Jordan Shiley – CollegeFashionista

Meet the Legends Behind Your Band T-Shirts

“Hey, nice Metallica shirt… name three songs.” If you’ve been personally victimized by this statement, you’ve come to the right place. Band T-shirts have been huge in casual fashion for the past couple of years. Personally, I’m a big fan of the movement, but the problem is that too many people are purchasing these T-shirts without actually knowing the band. I’m here to fix that. By the end of this article, you will be able to pass the dreaded three song test if someone comes up to you and asks about your shirt.

1一Led Zeppelin. Led Zeppelin IV is known to be one of the most influential albums in rock music. The band was formed in 1968 and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. The museum’s biography states that they were perhaps as influential during the ’70s as the Beatles were in the ’60s. Here are three songs: “When The Levee Breaks,” “Black Dog,” and “Whole Lotta Love.”

2一The Beatles. The Beatles are arguably the greatest band of all time. The band was formed in Liverpool in 1960 by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They were so popular that the fandom was referred to as “Beatlemania.” Here are three songs: “Come Together,” “Oh! Darling,” and “Penny Lane.”

3一The Rolling Stones. Everyone loves that iconic lip T-shirt, but do half of the people rocking it know the rock behind it? The Rolling Stones were formed in London in 1962 and grew to be one of the most successful rock bands in history. Their “A Bigger Band Tour” is the second highest grossing tour of all time behind U2. Here are three songs: “Beast of Burden,” “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’,” and “Gimme Shelter.”

4一Grateful Dead. Grateful Dead is known for its terrapins, bears, and skulls. In 1965, this group from California gave birth to possibly the greatest jam band in history. They’re still kicking and are currently touring the world with John Mayer on guitar. Here are three songs: “Casey Jones,” “Sugar Magnolia,” and “Touch Of Grey.”

5一Pink Floyd. Pink Floyd started in 1965 playing the underground music scene in London. After gaining popularity, they continued on to be one of the most famous rock bands of all time known for their live performances, deep, philosophical lyrics, and sonic experimentation. Here are three songs: “Wish You Were Here,” “Time,” and “Another Brick In The Wall, Pt. 2.”

6一Joy Division. The iconic post-punk album “Unknown Pleasures” is all over T-shirts. With the suicide of singer Ian Curtis, the band only lasted a little under four years. The small amount of music they were able to put out is still widely famous and lives on as an influence for modern music. Here are three songs: “Disorder,” “Ceremony,” and “Love Will Tear Us Apart.”

Do you have a favorite band T-shirt? Show me how you style it on Instagram! Don’t forget to tag @CFashionista.

How I Learned to Style an Embroidered Look

This Fashionista was caught red-handed in the street for slaying my existence. Embroidery can add an understated beauty element to any garment or accessory. This trend came back in the fall and is still going strong. The mix of the rose embroidery with the textures of this outfit made it lively and striking, immediately catching my eye.

Light denim and white? Name a more iconic duo. The pairing of the white lace with the light wash denim skirt is impeccable. Her shirt is a sheer, lace long sleeve from Tobi. It has a beautiful pattern made from lace that can excite you without hiding the beauty underneath. To make it pop, she added a bralette with a rose appliqué on each side. The roses bring in color as well as more texture to the outfit. To complement the bralette, she chose a button-down skirt with more rose embroidery from PacSun.

This Fashionista decided to pair her lively outfit with block heels. Block heels are a spring and summer look that can go with any outfit. Buying a pair of these is well worth the cash because of the versatility of the shoe. They’re casual and cool but can also be a perfect addition to any day-to-night outfit. For this outfit, she is rocking a pair of velvet, dusty rose heels. The texture of the velvet is the cherry on top for this ensemble. The dusty rose also cools down the heat of the bright reds in the outfit, making it bold but not overbearing.

To accessorize, she added some metals with her silver and black western-inspired belt. This double buckle belt is a trend that has been growing since the fall. She is also wearing a few silver rings and a silver bracelet made by a local silversmith from her hometown. To add a bit of boldness, she added a velvet choker. This simple piece ties in the black from the bralette and belt and gives an edgier vibe to the look.

This outfit is a fun melting pot of textures that instantly catches the eye. On top of that, she added embroidery to the plate really make it pop. Embroidery can make any outfit go from drab to fab!

How do you style this trend? Show us on social media and don’t forget to tag @CFashionista and hashtag #embroidher.

STYLE GURU STYLE: Fauxchella

Guess who’s back, back again… music festival season is back, so let the outfit inspiration begin!

