researching potential classes to take I was able to work out a two day a week school schedule which leaves me three days to work on aSociete and not to mention a four day weekend. School and aSociete are very important to me and I try and prioritize my time to each. With school I try and stay ahead on homework and reading so on my off days I can solely focus all my attention on aSociete. The days I do attend school I’ll stay late in the library to get ahead on future homework/assignments for the following week so I never fall behind.

CL: Advice for college students looking to start something similar or branching out into the fashion industry?

VG: My #1 tip of advice is that always remember that there is no age requirement for success. I believe there is still a stigma around being young and inexperienced that people automatically rule you out thinking you can’t be successful. With having no business experience but an idea I immersed myself in the fashion industry and the people embraced my passion, ambition and eagerness to learn as much as I could from them.  I was relentless and didn’t let anything stop me from making aSociete a reality.

 ”Never did I expect to be running a full-fledged business with some of my best friends and really making an impact among my generation,” Gabriel said. “Everyday is really a blessing and I hope our story can be of inspiration to other college students or young people to know that anything is possible.” 

aSociete is offering an exclusive offer to College Lifestyles readers! For 20% off your first order, use the discount code: CL20 during checkout! 

 

Jessica Fecteau is a senior fashion, etiquette and apartment/dorm life writer and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Jessica loves fashion magazines, listening to indie/folk music and traveling to big cities.

Top 5 Spring Tips from GlaMORALES

Fashion/Wardrobe stylist, Candice Morales, recently launched GlaMORALES, to help all the fashionista’s unleash their inner glam. With experience assisting at New York Fashion Week, at high fashion photo shoots, and finding the best deals, Candice knows the essentials for every college girl trendsetter. GlaMORALES gave College Lifestyles the latest must haves for this season.

1)Fun Colorful Satchel:

ALDO Whittiker Satchel $89.53 from ASOS.com is a Glam Slam! Add this colorful satchel to any simple outfit for fun flirty look. Not only does this site have great deals but students receive a extra 10% off on purchases.

2) Statement Chic Blazer:

H&M carries blazers in various colors but try this hot pink piece $49 and you will sure to stand out amongst the rest. Match this with a solid colored skinny jean to finish the look.

3) Audrey Hepburn 60′s silhouette dress for instant a GlaMORALES look!

Topshop is a wonderful source for this: Take a look at this eye popping red dress $79.05 Pair this with a nude heel.

4) Fun, Feminine, Chic Blouse:

Zara is know for European feminine and chic appeal!  Try this whimsical floral top $49.90 with a white pant or shorts, and add a pop of color with your sandals.

5) Wedge Sandal:

Jessica Simpson linen/patriotic blue wedge $99.  I must say Jessica Simpson has come a long way but who cares her shoes are ridiculously cute, comfortable, and glam! Substitute the heels for a comfortable wedge.

To get more fashion tips from GlaMORALES be sure to check out their Twitter and Facebook! 

Amber Ferguson is a fashion/health intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is a sophomore at Prince George’s Community College studying English. She’s obsessed with reality TV & loves traveling. Follow her on Twitter @Ms_AmberDawn.

Pin It

CL Interviews Miss America 2012, Laura Kaeppeler, Part I

Laura Kaeppeler, 24, is a graduate of Carthage College, where she studied Music and Vocal Performance.  Two years ago her friend Caitlin Gomez, who was Miss Kenosha at the time, suggested she give pageants a try. Kaeppeler the advice to heart and went on to win the Miss Kenosha title. She then placed second-runner up Miss Wisconsin, a title she eventually won and competed with in the Miss America Pageant. She was crowned Miss America 2012.

It’s no doubt that Kaeppeler’s singing talent gets her noticed at competitions - Gomez encourged Kaeppeler to enter because of it.

“She (Gomez) attended Carthage College with me and was in the music department with me and said, ‘You have a talent, you’re involved in your community, this seems like it would be a great fit for you,’” Kaeppeler said in her email interview. “I had no idea what I was doing or what the Miss America organization stood for. I just threw myself into the competition, but figured if I did well for not having much preparation time, I could perhaps compete the following year and win my state. That was just this past year, and here I am.” 

