Newsletter Draft 1

The Modern FashionistaWhat its like to be a fashionista in todays world.I would dress so well if I were rich.This is fashions most believed lie.Fashion is actually about dressing well on the budget you have.So why do people tell themselves this lie?Because they dont want to admit to themselves that they dont have a fashion sense (they may have a semblance of one, but if you cant show it with your current budget whos going to guarantee youll get rich and flaunt it then).But thats what this newsletter is here for: to help you buy stylish clothes you can afford and properly pair them with things you already own (so you wont tell yourself that lie, but still get that trendy look).As a girl who gets recognized at the Forever 21 register, I have quite the experience in shopping, but shopping often is only necessary if you want to be really trendy or need a huge variety in your wardrobe.Almost every season hats return.From anything ranging from fedoras to sun hats, hats continue to accessorize a plethora of outfits, plaguing every few pages of Vogue as an accessory as common as a staple bracelet.So whats so different about hats this year?This season, its not so much a specific style of hat thats back, but rather the way you wear it.Whether its with a sundress and wedges or shorts and a plain white tee, the placement of your hat is whats back.(Though we say brunch is the best time to perfectly accessorize your outfit with a hat.)First, put your hair in a half bun (pictured left).And then simply place the hat on top of the half bun to achieve the halo look.Secure with bobby pins so your hat isnt constantly falling off into your mimosas (pictured right):Hats are back...againEvery year hats make a comeback, but this year its all about the styling.Dressing on a budget...2/3The college budget............2Fashion with a cause.........3Meet Harlie............................4Pants coast to coast............4Books continued.................4Coffee tables are a staple of the adult living room (probably not the frat house living room).We want our fashionistas to channel their inner Cher (Clueless) and read a book a week.Continued on page 4Books for the fashionista:Look smart and trendy!You dont, however, need the cashier to recognize you.Owning a few staples of the seasons trends can be easily styled with clothes you already own.We want you to look good in the things you own.We also want to give you advice on the things to buy so youre not wasting the little money you have (breakdown of that on page 2).Whether you skim the newsletter or read it in depth, we think our readers are going to be trendier just from these four college-student-focused pages (specifically UMD of course).1Fall 2015College FashionistaIn this issue:Getting the most out of your limited wardrobe2Breaking down the budgetWhat are you making and where is your money going?College students are universally known as the poorest members of society.Nationwide set out to find out just how broke we are.According to its survey, only 40 percent of the money we earn we get to spend on what we want.And what we want includes food and toiletries apparenly.The simplicity of it all is that the average college student is broke and we cant avoid it.So instead of killing ourselves over three jobs to fit into the pages of Vogue, the data shows we need to dress with what we own.So reference above for ideas and ways to avoid spending money on clothes and remember Google and Tumblr are excellent resources for creatively styling an outfit.RomperRompers are one of girls best kept secrets.Its as easy as wearing a dress while still achieving that flirty cute feel we want our outfit to achieve (besides the ridiculous discomfort achieved each time you have to take it off to pee).Rompers seem like an outfit you can only wear once, but theyre actually extremely versatile.Whether its wearing different jackets and accessories or completely disguising the romper as shorts with a crop top or blouse, rompers are a must in your budgeted wardrobe.From right to left: Romper styled as is, romper styled with a blazer for a more professional look, romper styled with a jean jacket and headband for summer vibes, romper styled with cardigan and hat for casual date vibes and romper styled with crop top and boots for an edgy, non-romper vibe.College is expensive.Well teach you how to style with basic clothing elements you already own.Boyfriend jeansBoyfriend jeans are another one of my favorite new trends.Though they can be difficult to style with crop tops (because the waist may be too loose), theyre quite the staple pant (because everyone gets tired of their favorite skinny jeans).Whether theyre styled with heels or Converse, boyfriend jeans can go from casual to dressy with simply changing the shoes.These jeans are almost as comfortable as joggers (for jeans anyways).Theyre easily styled especially if you have a wardrobe full of loose tees.I recommend hopping on Google until youre comfortable with exactly how to style them (they can be challenging, depending on your preexisting wardrobe).From left to right: Bf jeans with plain white tee for the effortless everyday look, bf jeans with a dressy shirt and heels for that cute afternoon date, bf jeans with Toms and a plaid for that almost hipster vibe, bf jeans with a camo jacket and converse for that grocery shopping outfit, and bf jeans with a blazer and jean shirt for that casual meeting look (try different colored tees for more versatility).Getting the most out of your limited wardrobe3Breaking down the budgetWhat are you making and where is your money going?Dressing for a causeLooking stylish while supporting charity, a growing trend.From necklaces to graphic tees, elephants have transcended the political sphere and seeped into (onto) our clothes.One company that has embedded this loveable animal onto its clothing is The Elephant Pants.The Elephant Pants (not just pants) combines the newest trend of jogger pants, made popular by Kanye West, with elephants.These pants, splashed with elephants and patterns, are the ultimate statement pants easily paired with your favorite crop top.Not just featuring elephants as part of the design, The Elephant Pants have piggybacked off the success of charitable fashion companies like Toms (which gives a pair of shoes to a child in