Goodwill Hunting: How To Shop At Second-Hand Stores

Skillfully scouring through heaps of belts, piles of heels, and shelves of knickknacks from decades past is as easy as it sounds. It may appear intimidating–platforms from the 70s tend to do that to people–but see the racks of endless treasures as items in a vast and vibrant playing field. Looking to channel Brigitte Bardot á la the 1960s or in need of a funky costume? Head to a local shop full of hand-me-downs needing revival and keep these tips in mind.

Let the Clothes Speak

Go shopping with less of a plan. Wait and see what the store has to offer! If your eyes are set on finding a sheer, ruffled top, you might miss the vintage medallion that would work perfectly with those studded heels you recently bought! And don’t let shiny paillettes on a nearby cocktail dress blindside you–walk toward the sparkle. Let magic happen. Or, at least be open to letting magic happen–you won’t be disappointed.

Embrace the History

Get completely wrapped up in what makes a beaten-up fringe boot or a metal charm bracelet what it is. Consider these questions: Who brought this here? Where did this come from? Who wore it first? Think through your prospective purchase and the object will become that much cooler. Your next vintage-buy could’ve came straight from an “Old Hollywood” stars’ dressing room!

Look Ridiculous

Every era brings along trends which should never resurface again. As tragic as these said fashion-embarrassments are, delve into the entire experience by traveling back in time and trying on something crazy. Take pictures with your girlfriends at your discretion (remember, once photos go viral, good luck convincing your friend to take it down).

There’s Beauty in Imperfection

Embrace a missing rhinestone or two from a belt or a scuff mark on a leather jacket. It adds personality and age to a classic piece. Besides, anything can be altered and updated once it’s in your hands. If you can’t bare the scratch on the brim of your vintage Ray Ban’s, see if an eyeglass store can clean it up or fit you for a new frame. Problem solved!

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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Top 5 Summer 2012 Fashion Trends

The summer season is fast-approaching, which means it is officially time to pack away your coats and light cardigans

from the spring to make room for sundresses, shorts, and tank tops galore.  With each new season comes new trends, and the runways this spring were filled with looks sure to be seen everywhere in the coming months.  Florals is a trend which has been popular for the last few spring and summer seasons and it’s back again, only this time designers are being a bit bolder with this consumer favorite pattern.  Last summer was all about loud colors, basically the brighter the better, but this summer is bringing out the soft, pastel shades usually reserved for spring time.  Some other popular trends for this summer include sporty chic wear, pajama inspired wear, checkerboard and tribal patterns, and many more.  Here are the top five trends you should pay attention to when you are planning out your summer wardrobe, and a few ideas to get you started.

1. Crop Tops

 

The shorter the better seems to be the mantra for blouses this summer. Instead of the long, flowing blouses we have seen lining the shelves of retail stores, summer 2012 is significantly reducing the need for fabric.  Designers such as Prada, Miu Miu, and Emilio Pucci lined their runways with crop tops by pairing them with maxi skirts to provide a nice contrast and play with proportions.

2. Florals

Florals have been in high demand for quite a while now, but instead of the sweet, small printed flower patterns which tended to lean towards the lighter side of the color palette, this summer’s flroals are intermixed between other patterns, and printed in bold colors to make the pattern pop.  This trend was utilized by Dries Van Noten, DKNY, and Christopher Kane.

3. Pastels

Mint green, lavender, cotton candy pink, baby blue: these are all colors you should consider adding into your wardrobe.  While the florals are getting brighter, the solid colors are getting softer, and pastels were all the rage on the runways this spring.  Designers such as Chanel, Givenchy, and Louis Vuitton were fans of this color wheel.

4. 1920’s Inspiration

Fashion is cyclical, and historical influences are a common inspiration for designers.  The 1920’s is a notable era for fashion with the heavily-beaded flapper dresses to the cloche hats fitted perfectly atop a Marcel wave. This summer’s fashion is drawing heavily from this decade, and vintage style is ready to make a splash. Designers like Gucci, Ralph Lauren, and Alberta Ferretti all drew from the 1920’s.

5. Glitz and Shine

If you aren’t a fan of the subtle, pastel colors, then this trend may be the one for you.  It’s all about jewel tones, metallics, and shiny fabrics to make your outfit really make a statement.  This trend was utilized by Giorgio Armani, Marc Jacobs, and Prabal Gurung.

 

Monica Maldonado is a journalism and fashion merchandising student at the University of North Texas, and a member of Phi Kappa Phi.  When she’s not running around campus trying to find her next story, you can find her attached to her laptop, feeding her addiction to pop culture and fashion.

 

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CL Spring Sparkle Guide!

Some trends come and go, but I like to sparkle and shine all year around! We saw huge trends in sequins this year, but it seemed like most of our favorite bloggers were too focused on the colder months!  So here’s a quick list are some outfits and accessories we can use to dazzle our way through the spring flowers and summer nights!

1. Head Bands

Sparkly hands bands are my best friends, (especially when my hair is looking a little flat first thing in the morning). The good thing about hair accessories in general is they’re rarely too much or too loud. A little bit of sparkle at top of your head will really bring out an outfit, so unleash your inner princess with a sparkly hair piece! If you have short hair like me, sequined flowers really add pizzaz to your ‘do. And if you’re a DIY gal, headbands are totally you! Tipjunkie has a ton of ideas!)

