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. 

 

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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.

Guy v. Girl Pretty: Summer Trends

When a guy digs a girl’s style, he’ll often let her know through compliments. But how do we know he’s not just being nice and actually hates it? I talked with four college guys to get the scoop on what’s in and what’s out in their mind. This summer, many items are trending that could make or break an outfit. Read on to see the boys sound off on what makes a classy co-ed’s wardrobe wearable for summer.

 

 

Cross body bags

“If you really need to carry your life with you, the cross-body shoulder bag is probably a very practical way of doing this. You could carry your makeup, keys, wallet, a book, camera, phone, and of course the random assortment of other things any modern day Mary Poppins would need. Yes, I said Mary Poppins. Let’s be honest, even Julie Andrews was sporting this in good fashion in the 1960s classic. Now, you just add a strap and through it across your chest. I personally think the less a woman has to carry with her, the better. It shows confidence and you can stand up straight without killing your back all day with giant purse. Also, please don’t put little dogs in purses this size, or any size. Don’t carry tiny dogs with you ladies. Not sexy.” – Jake, 25

“More commonly known to men as boob separators. Yeah they’re fine.” -Robert, 24

“I don’t know how I feel about these. I like leather ones.” -Michael, 23

 

Floral hair accessories 

“I think flower accessories in girls’ hair can be a risky decision for most girls. There are two problems: picking the right flower and having the facial bone structure to pull it off.” -Jake, 25

“Flowers in your hair look really cute … if you’re nine.” -Orrin, 21

“Desperate for attention. Plus they are ugly and feathers look nicer.” -Robert, 24

“I don’t care for them much, but girls love them for some reason.” -Michael, 23

 

Aviator sunglasses

“Aviators are alright, I guess, if you’re looking to date a NASCAR fan or find yourself picking up pilots. They can work on some girls, yes. The problem here is recognizing your bone structure once again. If you have very defined facial features, don’t wear aviators. Let your features speak for themselves. More men find that attractive.” -Jake, 25

“Everyone looks good wearing aviators.” -Orrin, 21

“They just hide their face because A. they are trying to hide a bruise or B. they have a pimple or something they dont want people to see.” -Robert, 24

“I think they’re played out for the most part but a lot of girls can still wear them tastefully.” -Michael, 23

 

Jean vests 

“Jean vests are retro. Yes, I get it. If I wanted to see them though, I would hop in my Delorean, shoot up to 88 miles per hour and travel back to the late 80s or early 90s. Jean jackets, jean vests, pretty much jean anything says you’ve lost yourself in your parent’s closet for too long to convince yourself that looks good. Keep jeans on your legs where they belong.” -Jake, 25

“Jeans are meant to be worn on the bottom. Not the top.” -Orrin, 21

“They make those? I don’t think I have ever seen them. But I’m a sucker for jean anything so I probably would like it.” -Robert, 24

“I like them. Basically if you wear them, others realize that you have style because there has to be some thought behind a denim vest.” -Michael, 23

 

What do you think of these trends? Does your boyfriend or guy friends like when you wear them? Comment below!

Next week, I will show you what aSociete sent me to try on! 

 

 

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.

 

A Classy Sunglass Warehouse Intern: Krista Weber dishes the secrets to finding the perfect pair of sunglasses

After what may have seemed like a long winter for some classy co-eds, spring has finally arrived and bringing tons of new spring trends! With the sun glaring down and temperatures rising, every classy co-ed should own a pair of trendy sunglasses. Don’t waste your time looking through magazines or spending hours at a department store looking for the right pair, but instead take advice from Krista Weber, an intern at Sunglass Warehouse. Krista is a fashionista who attends Butler University where she is a member of Delta Gamma Sorority.

CL: What is your definition of a classy co-ed?

KW:  I would define classy co-eds as college students who stay true to who they are and enjoy keeping up with the latest fashion trends

CL: How do you stay classy?

KW: I stay classy by wearing cat eye sunglasses because they have a classic look but also help me keep up with my retro style.

