Author: Heather Bohlen

WHAT TO WEAR: Finals

Finals week is only as stressful as you make it out to be. If you go into the library wearing pajamas looking like a zombie, chances are you will feel and perform like a zombie. I’ve learned that if you treat finals week like any other week, you will be in a better state of mind to thrive. If you dress your best, you will feel you’re best, giving you the confidence you need to ace your exams. I mean don’t get me wrong, rocking your new fur vest will not be enough to pass a test, but it certainly will take away the negative energy finals tend to bring.

I caught this Fashionista on her way to an exam. Her pattered leggings and fur vest allowed her to stay comfortable while still exuding class and poise. She managed to find an outfit that was comfortable without looking like she rolled out of bed. Leggings are many college students go to garment so try patterned leggings as a way to stand out. I also admired her fur vest, a classy way to stay warm during the many blizzards we’ve been experiencing. She tied the whole ensemble together with black boots and a black sweater.

Part of succeeding starts with the right attitude. Wearing a chic outfit like this Fashionista can give you the positivity and confidence you need to help ace your exams!

One Simple Change: She could add a bold colored tote bag to add a pop of color to the outfit. Any shade of red is perfect for the holiday season.

Check out my eBay Collection, Fur-ezzing.

WHAT TO WEAR: Holiday

When the walkways are covered in a blanket of snow, the dorm windowsills are all covered in lights and you hear Christmas songs in every dinning hall, you know the holidays are approaching.  Our campus is truly a winter wonderland. Although, the only place lacking some holiday spirit would be the classrooms. A good way to fix that, is by bringing in some holiday cheer through your outfit, as this Fashionista did.

Her bold green tights are the ultimate way to be festive for the holidays. She kept the rest of her outfit simple in order to keep the focus on her statement tights. The tights give her entire outfit a burst of color and liveliness.  Her tights can be found at Urban Outfitters and also come in red, another way to achieve a Christmas inspired look.

The snow is the perfect excuse to break out chic winter accessories. Her beanie gave her outfit a nice touch while keeping her warm during the below freezing weather. I especially liked the bow on the side of the beanie. Her spiked flats gave the outfit an edgy vibe to the overall ensemble.

Everyone says it’s the season to be jolly, but as this Fashionista showed us, it’s also about dressing cheerful.  A good way to overcome all the negativity about finals approaching is through a holiday inspired outfit.

 One Simple Change: She could add a knit scarf to her ensemble to add an additional pop of color and warmth.

Check out my ebay collection here:http://www.ebay.com/cln/heatherbohlen/Tis-the-Season/67472133019

WHAT TO WEAR: Day To Night

As finals week is quickly approaching, students are forced to put their holiday spirit on hold while they cram for exams. Although, after a long day at the library, it’s important to remember to take a break and spend time celebrating the holidays with friends. Most college students have two completely different attires: one outfit for daytime and one for night. Rather then wear two entirely different ensembles, you can wear one and just modify the outfit slightly for the nighttime.

This Fashionista transformed a simple black dress and stockings, two staples for any college girl, into a casual daytime look. Some of us have clothes that are set aside for strictly going out, and separate casual attire for classes. However, as this Fashionista proves, mixing the two can create a flattering outfit.

Her scarf adds a pop of color to her ensemble and gives it a more casual look. I was also instantly attracted to her lace combat boots. I typically see leather combat boots around campus so I was exited to see one of my favorite types of boots come in a new style.

This holiday season, try combining components of both day and night garments to create a chic ensemble. Sometimes it’s the items we would least expect that end up looking the best together. When styled appropriately, a little black dress can go a long way.

One Simple Change: All she has to do is remove her scarf and change her boots to a pair of wedge booties and her look is instantly transformed from day to night.

Check out my eBay Collection here.

My eBay collections were curated as part of the CollegeFashionista and eBay collaboration with Style Coalition #FOLLOWITFINDIT

WHAT TO WEAR: Fall Break

Constantly running from errand to errand, the holiday season is an extremely hectic time for everyone. A fashionable winter coat is arguably the most important part of a college student’s winter wardrobe. In the cold weather, most people who pass you by will sadly never even see your outfit underneath, which is why it’s important to find the perfect coat. This fashionisto’s bold patterned coat stood out to me.

