Meet One of CL’s Returning Interns – Shanae Hatchett

Name: Shanae Hatchett

Position: Fashion Writer

University: Hampton University 

Major: English Arts, Public Relations minor

Organizational Involvement: Student Union Board, NAACP Club

Pets: No, but I really want a Yorkie

Dream Job: Working at a fashion magazine.

Favorite color: Green

Favorite candy: Lifesaver Gummies

Favorite movie: Love and Basketball, Pretty Women and Love Jones

Favorite cuisine: Spaghetti

Favorite season: Fall

Coffee vs Tea:  Coffee all the way! Love lattes and macchiatos.

PC vs Mac: Mac

Coke vs Pepsi Stripes vs Polka Dots: Pepsi

3 words to describe me: Funny, Loving, and Free

3 words to describe my style: Edgy, Boho, and Glam

You will find on my desk: Ihome, Books, Laptop, Pictures, Jewelry

You will find on my DVR/Tivo: Fashion Star, Project Runway, A Different World, Sex and the City, PLL and an assortment of movies.

You will find on my iPod: Everything from Kendrick Lamar, Jay Z and Beyonce to Florence & The Machine and King of Leon

CL’s Summer Reading List

Remember how much you hated the summer reading you had in elementary school? Now that we’re in college, summer is often the only time we can skip the bulky textbooks and read (gasp!) for pleasure. CL helps you out with our very own summer reading list, categorized based on what kind of book you want to read.

 

1. Short Series: The Hunger Games

Chances are, you’ve heard of a little series called The Hunger Games. Yes, it’s huge, and with the second movie coming out in November 2013, this franchise is only going to get bigger. So what better time than summer to acquaint yourself with this pop culture epidemic? Sure, you can just see the movies, but the books are better. Immerse yourself this summer in Suzanne Collins’ world.

2. Long Series: Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones is the first installment in the fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. You might know it better for the well-respected HBO series of the same name. With an expected seven books and only five out, Game of Thrones is perfect for the reader looking to start a new love affair with a book series.

3. Beach Read: Where We Belong

Looking for a slightly more meaningful beach read? Check out Emily Giffin’s Where We Belong, a heartwarming mother-daughter story that’s still light enough for the beach. Emily Giffin has also published Something Borrowed, which turned into a movie starring Ginnifer Goodwin that came out last May.

4. Summer Cookbook: Vegetarian Cooking at Home with The Culinary Institute of America

Vegetarianism has been getting a lot of attention lately, for its health benefits as much as its eco-friendliness. But you don’t have to go vegetarian to try all the delicious recipes in Vegetarian Cooking at Home with The Culinary Institute of America from the Culinary Institute of America. And with 200 recipes, you’re sure to always have a fresh idea for Meatless Monday.

5. Movie Mania: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

On June 22, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter will hit theaters. As the title suggests, the movie tells the story of President Abraham Lincoln, who finds that vampires are trying to take over the United States and sets out to destroy them. Want a head start? Check out the book that the story is based on, by Seth Grahame-Smith.

What books are you planning to read this summer? Let us know in the comments!

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

What To Pack For A 3-Day Weekend

Off for a weekend trip this Memorial Day? Check out our handy guide on what to pack!

 

 

1. Bottoms: Jeans, Shorts, Skirt.

Assuming you’re gone for 3 days, 3 bottoms are all you need. Jeans go with everything and can be worn more than once, which is perfect for a vacation, especially if there’s a chance you’ll stay there longer than expected. Shorts are a summer staple, and a mid-length skirt can be dressed up or down to suit the occasion.

2. Tops: Cardigan, Tank, 2 T-Shirts.

On a weekend trip away, layering can be your best friend. Especially in the summer, when the days are super-hot and the nights can get surprisingly cold. So bring 2 regular tops, but add a tank and a cardigan for layering purposes. Also, bring both tops and bottoms in neutral colors so it’s easier to match.

3. Shoes: Gladiator Sandals, Heels.

In the summer, gladiator sandals will take you pretty much anywhere. On the off chance they won’t, bring a pair of simple heels. Just make sure to keep your toes prettily pedicured.

4. Bags: Clutch, Tote.

A clutch and an everyday bag are all you need on vacation. If you’re headed to the beach, try a straw tote. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a tote large enough to carry all your items to your destination.

5. Makeup + Accessories: Bright and Few.

Just because your tops and bottoms are neutral doesn’t mean your entire outfit has to be boring. Try brightening up your look with your makeup and accessories. Just don’t go overboard – think a couple of statement pieces, not your entire closet.

6. Miscellaneous: Sunglasses, Extra Underwear, Swimsuit, Chargers.

Sunglasses and a swimsuit are summer staples that everybody always forgets. Bring the swimsuit even if a pool or beach are not in your plans – you never know when you might need it. As for the extra underwear? If you end up staying an extra day, it’s the one thing you’re really going to want.  The chargers go without saying, if you’re bringing any kind of electronics (iPod, cell phone, laptop).

What do you normally bring on a 3-day weekend? Let us know in the comments!

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.