CL: How does Sunglass Warehouse fit or cater to the needs of classy co-eds?

KW: Sunglass Warehouse caters to the needs of classy co-eds by staying on top of the latest trends and providing multiple sunglass styles to fit anyone’s personality and taste.

CL: What are the top trends for sunglasses this spring?

KW: Top sunglass trends this spring would definitely be cat eyes, brights, and round oversized sunglasses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CL: What are some tips to finding the perfect pair of sunglasses?

KW: To find the perfect pair of sunglasses, it is important to keep your face shape in mind as well as the color of your hair and skin. Sunglass Warehouse, has a free widget called The Sun Authority. The widget provides ways of identifying your face shape using images for comparison and then provides sunglasses suggestions accordingly. For example, I have a heart-shaped face, just like Reece Witherspoon, and cat-eye styles, which feature wide angles at the top of the frames, help to balance the jaw line. Generally, shapes that are wider on the top than the bottom work well as they minimize the forehead’s width and help balance the face. Frames with rimless bottoms or a straight top line will have this effect, such as aviators.

CL: How do you wear your sunglasses?

KW: I wear my cat eye sunglasses with a classy animal print spring scarf, jean button down, red jeans, a colorful cross body and a Fedora Hat. This is a very trendy look for spring!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My personal favorite are the aviators! What’s yours? Be sure to leave a comment and let us know!

 

 

 

 

 

Sherelle Black is a junior at Louisiana Tech University majoring in journalism with a minor in marketing. She is president of her chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and likes to dance and hang with her sorority sisters in her spare time.

 

College Lifestyles Interviews La Carmina: Fashion Blogger, TV Host, World Traveler

Want to travel the world? Be on TV? Write a book? La Carmina has done all that and more.  After being accepted to Yale Law School at just 20 years old, La Carmina needed a creative outlet and began a style blog in September 2007. Since then, La Carmina has acquired an impressive resume a mere 7 years after her graduation from Columbia University. College Lifestyles had the chance to pick this multimedia guru’s brain, and find out how you can do all the cool things she does – for a living.

 

College Lifestyles (CL): Could you explain for our readers what exactly it is you do?
La Carmina (LC): I’m a travel and fashion TV host, journalist, and blogger at http://www.lacarmina/com/blog. My focus is on alternative and Gothic youth subcultures, in Japan and all over the world. I was born in Vancouver, Canada and studied at Columbia University and Yale Law, but I started a blog and it led me down a life-changing road. I’m now the author of 3 books — including Cute Yummy Time (Penguin) and Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo (Random House) — and a journalist for CNN, Huffington Post, AOL. My ”First Mate” and I started a TV fixing, hosting and coolhunting (CL Note: ie trendspotting) firm, called “La Carmina & The Pirates.” I also host my own web series for AOL / Huffington Post, and constantly travel for appearances and press trips (this year, I participated in a panel and sat front row at New York Fashion Week). Right now, my focus is on television presenting; my credits include The Today Show, Travel Channel, NHK Japan, Fuel/Discovery/National Geographic, Food Network, Pepsi, Sony, Norway TV, CNN. All my TV clips are here.

CL: How did you start each of these ventures?
LC: From the start, my blog focused on my passion: Japanese, alternative and subculture style. As fashion blogging blew up, I was fortunate to have opportunities to host TV shows, travel (New York, Italy, Hong Kong, Mexico, Japan), and write for major publishers and media organizations. My site organically led to these opportunities; Andrew Zimmern’s production company found me because I wrote a book about theme restaurants and blogged about bizarre Japanese cafes. They invited to be the guide on Bizarre Foods in Tokyo. After, I kept receiving television hosting and arranging offers, so I started a company with my First Mate Naomi, called La Carmina & The Pirates. We also do coolhunting, consulting, Tokyo tour guiding and other missions.