The bold, brightly colored stripes stood out from the black and gray peacoats and North Face coats I typically see around campus. The jacket’s print had a tribal vibe to it, which is a huge trend right now. Adding bursts of color can go a long way while trying to withstand the harsh weather. The campus can appear rather dull now that the leaves have all fallen so a brightly colored jacket is the next best thing to liven up our campus.

I liked this look because he created his own skater style, complete with the beanie on his head. All my guy friends are obsessed with beanies because they are not only fashionable, but can save anyone from a not so great hair day. The best part about beanies is they come in every color and pattern imaginable. They can spice up any winter look, making it an accessory no college student will want to go without. Whether your style is more plain or wild, there is a beanie out there for you.

 One simple change:  For a different look he could switch the black pants to tan chinos.

My eBay collections were curated as part of the CollegeFashionista and eBay collaboration with Style Coalition #FOLLOWITFINDIT. Check out my eBay collection here!

WHAT TO WEAR: Snow Day

Waking up and looking outside my window to find a blanket of snow is an indescribable feeling. The first snowfall is always an exciting experience. Although the campus looks beautiful covered in snow, the fact that it happened before Thanksgiving is a little scary. The snow filled campus is a scenic sight to see through my window, yet it creates a not so pleasant experience walking to class. While some use the snow as an excuse to skip class, this Fashionisto used the snow to break out some stylish winter accessories. He had the right idea with his multi-colored cotton scarf and peacoat.

In my experience, it’s not easy to find a well-dressed male on campus, so I was taken aback by his sophisticated ensemble. A cozy fashionable scarf is an essential for any college student. Scarves, especially cashmere, tend to be pricey but are well worth the investment. This Fashionisto’s scarf is from Florence, Italy but similar ones can be found at Express or J.Crew.  It dresses up the average black coat and allows him to stand out. I was also attracted to his chino pants because most guys typically tend to stay with jeans or sweats. The tans in his scarf complement the color of his pants nicely.

Scarves are the ultimate winter accessory because they serve a duel purpose; they will not only keep you warm, but in style. Next cold day, spice up your winter coat with a fashionable scarf.

One Simple Change: To add a pop of color into his outfit, he could swap his tan chinos for a maroon or bright red.

WHAT TO WEAR: Cold Weather

As the weather starts to get colder, people’s options for creativity are limited by the fact that they need to wear a coat. After seeing black and brown Northface after Northface, it was refreshing to see this Fashionista’s half leather, half army green jacket. Black and gray tend to be people’s go to jacket colors but an army green is a nice change of pace to switch to. The half leather creates an edgy vibe to her ensemble.

Fall is the time to take advantage of finding a unique coat because once winter comes around, keeping warm becomes everyone’s top priority. It is easy to get lost in a sea of ugg boots and dark puffy snow jackets in the wintertime. You can find a similar coat to hers at TOBI or ASOS. Leather accents are a big trend this season that are not just found on the sides of jackets but also on the sides of pants.

This Fashionista didn’t want her jacket to be her only statement; she added a scarf to add some color to the look. This scarf is complemented by her brown leather combat boots. This whole look is a good example of an on the go outfit because it is comfortable yet stylish.

One Simple Change: To change this look from day to night, she could swap her combat boots for heeled booties and put a casual dress on. A pair of leather leggings would also look good and complement her jacket. The jacket is edgy enough to take on the nighttime as well.

My eBay collections were curated as part of the CollegeFashionista and eBay collaboration with Style Coalition #FOLLOWITFINDIT

WHAT TO WEAR: Presentation

Presenting in front of an entire class is always a nerve wracking experience. No matter how many times I practice notecards, I still get that pit in my stomach right before I’m about to present. I’ve always found that wearing a well put together outfit can help put you into character and ease the nerves. This Fashionista did a good job preparing for a speech by mixing fun printed pants together with nude heels. She gave off a preppy yet business casual vibe.

This Fashionista’s pants stand out from the typical pair of jeans and make a statement. At the same time, I liked how the polka-dots were subtle and not too distracting which is something to keep in mind when presenting. You don’t want an outfit that has so much going on, that it will take away from what your saying in your presentation.

The heels were a classy addition to this ensemble and weren’t so high that it looked like she was headed to a club rather then class. It’s not too common to wear heels to class which is why it’s great for special occasions like presenting in front of the class.

