Is the latest trend your friend?

It seems like trends never last for more than 5 minutes in the ever-evolving world of fashion, but some stick 

longer than others. And it all depends on one thing: public reception. I’m a girl so clearly I focus on the latest female fashions, and what girls think of them. But what about the guys? Have we ever wondered what they were thinking about our most recent ensemble choices? Not that we care, but it’s something to ponder :P

You could call this a kind of social experiment. I interviewed a few guys and girls (all in college or entering college) and asked them which female fashion trends they loved right now, and which ones they’d like to see go to the fashion trend graveyard. It was hard trying to explain to the boys what I meant by a “trend”, but I got there eventually and then compared results.

So what trends didn’t they like?

Mike Samlall, a sophomore finance major from Ramapo College, who first thought by trends I meant clothing stores, eventually said, “Well, I don’t hate it, but I’m not very fond of brightly color jeans in like green or yellow or purple. And I never like when girls bought clothes and then “slashed” them.”

I just got a pair of pink Victoria’s Secret siren denim leggings, so I thought a little differently. But I’m not a huge fan of the traffic cone colors either. And slashing clothing is only permissible if the clothing is falling apart anyway. Buy it ripped, or leave it.

Anthony Vigna, another sophomore from Ramapo College, and a video game blogger, said, “I hate Uggs. I was never a fan of them or the people that wear them.” And he’s not alone. When Seventeen magazine asked Robert Pattinson a year ago, “What is a girl fashion trend that confuses you?” He too responded, “Ugg boots!”

They were huge when I got into high school, not going to lie. But when I wear them now, it’s during the winter, to keep my feet warm. And that’s it. Even I can agree that Ugg boots with shorts and tank make no sense.

Bryan Charalambous, a soon to be freshman at Steven’s Institute of Technology, said, “I hate those stupid one piece short things. What are they called again? Rompers?”

Yes, they are. I’ve got to disagree on this one. I’m a huge romper fan. I admit they aren’t an incredibly flattering clothing item, but they are just so easy and cute to throw on in summer.

Now as far as the girls go, they were outlawing some popular summer trends too.

“I hate maxi dresses,” said Jackie Campis, a sophomore at Vanderbilt University. “No one wants to see a walking feminine napkin.”

I always wanted to be able to pull off this look, but it just never worked on me. And while I don’t know if they look like feminine napkins, I will admit that they only work on certain body types.

May Chen, a sophomore at Boston College, said, “A trend I cannot stand would be crazy neon pattern nails or bright neon/highlighter tops.” Her and Mike Samlall both aren’t fans of the color pop, and together they veto it on both halves of the body.

I really am not sure where I am on this one. It’s like sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Neons can really go either way.

Back to the guys! They weren’t critical of all the popular trends. Shocking, I know!

Samlall admitted, “I do like when girls do the classy yet casual look, with nice jeans, a complimentary top, and a nice blazer over it. Or some kind of formal-casual hybrid outfit.”

I’m with him. The blazer with shorts and a graphic tee look is definitely one of my favorites.

Bryan Charalambous said that sundresses and tank tops “are chill.” “White shorts I like,” he added.

I wear sundresses all the time, for any occasion so I’m in total agreement. White shorts I too like, but in summer I’m going to the park, sitting on benches, and messing around with friends. I tend to avoid them just because they get dirty so easily.

The girls were a little more daring with their choices for favorite trends.

“I love scarves and how they look with shorts and such,” said Campis. And she’s right, scarves are no longer exclusively winter apparel. I love long cotton scarves with fringe that I can throw over a tank.

May Chen said, “My favorite trend would have to be high/low skirts and dresses.” I love it too. Asymmetry is very in right now, and the one place I’m seeing a lot of them: Prom. But they’re perfect for every place else too.

Jon Mangel, another Ramapo sophomore, didn’t even give me his favorite trend. “I just know what I like when I see it,” he said. And sometimes it’s as simple as that.

 I’ll pass a girl on the street in a super edgy outfit and I can’t put my finger on what it is, but I know it’s special and completely her, which is most important. While guy/girl opinions overlap in some areas of fashion, they are completely opposite in others. Bottom line is that you’re not dressing to impress anyone but yourself. The person you see in the mirror comes first <3.

I don't like labels...except on my clothes

*This started out as an article for my New Writing class, and my professor loved it. It's part of what sparked my interest in writing about fashion.

College students on campuses around the country are picking up the trend of dressing to impress. The hallway is their runway.

            Jaclyn Campis, 18, a freshman pre-med major, leaves her dorm room at Vanderbilt University in the morning wearing her Burberry shirt, American Eagle Jeans, Steve Madden Boots, a Fossil White watch and a Coach wristlet. So what’s the grand total for her ensemble?

It’s a whopping $570. And that’s not including all her accessories.

