Author: Julia Grady

Athletic and Boujee

Now that summer is finally here, it might be about time to break out that athletic wear and get in shape. Too late? Never.

I often find myself trudging to the gym in some baggy athletic shorts and an old T-shirt, like one from a summer camp I attended six or so years ago. Not a cute look, I must admit. But who says outings to the gym can’t be fabulous?

Personally, I have come to learn that when I am looking my best, I am also feeling my best. When I am wearing an outfit that I feel comfortable in and that I think I look amazing in, my confidence increases immensely. Due to this increased confidence at the gym, I tend to be more motivated and more driven.

When I’m rocking a new pair of Lululemon leggings or brand new sneakers, I feel unbeatable. Can I do 10 more burpees? Heck yeah, I can! That is why I am a strong believer in glamming up your athletic attire.

Working out has never looked as good and been as comfy as this look right here! This Fashionista is not only comfortable, but is also looking her best.

On top, this Fashionista is wearing a black, athletic cropped tank top from Urban Outfitters. She loves to work out in this top because it shows off her abs and arm muscles that she has been working so hard to achieve.

It might be June here in New England, but our weather never seems to cooperate. Therefore, this Fashionista threw on a white sweatshirt from Forever 21. This is ideal for those brisk, early morning runs or for when she is walking to and from the gym while the weather is still a little bit dodgy.

For her bottoms she is sporting a pair of high-waisted, maroon leggings from Lululemon. She said that these are her favorite pair of leggings because when she is squatting they don’t fall down. Thus, she doesn’t find herself yanking up he pants between each and every squat. She also loves these leggings because of the pocket on the side used to store her phone. This makes her workouts so much easier, hands-free, and gives her one less thing to have to worry about.

For shoes, this Fashionista is wearing a pair of black Nike Flex sneakers. She opted for a black pair of sneakers because she knew that they would match all of her outfits without a doubt. These are her go-to athletic sneakers.

For the final touch, and her favorite piece of her outfit, this Fashionista is wearing a pair of wireless headphones that she scored on Amazon for $20! She said that these are the best investment she has ever made, and recommends them 100 percent.

How do you combine fashion and exercise? Let us know in the comments below or share your pictures on social media with @Cfashionista!

WHAT TO WEAR: Sunday Morning Plaid

I ran into this Fashionista running some Sunday morning errands and was beyond impressed with her outfit. For those of you who do not know, Sunday mornings on a college campus are usually filled with sleep deprived students rocking crazy hairdos and major bags. This Fashionista found a way to hide all of that with some serious style.

For starters, this Fashionista used a black floppy hat to hide her so-called bedhead. Personally I thought her long locks were to die for, but she said they were not quite meeting her standards that morning. So instead of the classic messy bun for that early weekend morning, this Fashionista opted for this amazing hat to hide her crazy hairdo.

This Fashionista’s next brilliant tactic was to cover her morning bags with not concealer, but some John Lennon inspired shades. I’m obsessed with these!

As John Lennon once said, “All you need is love—and a plaid shawl.” Okay, maybe I made that second part up, but seriously we all need to invest in this plaid shawl. If you’re one of those people whose closet consists of black, black, and more black, this statement piece will be your Lord and savior. This Fashionista took an all black ensemble and simply added this amazing shawl to it which completely changed her look. Not only did it add style, but it provided warmth on that brisk Sunday morning.

Underneath her shawl she wore a simple black turtleneck, further channeling her inner Beatles. With that she paired black jeans, ripped at the knees and frayed at the bottom. These rips and frays add a nice touch opposed to a plain pair of black jeans.

For jewelry, this Fashionista layered a brown watch and a gold bracelet which added some shine to her look. For the final touch, she wore a pair of black, lace-up, chunky heels. She said that these shoes were the comfiest heels she owned, and that they were perfect for a day of running around doing errands.

ALL IN THE DETAILS: Pastels and Floral Are Back and Better Than Ever

Who says you have to pack away your floral patterns and pastel clothing when winter rolls around? Personally, I think there is no better time to rock them than when the air gets cold and outside gets bland and dreary. Nothing better than a good floral print or spring time pastel to brighten your day and mood.