It’s finally festival season again and it has the world inspired with bohemian vibes and subtle retro touches. Whether you’re pinning pictures of Vanessa Hudgens in her iconic Coachella looks, online stalking Free People, or eyeing a crochet crop top, the laid-back gypsy look is at its annual peak.

Even if you’re not attending a festival this year, the fashion of it can play a large role in any spring or summer wardrobe. For this specific look, I’m rocking an outfit perfect for a day on the town, a concert, or even just a trip to a photo-op destination.

Palazzo pants are currently my favorite bottoms. They’re light, cute, versatile, and comfortable. These striped, high-waisted palazzo pants from Forever 21 are my go-tos for a warm, sunny day. Virginia weather is still on the cooler side, so with shorts out of the question, these bottoms are a spring essential. These fun and vibrant bottoms go perfectly with any cropped top, band T-shirt, or bralette!

For my top, I’m wearing a burnt orange bralette. Wearing a bralette as a top is bold, but the lace adds a bit more detail to the outfit. This pop of color gives the outfit a little jazz and complements the simplicity of the pants. The bralette also elaborates on the festival vibe of the look. Crochet bralettes are a festival staple, so I chose a lace bralette to make it feel closer to home.

To accessorize, I decided to mix silver and gold. Though it’s a bold and uncommon move, I think it worked nicely for the outfit. I chose a silver statement necklace that brings a bohemian feel to the ensemble. To complement the necklace, I added two silver statement rings with an opal center. The shoes are a fun platform sandal featuring gold metallic details. These give the outfit a retro touch, which is also a popular trend of modern festival fashion.

To put the outfit together, I’m wearing a pair of plastic cat-eye sunglasses. These shades are a peachy color that aid in bringing in the spring palette while also accenting the burnt orange bralette. Cat-eye sunglasses are very in right now and complete the retro aspect of this look.

You don’t have to go to a festival to dress like it. The recipe for a perfect fauxchella outfit is a dash of retro, a tablespoon of fun, a teaspoon of comfort, and a spoonful of boho. You, too, can bring any festival flavor to your favorite spot.

WHAT TO WEAR: Black on Black

Spring may be the season of blooming flowers and pastel colors, but some Fashionistas are a little too edgy for soft pinks and yellows. This Fashionista is still rocking black on black, a statement that anyone and everyone can (and should) rock.

They key to black on black is pairing the outfit with an accent color. For this fun and edgy Fashionista, it happens to be her blue translucent aviators. These sunglasses are a growing trend brought back from the ’70s and we are all so here for it. She also ties in the blue with the graphic on her T-shirt.

For her shoes, she is wearing a pair of black ankle booties. These booties feature a silver zipper running up the side to keep the edgy feel of the outfit. The slight heel adds a bit of girliness to the look without taking away the gritty effect of the look. Booties are usually a trend for the colder weather, but this year they seem to be creeping into spring (and I am all about it).

Her black mid-rise skinny jeans feature a cuffed bottom and a destroyed knee. The cuffed hem draws attention to her booties and the destroyed knee fits this Fashionista’s look perfectly.

Her Van Halen band T-shirt adds a slight vintage feel to the ensemble. It’s hard to go wrong with a band T-shirt because it adds character and personal expression to any look. This Fashionista is mixing her black, edgy style with a spin off of a retro vibe.

To complement the blue in the band T-shirt, she added blue, gold-trimmed aviators to the look. For her jewelry, she is wearing a simple velvet choker paired with a short, gold, crescent-shaped geode pendant. The pastel in the choker brings this outfit into spring, while the geode adds a bit of flair to this outfit.

As her last touch, she added a black leather crossbody bag accented with a gold chain. To complete her look, she is slaying a nude lip and black nail polish.

This Fashionista is giving off a retro, edgy vibe while keeping her outfit casual and cool. This is a perfect outfit for a live show, a day downtown, or even for class. Black on black is always an acceptable and encouraged look.

ALL IN THE DETAILS: Plaid and Boujee

Raindrop, crop top. This fabulous Fashionista caught my eye walking around campus in her adorable outfit. She paired together metallic accessories, bold prints, furry textures, and classic colors to create the perfect casual cool outfit.

With a black and white color scheme accented with maroon, she rocked a girly yet edgy look. She wore a black and white fuzzy crop top to add some winter warmth to her outfit. To make it a little chicer, she wore a color-blocked black and maroon leather moto jacket overtop. This outerwear added edge to balance out the girly aspects of her ensemble.

To pair with the texture of her top, she chose a printed skirt. This black and white plaid skater skirt complemented her top well. This pattern also added a bit of boldness to the look.

To bring in the maroon from the jacket, she wore burgundy thigh-high socks with her booties. The brown Timberland booties have a chunky heel and a lace-up front.

