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The fashion world is always rolling. New trends and statements are constantly presented in magazines, on TV and online. Your favorite boutiques and online stores are probably at least one season ahead of the actual temperature. Sure, sometimes this starts to feel a little ridiculous. It’s a buzz kill to see sweaters and puffy jackets on display the day after the Fourth of July! It’s now February and I have officially started seeing bikinis and shorts in stores. Though the weather in Philadelphia is still frigid, I have decided that it’s (sort of) acceptable to start transitioning into spring and all the trends that come with the season.
The spring 2015 ready-to-wear line by alice + olivia is full of bright colors, abstract designs, florals and prints. I’m not usually one to wear pastels and bright colors – actually, my go-to color for any season is black. However, I’ve grown tired of bundling up this winter and decided that it’s time to add some brightness to my life. Look number seven by alice + olivia caught my attention because it featured a vibrant blue top. A white shirt peaks out from under, and cropped leather leggings are worn on bottom. I absolutely loved the color scheme of this look – my two favorite colors — black and white — with a little pop of blue. While I wasn’t totally digging the zebras on the tunic, I did like the leather aspect.
I was excited to create my inspired look because I already owned pieces that would be perfect. Don’t forget that it’s still February though and I took a bit of a leap by recreating this spring ensemble, so I did have to compromise a few aspects. I decided to wear a blue and white floral top. It incorporated the same colors as the look by alice + olivia but I traded the zebras for flowers. The blouse I wore was tiered on the bottom which also matched the layered look that alice + olivia created by layering two shirts. On bottom I wore leather patchwork jeans rather than cropped leggings because, well, it was 25 degrees out. For footwear, I chose a pair of unlaced combat boots to go along with the edgy feel of my jeans. I liked that the look had both a rough and girly vibe, thanks to the leather and floral. When it came to jewelry, I kept it simple, as did the original look I was inspired by. I wore a silver leaf necklace and small earrings.
This look by alice + olivia was a true example of runway looks being easily recreated from your own closet. The original look was simple but featured some of this season’s hottest trends like prints and leather. The colors and textures of the original look combined with my own personal taste led to a beautifully inspired look that I got a lot of compliments on!
Get My Look: 1. A blue floral top. 2. A pair of vegan leather jeans. 3. A silver leaf necklace.
In recent years, an emerging trend has been the commercialization of fashion. The best example of this is the brand Moschino, which has made headlines for their runway shows with designs featuring McDonald’s, SpongeBob, candy wrappers and Barbie. Moschino’s creative director Jeremy Scott has clearly displayed a love of consumer culture and it has inspired several recent collections. This consumer culture trend features recognizable images that add a playful tone into an outfit. More often than not, these images are usually seen on a graphic T-shirt, but this Fashionista proves that consumer culture can be worn in other ways.
There are two items in her look that immediately attract attention. The first is the standout Dr. Martens in bright yellow that act as a statement item in her outfit. These shoes become even more adorable when you get close enough to notice the smiley face design, which looks strikingly like an emoji. The next eye-catching item is the sweatshirt featuring the iconic Looney Tunes image. For those of us who grew up watching the Looney Tunes, this simple illustration invokes a strong sense of nostalgia. At the same time, the sweatshirt is featuring a brand logo as part of its design. This Fashionista’s shoes and sweatshirt are part of the commercialization trend.
This Fashionista embraces consumer culture but also makes this trend her own by pairing her Looney Tunes sweatshirt with a heart covered denim button-up. Her look remains vibrant with an ultra vivid green backpack covered in buttons. There is a hint of edginess to her overall outfit with small snake earrings.
It is easy to incorporate the consumer culture trend into your own wardrobe. Chances are that you already own an item of clothing with a logo or brand. The easiest and most comfortable way to be part of this trend is to find your own sweatshirt with a recognizable image. This could be a reference to literature, music (Beyoncé anyone?), movies or food. Simply, have some fun and show the world the brands you love!
What is your STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK? “Don’t feel like you can’t pull off a style. As long as you love it, nothing else matters!”
The spring 2015 couture runway show from Viktor & Rolf shows great interest in floral patterns. The theme color for the floral patterns in the show was yellow and blue. Instead of just painting flowers on the fabric, Viktor & Rolf expanded the definition of floral. The designers used 3D art to expand the flowers into reality. The natural consecution of the cloth and flowers caught my eyes when I was reviewing the spring 2015 collections. Floral patterns are classic, but they can look different and authentic. The main accessory in the Viktor & Rolf show was the dramatic straw hat. Since I don’t have access to a tropical-inspired straw hat, I thought a pair of earrings with the same style would be more beneficial for the outfit.