Africa each time you buy a pair) to donate money to The Save the Wildlife Campaign (The Elephant Pants are a corporate sponsor of this organization) with every item sold.Each pair of pants, tapestry or necklace you buy from this organization helps elephants and wildlife in Africa.College is expensive.Well teach you how to style with basic clothing elements you already own.youre comfortable with exactly how to style them (they can be challenging, depending on your preexisting wardrobe).From left to right: Bf jeans with plain white tee for the effortless everyday look, bf jeans with a dressy shirt and heels for that cute afternoon date, bf jeans with Toms and a plaid for that almost hipster vibe, bf jeans with a camo jacket and converse for that grocery shopping outfit, and bf jeans with a blazer and jean shirt for that casual meeting look (try different colored tees for more versatility).High-waisted skirtMiniskirts and high-waisted skirts always seem to circulate the seasons as an underrated staple of that going-out look.Though the high-waisted style of skirt may not be the It item of the season, its a refreshing breath from the t-shirt and leggings outfit that seems to adorn every other girl on campus.The high-waisted skirt allows for you to look dressy or suggestive depending on what look youre going for.These skirts are a nice light fit for summer that dress up the skater skirts, the It item of last season.The flow of the skirt (which makes me want to dance) almost gives you a happy-go-lucky feeling just wearing it.These skirts are not something you wear when youre sad (not that you usually dress up when youre sad), but they really only feel right when youre happy.From left to right: High-waisted skirt with a blazer and heels for the semi-professional shirt to give your everyday look a dressier vibe; hw skirt with heels and a leather jacket to get that edgier, fearless vibe; and hw skirt with heels and a crop top for your basic, high-waisted look.look; hw skirt with a tee and hat for the trendy, girl next door vibe; hw skirt with a dress Joggers (The Elephant Pants)As you may have seen before, I love love love joggers.These pants have changed the fashion industry with their versatility and unparalleled comfort.Joggers are great for looking dressy and casual depending on whatever you need to dress for.In the pictures above and to the right, I styled my joggers dressy in almost every picture.This gives you a spectrum of dressy looks to wear with these pants, but youll have to use your imagination for the informal looks (though its much easier.Just try sneakers and a sweatshirt and youre sure to succeed).From left to right: Joggers with a backless shirt for an edgy, suggestive vibe; joggers with a tee and camo jacket for a chill afternoon; joggers with a crop top, heels and hat for the over-the-top trendy look; joggers with a blazer and heels for the modern office; and joggers with a crop top and sandals for a lazy afternoon.4Meet HarlieMeet one of the fashion gurus who writes and photographs for CollegeFashionista.com, UMD chapter.Q: How did you hear about College Fashionista?A: A friend of mine was involved in College Fashionista and she recommended it to me.Q: How did you hear about College Fashionista?A: I try to bring my own voice to the articles about fashion. Fashion isnt just about looking beautiful, its about feeling beautiful and confident. I try to bring that to my writing, as well.Q: What do you look for in a UMD fashionista?A: I generally just look for people that look comfortable and happy in the clothes they wear and for people who are trendy.Q: How do you describe your personal style?A: My personal style is very eclectic. I can go from super edgy, to preppy, to homeless looking, to bohemian. My personal style just depends on my mood.Q: And finally, what is your favorite accessory?A: My favorite accessory is a really cool pair of sunglasses. I have a million of them, but my favorite is currently this pair from Aldo.One of the most interesting trends happening now is jogger pants.These pants, originally starting out as sweatpants, have transcended the informal wear and become a staple in men and womens wardrobes throughout the U.S.Although these pants are just beginning to gain popularity in the East Coast (excluding New York), the West Coast has participated in the trend for years. So whats so great about these pants?Well besides the versatility (dressing them up or down) as exhibited by The Elephant Pants above, they are super comfortable.These pants are the equivalent of wearing dressy sweatpants.Coast to coast pantsMost seen in California, these joggerpants are taking over UMD by storm.With this flexibility you could easily wear these pants dressed down with some Toms at the airport and then slip on some heels once you get to the city (which I did this past weekend).Joggers boast of being trendy pants with the comfort rarely found in womens clothing.You can see jogger pants most at UMDs bar scene paired with a crop top and heels, but they are sure to creep into UMDs daily wear.Books ContinuedWhat better way to get a good read while also learning about the history of fashion (a fashionista should know her roots) than to read some cute fashion-centered books?Weve found three cute books that our fashionistas can quickly have shipped from Amazon Prime.50 Dresses that Changed the WorldThis book is full of people and dresses that forever influenced the fashion industry.From Jackie Kennedy to topless dresses, the book chronicles the greats of the dresses(possibly giving you a new idea for your next formal).A Guide to Elegance: For Every Woman Who Wants to Be Well and Properly Dressed on All OccasionsThis book is a great way to check your style and improve it so youre properly dressed for all occasions (in case you didnt read the exasperating title).While reading you can tune your style and laugh at some of the outdated suggestions.The Little Dictionary of Fashion: A Guide to Dress Sense for Every Woman This book is less of a dictionary and more of a look into the brilliance of Christian Noir.With properly adorned letters and simple explanations, this book makes you appreciate the roots of the fashion industry.Connect with us:fb.com/collegefashionista@[email protected] photos taken by Elizabeth Danko.Photo cred: HarliePietrangelo