If it was her talent that got her started, it is her philanthropy that keeps her going. Kaeppeler works with Circles of Support: Mentoring and Advocating for Children of Incarcerated Parents, a very personal cause.

“My father committed a white collar crime and was sentenced to one year in federal prison,” Kaeppeler said. “Having walked in the shoes of the children of incarcerated parents, I have first-hand experienced the emotions of pain, isolation, fear and guilt that are accompanied with having a parent in prison. As Miss America, I have a very large platform to discuss this topic at a national level, to raise awareness for the millions of children in our country who have a parent in prison, and to also encourage children who have a parent in prison to dream larger than life, and to believe those dreams can become a reality.”

As Miss America, Kaeppeler gets to speak about this issue around the country, attend charity events, and sing.

“I travel 20,000 miles per month and am in a different state almost every 72 hours” she said. “I can be found in a variety of different appearance venues such as speaking on my platform, visiting a Children’s Hospital as The National Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network, working with our corporate sponsors, or singing in a performance venue.”

And when she’s not practicing her music or heading off to a new state?

“I am also a huge baseball fan and enjoy rooting for and attending Chicago Cubs’ games,” she said.

Check back next week for Part II, a Q&A that every college co-ed should read!

 Debra Schreiber is a senior Journalism and Spanish major at Duquesne University, and a Senior Writing Intern for College Lifetyles. She is excited to see the Miss Duquesne pageant this Friday, sponsored by the sisters of Alpha Sigma Tau and the Duquesne Program Council.

Pin It

“Be kind, no exceptions” CL interviews a unique Good Samaritan

In a world where, at times there seems to be such depressing and sad news, a little kindness can go a long way. While I was attending undergrad at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, there was a lady who made it her mission to spread joy, happiness, and kindness. To the public, she was known as “Secret Agent L” and in July 2009 she began the Secret Agent L (SAL) project. Agent L and her ‘affiliated agents’ would do anonymous random acts of kindness or ‘day-brighteners’ for unsuspecting Pittsburgh residents. A year after the project began, Agent L held a charitable fundraiser to reveal her identity to the world. Behind the nude trench coat, dark sunglasses and black hat was 32 year old Laura Miller. Followers and supporters were thrilled they could finally put a face to this mysterious woman. College Lifestyles was able to chat with Laura about SAL, life after the reveal and all things good.

 

How did the Secret Agent L (SAL) project begin?

I used to have a personal blog and there was a woman in Texas named Tobi who was reading my blog and I was reading hers. She always left comments and we would sometimes talk through email.  After a while, it felt like I knew her. In July of 2009, Tobi was going to have a birthday and I really wanted to send her something. Tobi said not to send her anything, instead she wanted me to go out and do a random act of kindness.  She told me I can call myself ‘Secret Agent L’.  So Tobi is responsible.

After Tobi’s suggestion, you ran with the idea. What was the first ‘mission’ you performed?

I was a theater major in undergrad and I act professionally as well so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to take on another persona. So I decided that’s what I was going to do for Tobi. I was sitting at work with my assistant Vivian and I explained the whole situation to her and I said I think it would be so cool to make a little business card and attach it to a flower and leave that flower somewhere like on a random windshield or wherever and take pictures and put them on the blog. We created a secret agent blog and sent it off to Tobi. Tobi thought it was above and beyond but she loved it. She submitted the post to a website called Kirtsy, where you can find the most interesting things on the web. Within a day I was getting hundreds of hits on my blog and I thought this was so fun that I had to do another mission.

What kind of reactions have you received about the SAL project?

People who first learn about the project are really interested in participating, which is the best. Occasionally, I will get emails from people who have been recipients from a mission and across the board their responses are that they were having a really hard day or they were going through serious depression or have been feeling really alone and they happen to look down and see this card that says ‘For you, yes you!’  and it changed everything for them that day. There couldn’t be better reactions than that.

Why did you decide to reveal yourself after being anonymous for the first year of the project?

I started to feel kind of lonely because all these followers were telling me how much how they enjoyed what I was doing and they wanted to meet me. So I decided to reveal myself at a charity fundraiser for National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Did your life change at all after the big reveal?