The sweater I wore has a similar floral pattern. The acrylic fabric makes the flower stand out in the crowd. Because the weather in Wisconsin is extremely cold in the winter, a pair of Sorel boots with a matching color scheme warms my feet very well. They also hint to people that spring is coming and they bring a sense of warmth. For the accessories, I chose a pink heart necklace to fit the pink color scheme in my outfit and the runway show. The earrings are consistent with the hat style from the show. The colors are basically yellowish brown and green, which added an exotic feeling to the outfit. Choosing a perfect sweater that fits the theme of Viktor & Rolf’s spring runway show is hard, but following this season’s spring awakening style is not! A bloom of spring in your outfit will help you make it through this freezing winter.
Viktor & Rolf’s spring 2015 collection showed me that even in winter, spring has arrived. The classic floral pattern will never get old, but there is always a new way to wear it. Trying to buy a top that makes flower patterns look authentic and fresh!
Get My Look: 1. Floral patterned sweater. 2. Spring colored winter boots. 3. Exotic earrings.
In the fall of 2012 a new type of fashion magazine was born on the Florida State campus. Diverse World Fashion is a publication dedicated to highlighting the importance of diversity on campus and to display how different cultures interpret fashion movements. To date, Diverse World Fashion has released five issues, established a website and won the Best of Show award at the Tallahassee American Advertising Federation Awards. Current Editor-in-Chief, Robert Bala, sat with me to talk about what inspires him and what he envisions for the future of “Diverse World Fashion.”
Name: Robert Bala
Role: Editor-In-Chief
CollegeFashionista: How did you get started at “Diverse World Fashion?”
Robert Bala: I attended the “Diverse World Fashion” fall 2013 release party and the founder came up to me. I guess he liked the way I was dressed, and I told him a little bit about my story. He introduced me to the Editor-in-Chief at the time and we linked up. We set up an interview, and she hired me as the vice president!
CF: When did you become interested in fashion?
RB: Man, I’ve been interested in fashion since high school. I started a prom fashion show at my high school. That’s when it occurred to me that I was good at seeing how to style this or style that. I’ve always been the black sheep when it comes to clothing. I like to wear the best of the best compared to where I was brought up. Fashion has always been a great way to express myself.
CF: Where do you pull your inspiration?
RB: I pull my inspiration from the east coast. I’m an east coast kid all day long. Boston, New York, New Jersey, that’s everything to me. I also really admire Asian culture. I love the avant garde stylings and lifestyles portrayed by their clothing. That’s always my main inspiration when it comes to fashion. They’re pushing limits, pushing boundaries, and I’m all about it.
CF: Do you have a favorite designer?
RB: My favorite designers have to Maxwell Osborne and Dao-Yi Chow of Public School. Their designs are dope.
CF: What is your vision for “Diverse World Fashion?”
RB: My vision was always to expand. To have “Diverse World Fashion” not only in Tallahassee but all over Florida and all over the country. I want it to be like a CMA or AATAC, something that’s national. Unfortunately, this is my last semester with DWF, but it is something that is dear to my heart. I feel like we deserve the recognition.
CF: Where do you see yourself in five years?
RB: Oh man! I see myself in California with my own boutique.
Learn More: Are you totally captivated by “Diverse World Fashion?” Head over to the “Diverse World Fashion” website to read daily blog posts written by the team’s exquisite staff of writers. You can also follow DWF on social media to be updated of the organization’s events held throughout the semester.
As the cold winter months seem frozen in time, the warmest solution a Fashionista can make is to embrace the brutal crisp air by accessorizing with a snug and chic peacoat. Winter doesn’t always mean muted neutrals either. A bright color, like the tangerine orange this Fashionista is wearing, is a perfect pick-me-up along with a nice warm cup of chai tea. Who knew winter could look and taste so good?
The peacoat will forever be a classic trademark, but this winter season has introduced many diverse colors such as neutrals, brights and pastels (I own this beauty as my own). Different textures and lengths are seen, such as the endlessly fluffy warm wool and an elegant ankle length. With so many options, you can literally have a peacoat for any occasion in which the winter winds direct you.