CL: What is a typical day like for you?
LC: Each day is different, depending on whether I’m on a TV shoot, traveling, or working on my site and Pirate jobs. If I’m on a travel TV shoot, it’s go-go-go from morning to night. There’s tons of advance planning, from getting filming permits to sorting out each step of the itinerary. On low-key days, I spend time with my Scottish Fold cat, Basil Farrow, and catch up on the deluge of emails that never seems to end.

CL: By the looks of it, you’re an extremely busy person – how do you manage your time?
LC: I believe in “working smart.” A lot of people work themselves to the ground for no reason or gain. I think it’s important to manage your time well, say no to the unessential tasks, and delegate. Fortunately, since my work is strongly personality-based, work and play are usually linked.

CL: How did you become interested in Japanese culture?
LC: Since my family is from Asia, we often traveled to Japan when I was young. In my early teens, I visited Harajuku and adored the vibrant street fashion and culture – Jrock, Gothic Lolita, Punk, Kawaii. This was the initial spark that led to where I am today. I continue to be fascinated by Japanese pop culture, such as the weird theme restaurants and cute bento boxes.

CL: How did last year’s 3/11 earthquake affect your work?
LC: Many of my friends were affected by the disaster, and I wanted to do something to help. I fundraised in LA, and released two design collaborations to benefit Japan: a HOPE benefit t-shirt with Like Atmosphere, and a panda bear necklace with Soho Hearts. Both are for sale here, with proceeds going to the earthquake and tsunami victims. These charity collections are meaningful to me because they’re an artistic response to the disaster; a way to raise awareness and rebuild. On the anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami (March 11), I also teamed up with two amazing Industrial dancers, tank9 and Mary Nine. We filmed a dance video in Seattle, for Ridley Scott’s “Japan in a Day” project — you can watch it here. Our footage captures the immense positivity and energy of youths teaming up for an important cause.

CL: Why do you think you’ve become so successful as an online presence, and how can CL readers do the same?
LC: Part of it is luck and good timing; I started La Carmina blog in 2007, when blogging was a relatively new phenomenon. I posted frequently, participated in social networks and built everything up gradually. I also feel that when an opportunity presents itself, you should try to take it as far as it can go — the sky’s the limit. I never dreamed I could have these amazing gigs in travel and TV, but now it’s my life.

CL: How did your undergraduate experience shape your career?
LC: I studied at Columbia University in New York City. I like to say I majored in “nightcrawling,” since I probably learned more from the city’s alt nightlife than the classroom! However, I loved my school’s Core Curriculum, and humanities courses in Japanese culture and philosophy. Going to Columbia and Yale Law let me explore my interests and figure out what I wanted to do.

CL: What advice do you have for aspiring writers/fashion designers/TV hosts?
LC: Prove that you’ve got the track-record (schooling, portfolio of successful projects). Show numbers and the results that you can
deliver. And only work with people who “get it.” You have something special to offer, a window into the world you inhabit — so make sure your clients appreciate and respect that. I think a college education always helps to broaden your mind, and get you where you want to be.

CL: What’s your favorite place you’ve been and why?
LC: I love Tokyo’s spooky scene. You’ll always find me and my friends at Goth Industrial and Fetish parties. I also spend too much time in the Japanese Lolita Jrock Punk second hand store, Closet Child.

CL: What’s your favorite part of the job? What’s the most difficult?
LC: Nothing makes me happier than hearing from readers, who say my blog brightened up their day, or inspired/ helped them in some way. Sometimes it’s challenging to work for yourself — you have to always juggle and chase new projects — but I love the freedom and flexibility it gives me.

CL: How do you manage your personal relationships when you travel so much?
LC: Skype and email makes it easy to keep in touch. And my Scottish Fold cat, Basil Farrow is endlessly forgiving.

CL: Goth-Loli style is beautiful but very dramatic. What is a good ’starter outfit’ for someone who wants to incorporate a little bit of this style in their wardrobe?
LC: There’s no rulebook that states you must own certain items or wear expensive Japanese brands to enter this lovely world. Instead, you can make Lolita a part of your life in many small ways. And the further you explore this wonderland, the more your confidence will grow. Start with tiny “tips of the hat” to Lolita fashion in your daily wear. For example, you might wear a big bow in your hair, or doll eyelashes, or a cute tutu skirt. My friends and I like to mix Loli influences into our clothes; we don’t believe you have to look like an Angelic Pretty model in order to genuinely enjoy the fashion.