College students all over the United States have gone from wardrobes of sweatpants and sneakers to designer labels and unique fashions. To students like Campis, dressing well is essential, even if they are just walking to class.

“It commands respect and it feels good and people respect you because you dress well. It just looks professional,” she said. Every time students turn a corner there is a chance to make an impression.

Robert Romaniello, a senior social science major at Ramapo College of New Jersey, wears a dress shirt and slacks, a tie, and a vest every day, no matter where he’s going. But that’s not because he thinks it’s important to dress well on campus.

“I kind of look at college as a consequence free zone. I dress like this because I like it and I know I look good like this,” he said.

And while Romaniello and Campis have similar tastes in fashion, their schools couldn’t be more different. Vanderbilt University has approximately 12,000 students and is in a metropolitan area in Nashville. Ramapo College has a little more than 6,000 students and is in a small suburban town in New Jersey.

Clearly a school has nothing to do with how many fashionable students reside on its campus. The phenomenon is taking over campuses everywhere.

Years ago college students were defined by their uniforms and loafers. Now style is many students’ favorite form of self-expression. But not everyone is in agreement about the importance of fashion.

 "I don’t really see the importance,” said Devon Lappin, a freshman nursing major at Ramapo. “Not that I don’t dress well, but still.”

Tom Colella, 18, a freshman history major from Ramapo, said, “I wear whatever’s on top of my pile of clothes. I mean I won’t dress like a slob. I don’t like when people do that. That annoys me.”

Even when students are feeling lazy, they aren’t dressing lazy. Graphic tees and jeans just don’t cut it anymore.

Diarra White, 18, a freshman at Columbia University told the New York Times last year, “I’m not a sweats and t-shirt kind of person. Even at the library I’ll see people in heels.”

Whether you’re going to study or going to a party, you never know who you might want to impress. “Besides…” White added to the Times, “You never know who you’re going to see in the library.”

Students are putting a lot of pressure on themselves to look the part they want to convey to others. This resonates especially strongly among students going to fashion-oriented schools.

Mark Bankin, 18, from Holmdel High School, took summer classes at Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and witnessed this first hand.

“They dress extremely eccentrically. Think Lady Gaga or hipsters with lots of money,” he said. “If you dress average people will judge you or think you’re bland.”

In an area as hip and cosmopolitan as New York, college students have all sorts of styles and love to make statements with their outfits. 

“Everyone quotes a subway sign. It says, ‘New Yorkers aren’t better than anyone else. We just dress like it,’” said Natalia Lehaf, 20, a sophomore journalism major at New York University. “Some people spend a lot of money on their clothes too.”

Some students think it’s very important to dress well, and that the money you put into your wardrobe is an investment in your future. But if the way students are getting noticed and finding opportunities is by wearing expensive outfits, is this fair to the average broke college student?

Studies have shown that employers are more inclined to hire applicants that appear attractive. What you wear right down to your shoes may make the difference, enough to get you that call back after an interview.

Maybe everything really does come with a price. And an expensive one at that! But not all students think you need to break the bank to have a stellar wardrobe, or that it’s right to judge someone solely based on what they wear.

“I don’t think it’s fair at all,” said Lidia Kim, 19, a freshman nursing major at Ramapo College of New Jersey. “And I also don’t think you need to spend a lot on your clothes to look nice. You can be clever.”

But what does it mean to be clever about your shopping? For many students it’s going to the same pricey clothing stores, but never paying full retail.

“I buy dress shirts and ties to wear for everyday and for interviews. But I wouldn’t buy any of them if they weren’t on sale. I don’t go into Express without coupons or a gift card,” said Jon Mangel, a freshman political science major at Ramapo.

He added, “You don’t need to spend a lot of money to look professional. It’s about finding the sales, or going to the department stores and finding the clearance rack.”

This is especially true for women’s fashion. Runway styles come with a hefty price tag, but girls still manage to find ways to keep up with the latest trends.

“Students can watch fashion shows live on the runway,” Zephyr Basine, editor of Collegefashion.net told the New York Times last year. “They can see what people are wearing on the other side of the globe. Trends are now dispersed faster than ever.”

Websites like “Runway Rundown” and Seventeen.com give girls tips on how to get the same looks on the runway for less. And when you’re stuck on campus writing papers and studying for finals, you’ve got to get crafty about finding deals on clothes.

Students everywhere are caring more about what they wear, whether they are spending a lot of a little, or dressing for an interview or a walk to class. But the consensus among most students is that regardless of where they are going or who they are seeing, they dress for themselves and no one else.

 Mike Samlall, 18, a freshman finance major at Ramapo, said, “If you’ve got it wear it. I know I look good.” He then cleverly quoted his favorite store, Express’s slogan:

 “Dress to express, not to impress. I think that should apply to everyone.”

Boyfriend? Brother? Borrow!