This Fashionista surely doesn’t go by the fashion norms of the season, and I love it! She is the prime example that you don’t necessarily have to swap your dainty summer clothes out for your winter clothes, but rather make it one closet of year-round fabulousness. She took her black sunflower dress from summer, a flowy yellow fringed sweater from fall and her vibrant orange peacoat from winter, which was the prime highlight of pulling everything together.
She played up her color coordinating skills with a twist by pairing a cool turquoise cross-body bag with a matching teal swirl statement ring. I admire the color contrast of the more subtle shades of blue against the lively orange and yellow. She focused on the details by adding a dangly gold and tasseled ear cuff. She finished off this vivacious look with a playful red lip to complement the red undertones in her peacoat.
This Fashionista gives me hope that spring is closer than it appears. She sure is fearless when it comes to expressing herself and flaunting her favorite pieces of the four seasons, no matter the weather forecast.
How To: Can’t stand to see your fave summer dress just hang there with no appreciation until the warmer months? Make a statement because there’s no need to test your patience. Layer it up with a trendy fall sweater and a bold colored peacoat. Protect those legs from the cold with a solid colored pair of tights, and keep things interesting with a contrast colored bag, statement jewelry and a pop of color on that luscious pout.
Designer Stacey Bendet’s spring 2015 ready-to-wear collection for alice + olivia was made up of 39 looks that stole the runway. What made this collection stand out was the combination of eccentric colors combined with simple black and white looks. I especially enjoyed the flowing fabrics and embroidered beading that made up the collection. However, the flowing pieces were paired with perfectly tailored pieces to balance the looks. The collection was made up of two types of outfits: bold and colorful versus black and white. While I thought the two completely opposite types of looks were both vibrant and fresh, I was drawn to the black and white outfits that featured a pop of color in the accessories.
After seeing this collection, I could not wait to see if I could bring it to life with my own wardrobe. I started with the statement piece of my outfit: a white, pleated knee length skirt from Topshop. If twirling around in this beautiful skirt was not enough, I felt it was very similar to the ready-to-wear pieces. I thought this skirt was complementary to the collection, as it incorporated both the pleated style seen throughout the collection and the full volume style found in the outfits. Keeping with the simplistic elements of the alice + olivia collection, I paired the skirt with a scoop neck, long sleeve black shirt. I was inspired by the pops of color in Bendet’s collection to add a statement necklace with bright pink and turquoise gems with a hint of leopard detail, too. I also added a pair of large, pink earrings to tie in with the necklace. To finish off the look, I added a simple pair of nude ballet flats to allow the focus to remain on the skirt and bold jewelry.
I was drawn to this collection because it was so vibrant with textures and colors. I was excited to see if I could translate this spring collection into a winter outfit. By adding a long sleeve shirt and flats, rather than sandals, I was happy with my alice + olvia-inspired outfit. With so many ready-to-wear collections going down the runway, all that feature so many different styles, textures and colors, I cannot wait for spring— and not just because of the warmer weather.
Get My Look: 1. A full, knee length skirt. 2. A simple, black shirt. 3. A brightly colored necklace, or other statement jewelry piece.
Spring semester is in full swing, and though it’s only the beginning of February, it seems likes spring has already arrived—the days are getting longer (it’s still light out past 5:00 p.m.) and the temperatures are rising. As soon as the temperature reaches above 30 degrees here in Minneapolis, the thick, and not to mention heavy, winter coats and salt stained boots are stored in the basement until next winter rolls around. And in place of those heavy down coats are cute raincoats and lightweight jackets that you can do so much more with!
So when I spotted this Fashionista sans a huge, heavy winter coat, I couldn’t help but admire her spring-like attire. Her quilted navy riding jacket is a must-have for the days when it’s too warm for your heavy coat but still too cold to leave the house without a little something to cover you up; it’s perfect for the weather we are experiencing right now in Minnesota.
She pairs her jacket with a light-washed jean button-down—the two shades of blue complement each other perfectly, as do the styles of the casual button-down and the preppy jacket.
Her leather pants and knee-high leather boots add a little bit of a rocker-chick vibe to her otherwise preppy look. The contrasting pieces—the leather pants with a more feminine, preppy riding jacket—really make this outfit stand out.