CL: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
LC: “Don’t be a tuna head!” From the Maniac Mansion computer game.

CL: Is there anything important that you’d like to share with CL that I haven’t asked?
LC:  It’s impossible to predict the path you’ll end up on, but a college education will always help you to get there. I’ve found that my writing and reporting has benefited from my studies, and that companies have been more keen to work with me because of my degrees. I didn’t end up in law, but found a path that I love, and that’s 100% me. And you can do the same! I hope you’ll stay tuned to my La Carmina blog, to see where my adventures take me next.

Want to know more about La Carmina? Check out her blog, find her on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter!

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.

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.

Classy Co-ed On Campus: Bithiah Lee

 The University of Michigan is a different campus this March with the sunshine gleaming down like the spotlight on a dark stage. The campus is a runway for fashionistas, but senior, Bithiah Lee is one of the few classy co-eds that steals the spotlight. Not only is she super friendly and has a unique, fashion-forward style, she also is a triple major in English, Political Science, and Global Media Studies. Get to know this friendly face a little more and steal some of her fabulous style advice!

 

CL: What’s a quote or motto that you live by?
Bithiah: Matthew 22:37-39

CL: A lady deserves to indulge from time to time. What are your favorite guilty pleasures?
Bithiah: One of my secret guilty pleasures is watching “nobody’s” sing famous songs on youtube (covers!). When they sing poorly, I think it’s okay to laugh at them, but when they sing well, I’m jealous.

CL: CLassy co-ed dilemma: lacking motivation. How do you motivate yourself when you need a little push?
Bithiah: I listen to a pump-up song and if circumstances are dire, I may even shut the blinds, crank up the volume, and do a little dance.

CL: What is your go-to accessory?
Bithiah: My braided leather belt

CL: You gleam classy. Fill CL in on how you do it.
Bithiah: I honestly believe it’s less about what you wear than it is about how you wear it. I don’t  try to follow what other people wear, what brands are popular, etc. I wear what I like, what I am comfortable in, and I try to be creative with what I can afford (I am a fan of thrifting!). Whenever people ask me if something looks good, I always tell them, “Don’t ask me if it looks good. Wear it, rock it, and tell me that it looks good!”

CL: What are your “must-have” beauty items?
Bithiah: Specs: large, thick-framed glasses/sunglasses, my leather TIMEX watch, multiple rings, and a hair tie for bad hair days.

CL: If you could only eat 3 foods the rest of your life, what would they be?
Bithiah: Pizza, watermelon, mandarin oranges

CL: What is your dream job?
Bithiah: Anything related to entertainment or fashion media.

CL: What 3 words would you use to describe yourself?
Bithiah: Creative, down-to-earth, active

CL: What does being “classy” mean to you?
Bithiah: Having swag, and wearing what you wear/doing what you do/saying what you say with confidence

CL: How would you describe your style?
Bithiah: Relaxed, genuine, & innovative.

If you know a classy co-ed that should be featured in College Lifestyles, reach out to us in our comments section, through our Facebook page, our Twitter, or our Tumblr!

XO Sunny

 

Sana Ashraf is a fashion writer and fashion show intern and is a junior at the University of Michigan. Sana loves reading fashion magazines, shopping sprees, city lights, color coordinated closets, and all four seasons.

Classy Co-ed On Campus: Sonja

Best Dressed on Campus: Meet CMU student Michele Kissick

Casual and girly, CL reader Michele Kissick keeps things simple with her everyday look. But, the avid yoga pants fan steps up her style on the weekends with her colorful wardrobe. This Central Michigan University sophomore’s classy style has landed her as this week’s ‘Best Dressed on Campus.’

As an employee at Somerset Mall in Troy, Michigan, she said she is always window shopping during breaks.