2. Tops

Now if you’re looking for a little bit more sparkle and shine than average, don’t worry, you’re still reading the right blog. Check out how Kara from Kara’s Closet plays up her flowy, heavy sleeved sequined top with a plain black mini. It’s elegant, chic, and ready for a night on the town. You wouldn’t need many accessories with an outfit like this- the great thing about sequins is they really are an outfit all by themselves. Perfect for a day when there isn’t a lot of time to get ready!

3.Skirts

We talked about tops, now let’s talk about bottoms. Sequined skirts were a huge trend earlier this year, but now they’re even better because it’s warm and you won’t have to wear tights or nylons under them.  Threegirlsandamic set up a beautiful collage of ideas for us to sample, and what’s good about sequins is like any other piece, you can go as simple and as decorative as you want. If you don’t want to feel like a mermaid in the blue sequin skirt, you can always opt for a neutral color like black, on the bottom, and a wild crazy color on top. The choice is yours!

4.Belts

Now I understand that not everyone’s a belt gal, but I am, so I’m going to have to do a shout-out to my sequined belts. We all know that belts can be worn with pants, shirts, and dresses, but when your waistline has an extra sparkle; it really makes you stand out from the crowd.

 

I hope these idea are an inspiration for you. I plan to get my shine on this semester (well, what’s left) and I hope you do the same. Let those sparkles on the outside complement that beautiful glow you have on the inside!

 

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.

Look For Less: Lauren Conrad

Hi ladies, this past weekend was one of the best music festivals ever, Coachella! Although I sadly wasn’t in attendance some our favorite celebrities were. Not only was this a great weekend for music, it was a great weekend for celebrity street style. One of my favorite looks this weekend was Lauren Conrad. After a few hours of digging, I’ve finally found LC’s Coachella 2012 look and was also able to put together some looks for less.

 

Style by the City: Las Vegas

When the weather starts to get just a bit too hot, Las Vegas is the perfect place to look for a little style inspiration. Their partying attitude may not be the best way to get through finals, but their style is sure to put a little spring in your step.

 

Casual Outfit: Las Vegas Sign 

Las Vegas is so fabulous that it needs a sign to tell you just how fabulous it is. You can look just as great in a pair of bright denim shorts and a yellow logo tee with a message that fits perfectly with Las Vegas’ anything-goes attitude. Add a pair of red sandals that will allow you to sight-see comfortably before a night on the town, and a little pink neon bag to hold all your essentials. Finish off your look with a glam glittery red nail polish because hey, you’re in Vegas!

Evening Outfit: Bellagio Fountain

Las Vegas is synonymous with dancing the night away, so get the party started in this daring cut-out purple dress. Since we’re at a fountain, add a pair of strappy watery blue sandals and a matching glitzy clutch. Complete the outfit with a pair of statement silver earrings.

Internship Outfit: Hoover Dam

About 30 miles from Las Vegas is the Hoover Dam, the greatest engineering feat of the 1930s. Channel this determination into your work by choosing the perfect business-like internship outfit. A pair of linen pants and a white tank top keep you cool in the heat, while a structured blue blazer prevents the outfit from becoming too casual. Add a pair of blue pumps and a silver-and-white tote that reflects the Hoover Dam.

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

Spring cleaning your makeup bag

Maybelline, L’Oreal and M.A.C. have been with us through the good times and bad. They enhanced our beauty for first dates and glamorized our look for special occasions.  If you’re like me you probably have a drawer or bag devoted to nothing but these beloved products. But let’s be honest, how many tubes of “Ravishing Red” does a girl really need? With summer right around the corner, now is the perfect time to clear out that makeup drawer so CL gives you our tips on how to spring clean your beauty bag.

Assess the damage
Gather up your entire makeup collection and lay it out on a towel. To make things easier to identify, separate the content into  piles- lips, eyes, cheeks and miscellaneous.

 

Discard old products
As much as we would like to think our favorite product will last forever, chances are it might already be expired. Old makeup can cause irritation and infections. It might not be easy for everyone to be able to tell when their cosmetics have gone bad so below we give you a general consensus of when it should be tossed.

• Lip/eye liner- if it is a pencil they last 2-3 years; liquid lasts about 4 months (lip and eye liners should be sharpened on a regular basis to keep bacteria down)
• Lipstick- 1-2 years
•  Mascara- 4-6 months
•  Nail polish- 1-2 years
•  Foundation- 6 months
• Powder based products (blush, eye shadow etc)- up to 18 months

Discard unnecessary duplicates
It might be a good idea to keep backups of your favorite or most used products but having five cases of that eye shadow you only wear for Halloween is a bit much. Toss it or if it’s still good pass along to someone else.

 

 

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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.

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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CL Rainy Weather Looks

And lastly for my ladies that every being casual and classy during the rainy weather. A cute top, jeans and rain boots is the best way to go.

 

Shanae Hatchett is a sophomore English major with a minor in Public Relations at Hampton University. She is obsessed with fashion,shopping, magazines, celebrity drama, and reality tv all while wearing cute shoes with a caramel macchiato in hand.

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Looks for Less: Fashion of Pretty Little Liars

Our favorite liars from Rosewood always have mysteries to solve and relationship troubles on their hands. However, these girls always seem to do it in style. Aria, Emily, Spencer, and Hanna are four very different girls with distinct personalities, and their styles reflect it. So, if you’re  into Aria’s bohemian style with an edge, or Emily’s casual and sensible ensembles, or Spencer’s preppy flair, or Hanna’s bold and bright outfits, here are a few choice items to get you started and you won’t have to break the bank to do it.

Aria Montgomery

 

Emily Fields

Spencer Hastings

Hanna Marin

 

 

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