Daughter Approved Mother’s Day Gift Guide

If this is your first time away from home on mother’s day or if you’re just stumped about what to get here, here are some favs. Here are the top three special things me and my friends like to do for our moms on their special day.

Card and flowers are not as cliché as you think. Nothing says you care like a bright may flower, like lilies, or a colorful daisy. Cards from the heart are also a mom’s favorite. If she doesn’t hear from you a lot during the school year, a heartfelt card about how much you love her will totally make her day!

A Visit Home: sounds a obvious and a little understated, but visiting home will really make your mom happy, especially if you go to school farther away. If you can afford to home for mother’s day weekend, it’ll be a great opportunity to spend time with your whole family. To your mom, you are one of her greatest gifts. So why not give her the gift that is you!

Dinner and a movie: There’s nothing wrong with taking your mom out on a date. Me and my mom hit the mall on the regular and go to all her favorite shops. Plus, if your mom is kind of picky and hard to shop for like mine, let her run free in her favorite shop and pick something out. Surprise her by buying it for her. Not only is it a nice gesture, it’s a nice way to show you care—after all, she did spend at least 18 years buying stuff for you, didn’t she?

Social Media Shoot-out: Understated, and odds are, you probably do it anyway. Why don’t you tweet your mom, or tag her In a post, and let all your followers know how much you care. Dedicate a song to her, or post a picture of her and make it your default. I do this all the time to advertise to support something I really care about, so what’s more important than your mama?

These are ideas just to get you started if you don’t know what you want to do for your mother’s day. Remember that you are your mother, or any other female who played a huge part in your life deserves to know how much you care about them!

 

 

Photo via satgourmet.com

Tips for Organizing Closet Space

For many college co-eds, going home for the summer means cramming a school wardrobe with a home wardrobe into a one wardrobe closet.

But, with the new season right around the corner, it is the best time to sort through clothes and clean out your closet. I spent the first week home from college sorting through old clothes. Along the way I laughed through old funny Tshirts I ran across and cringed at some fashion mishaps. Bags of clothes to donate and an organized closet later, I feel much better about picking out an outfit from a selection I am proud of and not one I am shuffling through to find the good stuff.

If you’re finding yourself hiding under a pile of clothes, I’m here to share my top tips for organizing, cleaning and throwing away that wardrobe you’re never going to wear.

 

1. Timely toss

If you haven’t worn an item once in the past year, it’s time to let go. Never hold on to something because you promise yourself it will fit when ten pounds melt off you. Clothes like this often just get pushed farther and farther to the back.

2. Make piles

Make a trash or donate pile and a “try-on” pile. Whatever doesn’t fit, immediately put in the giveaway pile. If it fits and you follow tip number one, hang it back up.

3. Store it

Combining all of my summer and winter clothes can be a struggle with the bulkiness of cold weather attire. In the summer, I take a big box and put all of my sweaters, big sweatshirts and winter accessories in it. I label it, usually as “don’t touch my clothes!”, and throw it in the basement.

4. Swap clothes

Everyone has heard the saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” In this case, one girl’s too small of a dress is your skinny friend’s treasure. Swap clothes that don’t fit or you simply don’t like with clothes your friend equally does not like of her own. New wardrobe, no bills!

5. Keep five of everything

Over the years, it may seem like a collection of the same items builds up, just in different colors. If you find yourself fingering through the same shirt but in blue, pink, green and yellow, decide to keep only five. Same goes with jeans and sweatshirts.

6. Donate!

The options for getting rid of your clothes are endless. Goodwill and the Salvation Army are the two big guns for accepting used clothing, but don’t forget about your family members. My little cousins think I am a goddess when I give them clothes I don’t want. We will let them keep thinking that. There is also resale shops where they will PAY YOU for giving away clothes that would otherwise be trash.

Emptying and refilling your closet is a project. It is all about starting fresh, so have fun with it. Call a friend to help a la Sex and the City style and dance your way through tossing the old and ringing in the new. It’s also a great time to combine different pieces to make outfits you may have never thought of before.

 

Do you plan on cleaning out your closet soon? What have you found works best for you?

 

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 Ten Summer Fashion Trends

Hi ladies! It’s my favorite time of year again…summer! After a long year of school work, it’s time break free and relax. Although may of us have internships and jobs, it’s also a time to have fun, go to concerts, barbecues, festivals and many more places. This week CL shares with you the top ten summer fashion trends.

 

4. Bright and Pastel Pants – A spring trend heading over into summer! Perfect way to brighten up a look! A versatile look that could be worn to work if paired with  a colorful trousers a white collared shirt.

5. Florals – A great trend that can be worn on weekends and in the office. Floral shirts are cute! This season the best pieces from the floral trend are the shorts and pants. Floral pants and pastel blazer are a great combination for the weather right now!

6. One Piece Bathing Suits – Great trend this season, especially for those of us that ae not quite ready for bikini weather! The geometrical patterns and different shapes are fashionable and body flattering.