“I always like to see what looks good together and ways I can mix and match outfits,” Kissick said.

Take a sneak peak at her college look and how she effortlessly achieves best dressed status.

 

Fashion Inspiration: Blair from Gossip Girl because her style is very creative but always looks put together and fashionable.

Favorite Store: Forever 21. “It’s cute and cheap.”

She can’t live without: Cardigans. “I probably have like 10.”

What she looks for while shopping: ”I always look for different and fun tops to go with basic skirts.”

Favorite Season for Fashion: “I love the fall. I feel like all my cute outfits were in the fall because it’s warm out where you can still wear skirts, but it’s not super hot and overwhelming.”

Her style is: “I like to be casual during the week, but I’d say I like to be girly when I go out.”

Fashion pet peeve: ”When people wear baggy sweat pants with boots.”

Fashion Advice: “Be confident in what you wear. Make sure everything matches! Pick something that’s basic and work off of it. If you have a sweater you really like then work off that and find ways to make different outfits.”

Guy v. Girl Pretty

“Does this make me look fat?” will almost always guarantee a a reassuring response from a guy. But how about when it comes to what a specific trend looks like?  Leave it to the guys I interviewed on everything from polka dots to hair length. Appreciate their honesty and maybe you can get an answer to whether or not what you’re wearing is pretty in a man’s opinion.

 

Polka Dots

“Polka dots are fine on swim suits and skirts, but I don’t think anything else.”-Seth, 22

“It has to be tasteful and subtle.” -Johnny, 20

“I’m pro-polka dots. Not over the top or not when they wear them all the time. But it’s a nice summer dress look.” -Andrew, 23

“I think it can be cute and retro and you can tell a girl wants to have some fun.” -Kyle, 22

“I don’t really like polka dots. They’re like kooky.” -Clay, 19

 

Tights 

“The girls gotta have some legs.” -Kyle, 22

“They make girls look more classy and conservative.” -Clay, 19

“Depends on how nasty her legs are. I think it can be a very classy look. It can be real nice but if she’s going to be tucking those into a pair of UGGs then don’t bother.” -Andrew, 23

“I like tights, but not like when that’s all the girl wears. And it depends on what the girl is wearing them with.” -Johnny, 20

“I like it. Leaves a little to the imagination. It will catch my eye.”- Seth, 22

 

Women’s Oxford Blouse

“I can dig it.” -Johnny, 20

“All I think is business. I don’t really find it that sexy to be honest, but that’s not a bad thing.” -Kyle, 22

“They look too manly for my taste. If they are worn in a professional setting then I’d understand, but they shouldnt be worn for anything else.” -Seth, 22

“I don’t like when they’re worn casually. If a girl is wearing it with like a Hilary Clinton style pant suit then you have to. What else are they going to wear with that?” - Michael, 25

“It’s a great look. You can’t wear a loose sweater everyday of the week. If you can pull it off, it can be a very attractive professional look.”- Andrew, 23

 

Pink Sweats

 ”No, no, no, no.”- Johnny, 20

“Oh, no.”- Kyle, 22

“No. All bad. There’s no other way of looking more like a high student than wearing Victoria’s Secret Pink stuff. It says you have no creativity or anything going on. I never go to approach a girl in Victoria’s Secret sweat fit. It’s not going to happen.” -Andrew, 23

“I think it’s just really annoying.”  -Mike, 20

“I like the stuff it looks comfortable.” -Clay, 19

“If they wear it to school, to me it means they are lazy or hung over.” -Seth, 22

“I get why it’s popular and everything but I never saw the appeal. I don’t think it’s sexy to have words on your butt. I’m going to read it and then you’re going to get mad that I’m looking at your butt.” -Michael, 25

 

 

 

Short or Long Hair

“Seeing as my girlfriend as short hair, short hair.” -Michael, 25

“I like a girl with short hair but the girls I like with short hair are cute already.” -Andrew, 23

“No, period.” (to short hair) -Clay, 19

“More often than not (short hair) looks fine but sometimes it doesn’t work with some girls’ facial features.” -Mike, 20

“I like long hair on girls.” -Kyle, 22

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next week, one of Central Michigan University’s classy co-eds will be featured on CL! Stay tuned to see who! 