You can find a pair of blue polka-dotted pants, similar to this Fashionistas, at J.Crew. A pair of preppy polka dotted pants are enough to brighten up your day and your presentation.

One Simple Change: She could add a blazer to give her outfit an extra level of professionalism. If she wanted little less formal and less subtle, she could also try a bolder polka-dotted pant, like this pair from kate spade. 

My eBay collections were curated as part of the CollegeFashionista and  eBay collaboration with Style Coalition #FOLLOWITFINDIT

WHAT TO WEAR: Study Group

Between pumpkin and apple picking, going to haunted houses and various festivals, its no wonder that fall is many people’s favorite season. Also known as one of the busiest seasons, fall activities require an outfit that’s going to be warm and comfortable. It’s officially time to break out the scarves, leg warmers and leggings.

With a simple yet well put together ensemble, this Fashionista was ready to take on the cold weather and chances of snow with her leg warmers and scarf. Aside from the obvious, that leg warmers keep you warm, they help break up the all black boots against the black leggings to add some contrast and a pop of color to the outfit.

Whether you wear an infinity scarf like this Fashionista, or go for the classic style, scarves are a fall necessity that no Fashionista should go without. I especially liked the fringe detail on her scarf.

The denim button-down makes the ultimate layering piece. Using the button-down was a good idea because even though outside is freezing, the classrooms tend to be hot so layering is essential for students.

One Simple Change: To change up her look of simplicity, she could experiment with different styles, colors and patterns for her scarf and leg warmers. My go-to fall color is red, which can be found on this Banana Republic scarf. Plaid is another classic as shown at Madewell. As the weather gets colder, her casually chic ensemble might be better suited with a knit sweater rather than button-down.

WHAT TO WEAR: Early Class

Very few people find having an early class ideal, but are forced into making the most of it. Naturally, most people want to find an outfit and get ready in the least amount of time possible. Although it can be tempting to roll out of bed and go to class in sweats or pajamas, there are plenty of comfortable more stylish alternatives as this Fashionista proves.

Most sweatshirts I see have the name of a college or sports team which is why this Fashionistas pull over stood out to me. The little stars along with the cuffed sleeves give her ensemble a preppy vibe and make her pull over the perfect alternative to the typical college sweatshirt. It is just as comfortable but looks more presentable, especially when paired with a skirt.

This Fashionista mastered one of my favorite fall looks: pairing a flowy skirt with combat boots. The two complement each other well and result in an edgy yet carefree ensemble. I also liked that she wore tights with the skirt, another fall essential. Don’t pack away all your summer items just yet because adding tights to an outfit is a good way to get a new look out of shorts and skirts.

One Simple Change: To spice up the outfit even more, she could have worn colored or textured tights. I always love maroon stockings for fall. Also, the sweatshirt is appropriate for daytime but if she were going out to dinner with friends at night, she could swap the sweatshirt for a fancier blouse.

WHAT TO WEAR: Meeting With A Professor

Lets face it, meeting with a professor isn’t exactly everyone’s favorite task to do, but it is a crucial part in becoming a successful college student. First impressions are key and can begin with your outfit. I once had a professor tell my class that she felt uncomfortable because she had a student that always wore see-through short skirts to class. The last thing you want to do is make your professor feel uncomfortable and leave that kind of impression. When I came across this Fashionista, I thought she had the perfect balance of looking professional and trendy. She avoided looking boring or too formal by adding her own style to a sophisticated look.

A blazer is always a safe bet when meeting with an advisor or professor. It’s something so simple, yet makes a huge difference when layered onto an outfit. It could make almost any shirt or dress that wouldn’t otherwise have a business casual feel to it, look professional. I was attracted to her blazer because its black and white stripes add a unique element that set it apart from the typical business suit jacket. You can find similar blazers at Banana Republic, Shopbop and Ann Taylor.

I also liked the fact that her bold red bag gave her outfit a pop of color. The purple and red, not commonly seen together, contrasted nicely. A bag that’s not only stylish but also large enough to fit all your books is a necessity for all college students.

One Simple Change: Because she is casually meeting with a professor, her ensemble is perfect as is. However, if she were headed to something more serious like a job interview she could swap her purple shirt for a button down.