This Fashionisto is not letting a little bit of snow on the ground and frostbite in the air put a damper on his outfit. He is sporting Nantucket red khakis from Vineyard Vines, cuffed at the bottom to show off his brown boots from American Eagle Outfitters. I think that cuffing the bottom of jeans or khakis adds so much dimension to a look and is a totally timeless style. The boots really dressed this outfit down a little bit for a more casual, class-appropriate look. The Nantucket red khakis are definitely a bold move and not something you would expect to see around campus this time of year, but work perfectly with his look and personality.

With those khakis he is wearing a navy blue, floral button-down shirt. This shirt complements the pants perfectly, and makes this wintertime ensemble not scream “Hibernating for the winter!” This small, springtime detail makes this outfit to die for and so unique.

For accessories he wore a simple, silver watch with a stripped band. I love the mixture of stripes and floral together. Mixing and matching patterns is another style I am in love with! Patterns are so much fun, why limit yourself to just one? On top, this Fashionisto wore a black peacoat from Kenneth Cole for both warmth as well as style. This jacket really added some class to his outfit. His last accessory consisted of Ray-Ban Clubmaster sunglasses for the final touch.

All together this outfit is definitely one for the books. This Fashionisto took a springtime look and made it work in the frigid, New England weather.

STYLE ADVICE: Be Your Own Label

I was so thrilled to run into this Fashionista on the streets the other day. I stopped her and told her how I was in love with her outfit; the way she layered all of her pieces was just amazing. She told me that I made her day because she was feeling a little bit insecure about her ensemble and was not quite sure if she could rock it. That got me thinking about how people are constantly asking questions like “Can I pull this off?” or “Does this look good on me?” when in reality you can pull off anything you want to. As long as you hold your head high and walk with confidence you can rock anything you set your mind to.

This Fashionista layered a lace bralette underneath a deep lace-up long sleeve shirt. On top of that she layered a white faux fur jacket that really added a statement to her look. With that she paired a pair of black ripped jeans and plain black booties that really went well with her aesthetic.

For accessories, she wore an olive green floppy hat that she admitted once belonged to her uncle. Love that! She layered two chokers and a simple crystal necklace. She also carried a plain black Kate Spade crossbody bag, which was perfect for her look even though it was so plain; any other bag might have been too much for her outfit. For the final touch, she propped a pair of trendy sunglasses on top of her hat to spice it up a bit despite the unfortunate lack of sun that day.

This Fashionista really blew me away! Every aspect of her outfit flowed perfectly and complemented each other so nicely. Never be afraid to step a little bit outside of your comfort zone and add that extra necklace, or that statement faux fur jacket. Don’t feel as though you always have to go with the trends. Be your own label!

STYLE GURU BIO: Julia Grady

My name is Julia Grady and I am so excited to be a Style Guru for the spring 2017 semester! I am a freshman at the University of Massachusetts Amherst majoring in marketing. I am more than thrilled to share my fashion knowledge and experiences with you all.

To tell you just a little bit about me: I was born in the amazing city of San Francisco; I was raised in a small town just south of Boston; I would jump at any chance to travel; I have an Australian Shepherd named Luna; I have more jewelry than a girl could ever need and a whole closet filled with shoes. I am an avid coffee and hot chocolate (with extra whip cream) drinker; I would be down for a cup of either any time of the day.

For this outfit I decided to go basic and easy, but with a little edge. I was running out the door to do some errands so I wanted to ensure I would be comfortable for the day. I decided to throw on my favorite, go-to pair of jeans from Urban Outfitters. With that I paired a super basic, scoop neck T-shirt from Old Navy. I realized my outfit needed a little kick so I added one of my favorite jackets. This jacket is similar to the texture of a peacoat, but the style of a biker jacket. I think it is so cool, unique, and can spice up just about any outfit! For shoes I broke out my most comfortable flats, which are from the Gap. They have a pointed toe and a criss-cross in the front. They are simple, classic, and go well with just about everything in my wardrobe.

For accessories I carried my beloved Kate Spade crossbody bag that is a light shade of nude. I bought this bag because I knew it would be the perfect statement piece for any ensemble. Lastly, I decided to add a pair of large, round, wayfarer sunglasses from Ann Taylor Loft to complete my look.

Hope you guys are ready for one stylish semester. Can not wait to share it with you all!