A couple days after the reveal fundraiser and party CNN contacted me about doing a live interview on TV. The morning after the interview, I had over a thousand emails in my inbox. Then the Huffington Post picked up the story along with Fox news, the Alan Colmes show, Glamour.com and Readers Digest. Yahoo! did a story on the top ten inspirational acts of 2010 and named the Secret Agent L project as one of those acts. Once CNN contacted me, my life completely changed.

What kind of missions do you and your affiliated agents perform?

I have taken a little step back from doing the missions only because the project in the last couple years has really grown but when I do get a chance to do a mission I really love giving just a five dollar bill in a greeting card or a coffee shop gift card. I always tell the affiliated agents that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a difference. It’s the little things like that really have a good meaning. I take whatever is personal to me and give it back to someone else.

Did you ever expect this blog to turn into a project with Affiliated Agents from all around the world?

Not at all! When I was anonymous for the first year, it was just something fun Vivienne and I could do. We would occasionally do these missions because we thought it was really exciting that no one knew who we were but we had such a huge following.

A lot of times we are juggling so many things. How do you find the time to do this?

I’m going to make the time, not find it. When it comes down to it you make the time for it. You make a conscious decision to do this and give back. I don’t do it every day but my heart tells me that this is something important to me and it really matters. Nothing tops what I get from this project, nothing.

How can CL readers become an Affiliated Agent?

It’s really simple to become an agent. Visit secretagentl.com and send me an email and I will email back giving everything they need to do their first mission. I’ll include tips on how to complete your first mission. I don’t assign a mission to people because I want them to make this a completely personal thing. I also attach the SAL business card so you can leave them on your mission gifts.  After the mission is complete, email a picture and a write up about what you did and watch for it on the blog.

 

Since its beginning in 2009, the Secret Agent L Project has gained international attention with over 2,000 affiliated agents in 8 different countries including Japan, Germany, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Australia.

 

Interested in spreading happiness?  Visit the SAL website to become an affiliated agent.

 

___________________________________________________________________________________

Minyvonne Burke is a fashion and lifestyle writer for College Lifestyles ™. She graduated from Point Park University and is currently pursuing her master’s degree at Hofstra University. She loves online shopping, cute bags and NYC.

College Lifestyles March Book Club: The Violets of March

College Lifestyles is announcing our latest endeavor, a Book Club!  Every Saturday (when most of us curl up with a book), we will post questions to the site, Facebook, and twitter related to the book of the month.  Mid-month, we will develop style looks (based on the characters) via Polyvore and post to all our media outlets! Later in the month, we will host a twitter party (with great giveaways!) based on your thoughts surrounding the book.  In addition, we will have an interview with each author on their reasoning behind the book plot AND their future publications!

The book for March is The Violets of March: A Novel
by Sarah Jio.

Several of the College Lifestyles Interns are praising their love for the The Violets of March and are ready for Sarah’s next book, Blackberry Winter.

Book Description:

In her twenties, Emily Wilson was on top of the world: she had a bestselling novel, a husband plucked from the pages of GQ, and a one-way ticket to happily ever after. Ten years later, the tide has turned on Emily’s good fortune. So when her great-aunt Bee invites her to spend the month of March on Bainbridge Island in Washington State, Emily accepts, longing to be healed by the sea. Researching her next book, Emily discovers a red velvet diary, dated 1943, whose contents reveal startling connections to her own life.

Book Trailer:

 

About Sarah Jio:

Sarah Jio is a frequent contributor to major magazines, including Real Simple, Glamour, Cooking Light, and Redbook, and is also the health and fitness blogger for Glamour.com. She lives in Seattle with her family. The Violets of March is her first novel.  Follow Sarah via her website, Facebook, and Twitter!

Purchase the book:

Click here to purchase the The Violets of March: A Novel.

The Violets of March discussion will start on Saturday, March 3.

SIGN UP for our Book Club to win a copy of The Violets of March:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZSBCYVY

QUESTIONS:

-Have you read The Violets of March or the Bungalow (Sarah’s 2nd novel)?

-If you read The Violets of March, what questions should we pose to Sarah for our interview?

-What questions should we cover in our Twitter Party?

Pin It

Next Page »