For her accessories, she wore black sunglasses to complement the basic color scheme of her outfit. She also added a bright red Kate Spade bag to contrast with the burgundy in her outfit. For her jewelry, she sported a mix of silver and gold. She had an array of silver rings, a few gold bracelets, and a gold Michael Kors watch.

This Fashionista wore an outfit perfect for a chilly winter day at James Madison University. Her bold prints, fun textures, and complementing colors made for the perfect look.

STYLE ADVICE: Simple Chic

To end my winter break with a bang, I traveled from my hometown up to D.C. and spent a day in Georgetown. The greatest thing about this town, other than the cupcakes, is the amount of people who are well put together. There were so many outfits that caught my eye, as Georgetown gets a lot of tourists and is a ritzy, stylish town to begin with. I’m usually a very trendy person, but the majority of the people around here were brand-oriented and classic when it came to their style. Most outfits consisted of big name items, simple jewelry and accessories, neutral colors, and cute boots.

This Fashionista caught my eye first because she is clearly drop dead gorgeous, and second because after turning my head, I noticed how fantastic her outfit was even though it was so simple. I’ve found that there is so much beauty in simplicity, especially when it comes to fashion.

Her whole outfit was neutral and chic. She blended multiple tans and browns together to make a masterpiece of an outfit. For outerwear, she is wearing a beige J. Crew quilted jacket overtop of a marled gray oversize sweater. This combination is warm, cozy, and stylish for a day of shopping around Georgetown.

To avoid clashing with the marled sweater, she paired the top with simple black leggings. I love the idea of soft stretchy pants being acceptable and even fashionable in public. She dressed them up enough for them to work perfectly with this ensemble. The black in the leggings also complemented her black and gold Tory Burch sunnies.

For the boots, she rocked Tory Burch once again. These brown, knee high beauties blend perfectly into the outfit by once again adding onto the neutrals, and the gold logo blends the sunglasses and the details of her bag. The bag is a brown and tan Louis Vuitton Neverfull tote with gold details. To accessorize a bit more, she paired the outfit with a knit color-blocked hat with an adorable ball on top.

This Fashionista put together a simple yet adorable outfit perfect for perusing the stores around Georgetown for the day.

STYLE GURU BIO: Jordan Shiley

Extra, extra! Read all about me! I’m Jordan Shiley, your average glamour enthusiast trying to make it through college without spending all my money on shoes. I’m currently a junior at James Madison University with a major in communication studies focused in public relations and a minor in human resource development. I have dreams of moving to California or New York City after I graduate to work with PR in the fashion, music, or entertainment industry.

This will be my second semester as a Style Guru for CollegeFashionista. I’ve loved every minute being involved in this internship and plan on being a part of this community until I graduate.

In my bio last semester, I expressed the more casual side of me that comes out every so often. This time around, I want to show the real me and how extra I am, even when I probably shouldn’t be. When I’m shopping, traveling, out to dinner, or running errands, you name it, I am wearing fur and iconic shoes. I’m the girl who wears heels when everyone says to dress casual.

For this outfit, I went all out. What I’m wearing is my ideal fashion sense, one where no ensemble is complete without fur, heels, and something shiny.

As a base, I’m wearing a black, sleeveless, bodycon jumpsuit. It’s simple, flattering, and brings out my inner Kardashian. To shield me from the East Coast winter weather, I added a white, faux fur coat. This is probably my favorite piece in my closet and has been for about a year now. This duo is great because the texture of the coat complements the simplicity of the bodysuit and makes it much more glamorous.

Moving onto the accessories, I am wearing a gold chain-link choker and a long, simple gold necklace from Charlotte Russe. These accessories are simple, but add the extra shine the outfit needs to stand out. To pair with the gold, I’m wearing my favorite tortoise Ray-Ban Clubmaster sunnies. If you ever see me in the daytime without these on, run and take cover because it’s probably the end of the world.

Last but not least, I’m wearing my favorite brown suede booties. I was inspired to buy these by a friend who had the same pair, and I wear them all the time because I can’t help but agree that they’re adorable and versatile. They may not be the best walking shoes, but the pain is worth the fashion statement because you can wear these with almost any outfit, no matter how classy or casual.

WHAT TO WEAR: Bling In The New Year

December 31 is quickly approaching which means it’s time to start making plans for New Year’s Eve… and by plans, I mean planning our outfits. For every Fashionista, the best thing about this holiday is the glitz and glamour. This is the only day of the year when sequins, metallics and fur can never be considered overdressing. No matter what you choose to do that night, you get to celebrate the start of another year feeling fabulous.