Feel like you can't find anything to wear in your closet? Check your brother's! I have both a brother and a boyfriend and I've found that I can take some simple male pieces and make them staples in my outfits. It doesn't have to be boyish either. Make it super girly!

Of course when you are going into their closet, you need to be prepared. Here's a "hit list" for you, of all the thing you need to take out.

1. His button down

The long sleeve button down is an absolute essential. The nice thing about wearing the men's version is that the over-sized look gives your outfit a little bit of edge and funk. Take a plain white one or a colored one. You could even try a patterned shirt. I like to pair it with leggings and ballet flats, either leaving the shirt open or belting it around the waist. You could also pair it with skinny jeans and a heel or wedge. Roll up the sleeves too! Ashley Olsen leaves a few buttons open and pulls it off very well in this picture: 

http://southernfemme.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/ashley-olsen-mens-button-down.jpg

2. Crew-neck tee

Okay so I'll admit, it may seem a little childish, but it really can be a great, relaxed look for a summer day with friends. I'm partial to stripes on a tee, there's just something about that nautical look that I like. But go ahead and grab his graphic tee and concert shirt while you're there (just make sure he doesn't kill you). Pair it with skinny jeans and a pair or converse or denim cut off shorts and some flip flops for a hot day. You can't go wrong.

3. Polos

They aren't just for golfing, I swear. Colored  polos are a great way to look  put together without even trying.  Pair it with some white cargo shorts or a denim mini with Toms or gladiator sandals. I like to leave a few buttons open and wear some chunky bracelets and a watch. If you're a bit of a risk taker, you could try popping up your collar and wearing sunglasses. It looks really cute here: 

http://prettyandpoor.com/media/Ruffle_Polo.jpg

4. His Suit Jacket

I LOVE this. Take it from him, just avoid spilling on it. A men's suit jacket makes for a really cute,edgy outfit piece on a girl. You could be simple and wear a simple tank or graphic tee underneath, or be a little risque and go for something with lots of shimmer and sparkle. Pair it with some skinny jeans and heels/ballet flats or some high waisted shorts and sneakers. While I don't recommend wearing NOTHING underneath a jacket, the concept is shown here on Jennifer Aniston on the Marie Claire cover. Really chic:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCa61uyzlzOQIEg-IsCxwos67uFZKBNE_tqcb4-O2rMhZIUmH9ElsIP5QKZNuNz5xXKsPR3LgxQtRRnGLkHIsdgkkyQUmxYysO7qkPM_umGFY-KzZ2cjm2NWn5vz4jMQJEHiZ4dp9kXg/s1600/jen-aniston.jpg

5. His Leather or Cargo Jacket

We might as well take all their jackets!  I love men's leather jackets, especially aviator/pilot looking ones. Pair it with jeans and boots or throw it over a pair of shorts with a graphic tee. Brown and black both look equally good. Try it with some big earrings too.

Rocking Your Old Keds!

Whether you’re relaxing with friends in your denim shorts and tee or wearing a cute sundress to the first party of the summer, you can never go wrong with Keds. They add a perfectly simple, yet feminine touch to any outfit, and for once you don’t have to feel guilty about chilling in your sneakers outside of the gym.

These shoes first came out in 1916 for both athletic wear and casual wear and were known for their simple canvas material and rubber soles that were great for sneaking around  (they were silent when you walked in them). They were a huge hit for a while, went on a kind of an unspoken hiatus for a bit, and then suddenly came back in full force.

Now they’re EVERYWHERE. Shoes that I thought could only be pulled off when my Mom was wearing her nursing uniform are my new favorite things to wear. Now I’m grateful that we’re finally the same shoe size!

And here's an answer to the question that always pops up with Keds...Yes, they can be worn with or without socks. But if you find you can't go sockless without chafing or smelling, baking soda helps. They also sell really low ankle socks that you can’t see much above the sneaker.

Keds come in countless styles and colors now, although I’m partial to the classic white. It just looks cute and girly and matches everything in your closet, but I make sure to keep them clean. A mixture of dish soap and water does the trick! You can check out all the Keds designs at their website: http://www.keds.com/store/SiteController/keds/home.

Outfit Ideas!

My new favorite thing is Keds with a sundress. Do a dress with ruffles for a girly look  and pair it with a leather jacket for a little bit of edge. Try a pop of color in your sneaks for contrast!

Feeling daring? Pair Keds with  a blazer for a super chic, androgynous look.  High waisted shorts and a graphic tee keeps it casual!

Keds with denim shorts and a tee is a classic. You can't go wrong. Pair it with funky sunglasses and an over the shoulder bag to complete the look.

Thought you couldn't wear sneakers with a skirt? Think again.  Keds paired with a cotton skirt and tank or simply a denim mini and tee are perfect for any occasion.

*Images from chictopia.com