 

 

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.

 

CL Exclusive : Meet Rachel Schwartzmann

Introducing the world to Rachel Schwartzmann, the face you’ve seen floating around Tumblr and numerous blogs for her fashionable looks. Besides being completely chic with her flawless looks, she lives a fast-packed fashion forward life ! She is a finalist in the ASOS Future Stylist Competition, former Teen Vogue intern, fashion blogger and a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She’s 19 years old originally from California but calls New York her new home. Rachel inspires to be a fashion journalist. She’s a hardworking young woman that’s taking the fashion world by storm. I had the pleasure of speaking with her about her accomplishments thus far and her future plans.

 What/who are you inspired by? 

Fashion-wise I’m very inspired by the virtual aspects. I think bloggers are my go-to source for style and lifestyle inspiration. I think they have the most real take on the trends. And generally speaking, I’m inspired by my parents who were both aspiring actors and are huge supporters of what I’m doing, my incredible and talented boyfriend Bryant Eslava (http://bryanteslava.com/) blank notebooks, my grandma Sharon Schwartzmann (she’s an artist and just an incredible woman) city-dwelling and music.

How did you become involved with Teen Vogue? Are you still an intern?

My friend who was currently interning in the fashion closet told me that they were in need of more interns and she urged me to apply. It was really simple, I just emailed the contact she gave me, scheduled an interview and eventually I was offered a spot in the fashion closet. I plan to return in the summer but I will be in a different department.

How did you get your start or big break into in the fashion industry, especially at such a young age? Many girls would kill to be in your position ! 

Well it kind of happened accidentally. I have another fashion-crazed friend who told me about a blogger/journalism event happening at TopShop in Soho, and I actually remember not wanting to go because it was freezing outside! But somehow I mustered up enough energy to brave the cold and found myself entranced by the speakers–Karen Blanchard and Indigo Clarke. They really opened my eyes too blogging, and at that time I had only had my other blog The Style Line (http://thestyleline.tumblr.com/) for a few months so I really looked up to them and valued what they had to say. I spoke with Indigo after the panel had finished and told her I aspired to be a fashion journalist. She was incredibly sweet and she gave me her email and pretty much became my fairy godmother! Thanks to her, my first real writing job was for the Australian brand ksubi. They launched an online publication called Sex & Fashion and that was a lot of fun to write for because as you can tell from the name, there were really no limits in terms of content. However, I think my first really big break was landing a Marketing internship at Rebecca Minkoff my senior year of high school. Looking back on it, I’ve realized that it’s pretty unheard of to start interning at such a young age, especially at a brand that is as prestigious as RM. I learned a lot and gained a lot of credibility and before I knew it I was being presented with projects and opportunities that were far beyond what I had expected.

What are some of your goals, even though you’ve accomplished so many already?

I would love to continue interning at Teen Vogue, attend more NYFW shows, have my writing published in print, grow my blogs/work with some very influential bloggers and brands and I’m currently apart of the ASOS Future Stylist Competition… so a goal is to win! Hah!

I love your blog, what inspired you to start your blog and tumblrs? How do you find the time to keep up with them?

I have two blogs The Style Line and Le Style Child and I don’t really differentiate the two based on their platform. I originally created The Style Line because I knew that I wanted to have a blog but didn’t necessarily want it to be focused on personal style or fashion news, being that there are so many out there already. The Style Line primarily focuses on interviewing individuals on their personal style and profiling young arising talent in the fashion industry. I wanted to use this blog as a way to showcase creative talent and give a voice/outlet to those who may not have the resources to do it themselves. It really only began taking off once it was inducted into Tumblr’s Fashion Spotlight, where the amount of followers increased extremely fast–It now has close to 42k readers. As it became more successful, I was urged by friends to create a personal style blog and I eventually, and that’s how Le Style Child was born. I honestly love running both because they are both entirely different and it’s not a matter of finding time I make time because they are my priorities. Yet with all of my other responsibilities, it gets hard at times.