This Fashionista decided to ring in the New Year in a funky and playful combo of texture and flare. Her eye-catching dress is an elegant and tasteful bodycon perfect for the occasion. The rose gold sequins give her the glitz necessary to slay the holiday. For the glam, she paired this dress with a white and cream faux fur coat. This dressed the outfit up while also making it a bit trendier.

To accessorize, she wore a simple black velvet and gold ornate choker. This added a little more sparkle and shine while also featuring one of this year’s favorite accessories. Let’s be real, no outfit in 2016 has been complete without a choker.

For the finishing touch of the ensemble, she sported an adorable pair of cocoa ankle booties from Forever 21. These brown suede pieces of heaven featured a platform, a lace-up front and a chunky heel.

To complement her outfit, she rocked a daring copper eyeshadow from the Maybelline New York Blushed Nudes Palette. To balance out the sparkle, her nude lip is a matte liquid lipstick from the Too Faced Melted collection in Cool Girl. In order to let her outfit do the talking, she kept her makeup simple and chic.

Overdressing on New Year’s Eve is a myth. Whether you’re going to a party, a wedding or out on the town, you can’t go wrong with an outfit like this. This Fashionista will be turning heads no matter where she goes.

ALL IN THE DETAILS: A Black Hat Affair

Spotted: A chic Fashionista strutting the streets of downtown Harrisonburg. This tasteful ensemble featured a bishop sleeve blouse paired with a midi skirt that was spiced up by a few staple accessories.

Starting from the bottom, her open-toe heels were beige with a nude sole. This shoe featured thick straps that wrapped around giving a sexy, exposed look. For her bottom, she chose a simple midi skirt to complement the detail of the top. Pairing the outfit with white not only made it classy and chic, but it helped focus in on the detail and colors of the rest of the outfit rather than distracting from it. (Wearing white after Labor Day is definitely a rule that should be broken on the reg, am I right?)

Her top had a few different assets that made it unique. It had a closed herringbone stitch embroidery surrounding the bottom, the stripe down the sleeves, the choker and the detail of the front. It was loose in the body and sleeves to complement the tight skirt, but gathered around the wrist, neck and waist to add shape. This long sleeve, choker-neck blouse was a sandy-beige miracle.

To accessorize, she added a nude fringe bag to bring out the color in the shoes. This bag included a long braided strap and a loose slouched body with gold metal features. She topped the outfit off with the perfect hat: a wide-brim fedora. This black suede beauty was brought to life by a vibrant rust-colored band covered in feathers. The hat was the piece that made the outfit whole. The feathers alone had every color included in the rest of the ensemble, but also the rust in the band added the fall feel the outfit was missing.

Clearly, accessories can go a long way. Pairing a simple outfit with a few staple pieces is the perfect way to switch up your wardrobe without having to buy a new one.

The flare of this getup definitely came from the details. The muscle of the outfit was a mix of a classic skirt and a trendy top, but the shoes, bag and hat were the cherry on top. This gorgeous outfit is perfect for a day-to-night look that will make you feel like you owned the streets. This flawless Fashionista certainly did.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Keep Your Heels, Head and Standards (Thigh) High

With cold weather quickly approaching on the East Coast, we’ve reached the time of year where you have to dress for cold mornings, gorgeous sunny days and chilly evenings. Autumn in Virginia means it’s time for the much anticipated transition from summer styles to fall colors, boots and long sleeves. It’s time for the return of pumpkin spice lattes, hoodies, football games, hiking and dates to the pumpkin patch.

This Fashionista chose to rock a look perfect for the seasonal mood swings of the Mother Nature. She pieced together a velvet olive button front mini skirt with a white surplice body suit. The velvet adds a nice mix of texture to the ribbing of the one piece. Underneath, she featured a rust bralette to add warm fall colors to the ensemble.

To accessorize, she included a pleasingly simple black choker with a pearl pendant. The favorite necklace of the ‘90s is back in action and we all love it. For the finishing touch, she added some adorable lace-up ankle booties and thigh high socks. These simple additions made the outfit trendy and chic.
I’m sure we all can agree that this combo is way too cute to handle. The colors are perfect for this month’s palette and everything was put together flawlessly. The thigh highs, which are everywhere right now, were what really made the outfit stand out. From layering them with over-the-knee boots to warming up a cute dress, these socks are the ultimate accessory to add that autumn spice to any outfit.

Aside from the fact that she’s slaying, the best part about this Fashionista’s look is the versatility. It would be suitable for a date, class, a cliché autumn outing (pumpkin picking, apple picking, etc.) or even just to grab coffee and run errands! With the ability to easily dress it up or dress it down, this style is sure to turn heads no matter the occasion.