7. Knit Pullovers – As posted about before Knit pullovers are good to be worn with shorts and also as cover ups.

8. High Waisted Shorts (excuse the recycled look! But it’s still a great example.) High waisted shorts are also investment pieces for the summer. A personal summer project of mine, is DIY shorts. Try adding different studs and jewels for an edgy look like Rihanna(pictured below). They also looks great with t shirts and bra let’s.

9. Platforms – Platforms are a huge trend this year. Instead of the usual wedge spice up your look with a platform!

 

10. Sneakers – Lastly, thanks to Coachella fashion and Isabel Marant’s wedged sneaker (pictured below) are a huge trend this season. I’m so happy cute sneakers are coming back for comfort! This season they’re different styles by a few designers including Jeremy Scott for Adidas, Isabel Marant, Marc Jacobs and more. Some are a bit pricey, but consider them to be investment pieces.

 

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.

CL’s Guide to College Graduation

Graduation has come for so many of us! Having just gone through, I can tell you it is an experience you will never forget. If you’re considering not walking, I highly encourage you to do so. You’ve worked so hard and come so far, so celebrate it! Here are some tips on how to prepare for the big day, and what comes next!

Make sure everything is in order. Moving out? Double check that you have EVERYTHING. Still have some library books? Make sure to return them. Parking ticket? Pay it off!

Send out invitations. Invite family and friends! This is a time to celebrate! Send out invites to commencement, diploma ceremonies, graduation parties, etc. with the dates, times and locations clearly written.

Spend time with college friends. You may not see them for a while (but not ever again!). Have fun, relax, and figure out how you would like to stay in touch, whether it is through letters, email, texting, annual reunions, LinkedIn or Facebook.

Plan your outfit. You want to look your best for the occasion, so dress in style – it’s your day! With warmer months coming (and the amount of people likely to be filling the room at your graduation) wear something light and summery, but formal. Also, plan to wear comfy shoes, as you could be standing for quite a while.

CL Quick Tip: Consider decorating your mortar board so your folks can find you in the crowd.

Plan your make-up and hair. Again, with the summer months upon us, too much make-up will look fussy and could melt down your face. Try a lighter look. For hair, wear it down under you cap, but put it up when you can to keep cool. If your hair tends to frizz, be prepared with product.

Charge your camera. And make sure you have extra batteries! Take as many pictures as you, and have you family take pictures, too, can so you can add them to a scrapbook later.

Mingle and network. Colleges sometimes have receptions after graduation, so use it as an opportunity to speak with professors and advisors, thanking them for their guidance and support and asking them to remember you when career opportunities in your field pop up.

Send thank you emails or cards. We all have favorite professors, mentors, advisors and supervisors. Let them know how much they mean to you and the impact they have had on your college life.

Look for a job. If you haven’t started looking, or haven’t found one yet, search, search, search! Make sure your resume is up to date and apply like crazy, and keep track of when and where you apply. Some good places to start are the College Lifestyles job bank, careerbuilder.com and LinkedIn.

Be proud! You’ve earned this. Congratulations! This is a big step, but you can do it!

Debra Schreiber is a Senior Writing Intern with College Lifestyles and a recent graduate from Duquesne University with a B.A. in Journalism and a B.A. in Spanish. She loved participating in graduation, and while she will miss her Duquesne family terribly, she is excited for what comes next!

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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.

 

Top Three Picks for Summer Wedding Dresses

Along with the sunshine, summer break and sun tans often comes a slew of summer weddings. The season of affirming love comes in many different styles. With the summer heat, it can sometimes be a struggle to keep your style a little more chic and a little less sweaty. No matter the type of wedding, it is often hot before the big “I do’s” and especially warm for those who attend weddings outside. To keep your cool while attending a summer wedding, check out my picks for the season. This summer is all about cut-outs, sheer and floral print.

Beach Wedding

The colorful blue floral will pop against any sandy backdrop. Find it in your size at urbanoutfitters.com.

 

Black Tie

Although I wore this dress to a banquet, it’s also perfect for a formal wedding. The all black sheath dress is conservative but sassy with the sheer back. It’s also great to accessorize with.

 

 

Casual

A low-key wedding doesn’t mean your outfit has to be overly laid back. Try on this LC Lauren Conrad dress with a flirty floral print to dance the night away in.

 

Are you attending any summer weddings? What do you have planned to wear? Comment below, lovely ladies!

 

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.

College Lifestyles Spring 2012 Awards!

Just as organizations have awards, we bring you our 2012 Spring College Lifestyles Awards!

 

Our interns have voted and the results are in!

 

Our Spring 2012 Winners:

Team Player:  Kristen Gaudet

Best Writer:  Jessica Fecteau

(Jessica is also the writer of our favorite article series, Guy Pretty vs Girl Pretty)

Intern Most Likely to Work at a PR/Social Media Firm:  TIE!  Kristen Gaudet AND Charlene Alexander

Intern Most Likely to Be a Magazine Writer/Reporter:  Sana Ashraf

MVP:  Sana Ashraf

Congrats to our all interns for a successful Spring 2012!

Shelly Marie Redmond is the Editor in Chief/CEO of College Lifestyles.  She is so proud of the accomplishments of our entire team during Spring 2012.  She will miss our graduating class, but is ready for our new summer team!

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