How do you balance school, blogging, social life and your fashion filled lifestyle?

Everything I do seems to always have a connection to fashion. I’m going to be attending the Fashion Institute of Technology which is a fashion-oriented school, thus I’ll be surrounded by fashion-crazed students like myself. My friends are also into fashion or working in creative industries so it’s a big part of my social life. I think when you’re passionate about something it kind of takes over every aspect of your life, but in a good way… it always makes for good conversation.

How would you describe your personal style? 

Ahh, the dreaded question. I ask this to everyone of my interviewees on The Style Line, but when it comes to answering this question myself I actually find it challenging. But I will give the answer I always seem to give: I really don’t think I can describe my style, and I think that’s what I like most about it. It grows and changes just as much as I do as a person. Thanks to my blog it’s really interesting to look back on how it’s evolved over time, and I kind of leave it up to my readers to “label” or get a sense of my personal style for themselves.

What are some of your favorite stores?

For as much as I love scouring Style.com for all of the beautiful collections being put out by top-noch designers I am a college student which makes me a fast-fashion kind of girl. My go to stores include H&M and Zara, but I’m also a vintage lover and find myself rummaging through stores like Salvation Army, Beacon’s Closet and Buffalo Exchange. (Yay for not breaking the bank!)

What advice do you have for those who want to follow in your footsteps? 

Well, firstly I don’t want to advise people to follow in my footsteps, what I will say is that while imitation is said to be the sincerest form of flattery it’s important to remember that we are all individuals with unique voices and point of views. So with that in mind, my first piece of advice for those looking to break into fashion is to be confident in their own individual abilities and talents and try to build on them as much as possible. While it’s okay to be inspired by others, know when to draw the line between inspiration and imitation, build off of those people but just remember you have something special to bring to the table.

For general advice, understand that this industry is competitive and at times unforgiving, but don’t under any circumstances let that hinder your focus and passion for what you want to do. It’s really important to learn how to network and maintain relationships with people because the fashion world is small!  But I’ve gotten this question a lot and this what I always really say:

•   Be tough

•   Be passionate

•   Be persistent

•   Be confident

•   Have an edge or something that sets you a part

•   Be creative

•   Pick and choose your battles

•   Have the ability and accessibility to network and maintain relationships

•   Show dedication

•   Believe that you are special and important (other people will believe it too) and of course know when to draw the line so you don’t come off as conceited

•   Pursue fashion because you love it.

It’s a flourishing and rewarding field to work in, but it’s difficult. You have to be organized and efficient and you have to have a vision and a willingness to work your tail off.

And it’s important to really pay attention to the last bullet I mentioned, because so many people enter into this industry for the wrong reasons or because they believe it’s glamourous.  In reality, it can be competitive, unforgiving and cut-throat, but once you’ve proven that you have ability talent, and that you have dedication, your fate is pretty much in your own hands.

What’s one important quote that you live by and why ?

Keep Calm and Carry On–After this poster was revived it pretty much has evolved into a brand. You literally see the posters, journals, bags and all kinds of merchandise everywhere; but despite this I remember the first time I saw it. It was in an art gallery in Chelsea, NY and an artist had reproduced it into a mini poster and I remember grabbing at least four or five to take home. As rewarding as my life is, it’s constantly in a state of chaos which has ultimately made me a stronger person. But for the days where I need to be reminded to just stop and breathe, I look to this quote as a source of inspiration and infinite hope. It’s simple and too the point and that’s what we need sometimes– simplicity. Plus, I have it tattooed on my lower neck, so it’s kind of hard not live by it! ;]

 

Thank you for your time Rachel. Good luck with everything ! Be sure to check out http://lestylechilddd.blogspot.com/, and http://thestyleline.tumblr.com/ as well as voting for Rachel for the ASOS Future Stylist Competition !

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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