And though her look is mainly composed of darker tones, the crisp white shirt she wears underneath her button-down, the red and beige detailing on the inside of her jacket and her olive green Marc by Marc Jacobs bag add just the right amount of springtime color to keep her outfit from looking too dark.
Spring will be here sooner than we think, which means it’s time to do some spring cleaning and to update our wardrobes! A quilted riding jacket is a definite must-have on your spring shopping list, and if you aren’t sure how to wear it, just use this Fashionista as inspiration.
One Simple Change: Swap the leather pants for some dark-washed jeans, and throw on a pair of Converse for a casual and comfy look that is perfect for studying in the library.
With some rather out of the ordinary warm weather this winter (shorts in January, really?), some of us had our hopes on an early spring. But let’s be honest, we all knew deep down a massive dark cloud was just waiting to snow on our parade. When you have to dig back into your closet, there is always one item of clothing that has that impeccable ability to complete your winter look and those are coats. No one likes to wear a million layers to stay warm, so why not just buy that stylish coat you’ve been eyeing?
A coat that is thick enough to keep you warm during the bitter wind chill yet fashion-forward enough to keep heads turning on the way to class is the perfect winter must-have. When I was younger, a coat was a coat. Being from Chicago, having a coat that could keep me warm while my friends and I played in the snow was the only requirement I had. Now, so many designers take their lines and translate them to every article of clothing they can, creating this amazing blow up in coat trends this past fall and winter.
A coat can serve as a statement piece, such as this Fashionista’s cheetah print faux fur coat. I love that animal prints can take an ordinary outfit and turn it into an avant-garde moment. This Fashionista takes that avant-garde conviction to the streets, matching her coat with a simple black dress underneath. She adds more fun to her look with sparkly black tights that go well with her Dr. Martens boots for the snowy ground. This Fashionista’s outfit is full of trends including her black bowler hat and thick scarf. This look proves that we don’t have to give up our style just because it’s freezing outside!
What is your STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK? “My style advice would be to not be afraid to mix genres of clothing and styles! You should definitely be bold and confident about what you are wearing.”
Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you have to stick with dark, neutral colors all the time. We’re used to wearing different tones of grays, whites, blacks, dark blues and dark reds, but never have I thought about wearing pastels. So what do you do with all the light pink and coral colored earrings and necklaces you have sitting in your jewelry box? It’s simple. You can start incorporating it into your warm outfits. If you can’t wait for winter and the cold to be over, follow this Fashionista’s footsteps by popping on a light colored necklace to a dark toned outfit to brighten up your style.
Here, our Fashionista paired a white flower necklace with a dark turquoise colored blazer with two-toned riding boots. She threw on a black and white block colored Steve Madden tote bag that doubles as a cross-body bag. The necklace complements the purse really well, which makes it stand out. Her outfit is a simple but is still a chic everyday look.
Adding a soft color to an outfit that uses any dark color, particularly black, helps bring the whole outfit together for a polished and fun look. If you find yourself missing the spring or summer weather, accessorize your wardrobe with flower necklaces or anything with a soft color to really make a statement.
How To: To really make the necklace stand out, pair it with either a black sweater or black pants to draw attention straight to the accessory. If you decide to wear a dark colored sweater, match it with a dark pair of jeans with a neutral cardigan or sweater with any soft colored necklace. This means you can finally use those pastels until the weather gets better!
Ever get a furry feeling? There are ways to add fur to your wardrobe without looking like a relative of the animal kingdom.
Having added accessories can make any ordinary outfit get noticed. Wearing anything with fur often gets overlooked and sometimes viewed as cliche. Do not let that stop you! There are several ways to add fur anytime of the year without getting viewed as stereotypical.
Stick with the neutrals, you are already going to get noticed because of the added flair or fur. To add more zest, add some colored lipstick or put on some leather pants. With the colder weather in Washington state make sure and pair the sleeveless vests with long sleeves. It is important to always tame the mane but make sure that the rest of the outfit does not overcompensate. To level out the outfit, go with a long sleeve bodysuit making the under layer appear to be tailored with the jeans. This addition makes the vest the primary piece. To go a step farther adding a necklace or a ring to finish up the look.
How To: Neutrals and accessories are a great way to get noticed without appearing to be a try-hard. For Fashionistas who are trying to get rid of the notion of dressing too simple, become a fur frenzy individual and add to your closet a fur vest from H&M to add style when dealing with a budget. This vest is the perfect addition to be posh but stay warm and cozy.
