College Fashionista brings together writers from college campuses around the world. This platform discusses the latest college fashion, beauty, decor, and lifestyle trends. During my semester as a Style Guru Intern, I wrote several articles about fashionistas on the University of Tampa campus.
WHAT TO WEAR: Upscale Festival Look
As spring transitions into summer, music festivals dominate the scene all around the world. No matter your favorite genre, there’s a music festival for you! One of the most popular styles around the festival scene is Bohemian; embodying comfort and ease. If you’re wondering how to stand out among the crowd of countless textures and colors this season, this Fashionista has styled the perfect look.
Continuing to channel a Bohemian style, this outfit takes on a muted tone giving it an elevated feel. Culottes have seen a rise in popularity this season, and what makes this pair of culottes unique are the pleated detail and the camel color. They are an ideal piece to wear, because the movement and basic color create a relaxed look. A solid color thin strapped crop top or bralette perfectly compliments a statement piece such as these culottes. Wearing a form-fitting top balances the volume of the culottes, creating a flattering silhouette.
Accessories are the key to making a look complete, but to successfully style a Bohemian look it is important to stay minimalistic. This Fashionista kept her look polished by choosing a few basic pieces of jewelry and a statement belt. Choker style necklaces are a well-known staple in any Bohemian style look, but hanging charms give this style necklace a cute feminine feel. This coin necklace brings traditional elements into a modern look. A few simple silver band rings were the perfect touch to accompany a bolder necklace. Choosing a statement belt tied together the crop top and culottes and gave this look a western flare. This Fashionista finished off her look by choosing a pair of peep toe booties. Giving the shoe that is typically worn in the fall a warm weather twist.
Music festivals are filled with Fashionistas wearing a rainbow of bright colors and crazy patterns, but if you want to stand out in the crowd you should go back to the basics. Embrace the comfort of Bohemian style, and choose staple pieces in muted tones to create an upscale festival look.
BEAUTY BAR: White Wings
With summer just around the corner, it is the perfect time to start looking for a new go-to beauty look. This Fashionista created the perfect look that you can use to mix up your routine! Here are several tricks and tips to help you achieve this look.
Her use of white brings a little bit of fun and flirtiness to the traditional winged eyeliner look. This Fashionista chose to use the MAC Eye Kohl in the shade Fascinating. She says her secret to getting a smooth line is to warm up the tip of the pencil with a blow dryer.
The key to creating this look is balance; white eyeliner can become too harsh without the balance of warmer tones. This Tarte palatte has the perfect combination of shimmer shades, all in soft browns and golds, to create this balance.
In addition to a good bronzer and baked blush, this Fashionista used Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator by Laura Geller. This look was created using the shade Gilded Honey, but I recommend choosing a shade that will bring the right amount of warmth to your own skin tone. Highlighter can easily take a look from subtle to overwhelming if it’s not applied correctly.
Using a nude or neutral lip color is also important when creating this look. These shades will compliment and not compete with the white liner. I recommend choosing a matte liquid lipstick. This Fashionista chose to use a long-wear shade by Jouer.
To finish off this beauty look, pair it with a floral dress or a pastel pink top. Play up this summertime look by adding sweet and feminine pieces, like this Fashionista’s pearl earrings.
STYLE ADVICE: Fashion Flashback
Many fashion trends exist in a revolving door—bound to repeat themselves at some point in time, coming back into style for just a season, a year or two, or maybe even a decade. Wearing trends that have come back from the past can either make you a style icon or a style victim. Pairing items from four different eras, this Fashionista was able to achieve a timeless look.
Shiny black leggings made their debut in the film Grease, where Olivia Newton-John takes the 1950s fashion scene by storm. We see them again in the 1980s, when rock stars and pop sensations took the stage in colored lycra leggings. Not going overboard with this trend is key; just choose a basic color and simple, complementary pieces.
In the 1950s, aviator sunglasses were just referred to as pilot’s glasses and seen as a practical piece of clothing. They made their way into the fashion scene during the 1970s. Aviators were used to mimic a militaristic attitude. Whether you love them or hate them, these glasses are definitely trending once again. Choosing a pair of aviators that are polarized, like this Fashionista, will make your style seem more authentic for taking into account the history of the accessory.
Since the 1800s, choker necklaces have been a popular necklace choice. This necklace has made its way through history accompanying many notable styles, the most noteworthy style being goth from the 1990s. Dominating the current fashion scene, choker necklaces are becoming a staple piece in every Fashionista’s wardrobe. Choosing a choker that complements your outfit is important because this trend can easily become a gaudy distraction.
Platform sneakers were seen on the runways during the 1990s and quickly made their way into the closets of models, musicians, actresses, and other celebrities. Although platform shoes haven’t quite made their comeback yet, you can definitely see an increase in the height of sneakers from brands such as Steve Madden, Alexander McQueen, and Puma. This Fashionista chose a pair of slip-on sneakers with a slightly elevated sole, giving the platform sneaker trend a new life.
Wearing trends from the past in today’s fashion scene can be tricky, but if you wear these trends in a balanced combination, you can make them your own with a sense of style that endures the decades!
ALL IN THE DETAILS: Girly with an Edge
When it comes to fashion, there are no rules. There are so many different styles and new trends, that the possibilities are endless. One of my favorite ways to mix things up in my wardrobe is to combine various colors, prints, and textures. This Fashionista combined both girly and edgy pieces to create a perfectly balanced look.
Ripped jeans are a constant that set an edgy and rebellious tone of an outfit. Denim comes in many different colors, but choosing a pair of jeans with a dark wash will create a strong contrast in your outfit. This Fashionista chose a pair of black-wash jeans with minimal destruction. Choosing a pair of denim with more destruction can set a more extreme tone for your outfit.
One feminine piece to contrast destructed denim in an outfit is a floral print top. Her choice of an off-the-shoulder floral top adds just the right amount of femininity to this outfit. The white background color of the print also adds a bright contrast to the black wash jeans.
Depending on the details, a pair of booties can really elevate the tone of an outfit. Booties in dark colors such as black and maroon are typically worn with an edgy outfit, but choosing a pair with metal details such as buckles and chains can make the outfit even more daring. These perforated booties are a great example of unique detailing.
Jewelry is the simplest way to make an outfit feel more fun, flirty, and feminine. A bracelet is my favorite piece of jewelry to achieve this tone. This Fashionista chose to wear a dainty, gold cuff bracelet with natural stones.
The best way to mix up your style is to literally mix it up. Pairing contrasting and different trending pieces will bring an entirely new mood to your wardrobe. Whether you choose velvet and leather or camouflage and animal print, just have fun because there are no rules!
Haley Bockius 