Author: Katelyn Sampl

3 Tips for the Perfect Nighttime Look

We all understand the struggle of rummaging through our closets in order to find the best outfit to wear out on the town. Should I mix and match these jeans with the top I wore to work this morning? What did I wear last weekend? Been there, done that. So I have decided to share three of my Fashionista tips on how to achieve the perfect nighttime look with the items that are most likely already hanging in your closet.

1—A killer top. Choosing a cute top may be difficult to do when you feel like everybody has seen you in most of the shirts that are in your closet. However, nobody memorizes every top in your closet. Select a blouse that is flirty and fun, like this blush pink, plunging neckline top. One of the things I love about it is the silky material. By finding the perfect top, your nighttime look can be killer.

2—Statement jewels. Adding necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings to your outfit can transform it from boring to amazing. Sometimes, the only thing I remember about someone’s look is their statement jewels. This Fashionista paired a long and layered silver statement necklace that instantly draws your attention to her neck and face. She also added a stone ring that is to-die-for. To spice up your night look, throw on a necklace that will catch everyone’s eye.

3—Shoes, shoes, shoes. So many people will tell you that shoes can make or break a look. Add a pair of heels, chunky wedges, or a pair of sandals to your outfit that will leave you feeling confident and able to walk around all night. This look has a pair of open-toed, nude heels that are great during the day at the office but also paired with your night look.

There are so many options when it comes to styling an outfit to wear around the town. Walk into your closet like it is a store. Mix and match items that you wouldn’t normally pair together and rock it.

What are your three tips for the perfect nighttime look? Let me know in the comments below!

STYLE GURU STYLE: Mix It

Mixing patterns and prints has always been a little scary for me to try and incorporate into my own personal style. However, I got very excited to mix my leopard flats with my camouflage military jacket. Sometimes it is hard to know which patterns or prints go together and look appealing in an outfit. I have always been a fan of leopard and camouflage prints and I thought it would be super cute to pair the two together.

I chose to wear a medium-wash distressed denim jean because it added a little bit of skin and texture to the outfit. The cargo and camouflage jacket is one of my favorite jackets right now. It is structured with large pockets and it is the perfect jacket to throw over any basic top. I wore a basic black shirt underneath and added a black scarf. Choosing a colored scarf, such as a pale pink or cream would add a pop of color to the outfit also. I love when the weather gets cooler here in Tallahassee, because that means that I can layer jackets and scarves in my looks.

Besides my camouflage jacket, my second favorite part of my outfit are my shoes. I could wear these lace up, leopard flats every single day. I love that they act as a neutral and can be styled with white, black, or a pattern, such as my jacket. The shoes are super comfortable (surprisingly!) and I have gotten so many compliments on them. I love that they are unique compared to a solid color lace-up flat.

 

STYLE ADVICE: Cut it Out

Everyone loves a great black dress, especially one that you can dress up or down for several different occasions. This dress is so unique and caught my eye from across the street! What I love about this Fashionista’s look is that it can be worn to brunch out with the girls, to a get together, or out for a dinner with your boyfriend.

The cutouts in the dress begin at the knee and continue down to the ankle. The top of the dress is a body-con style, while the bottom half of the dress slightly flares out. She styled a light denim jacket over the dress for a more casual daytime look. I love that she rolled the sleeves of the jacket up. The bright, burnt yellow crossbody purse is a perfect pop of color to the outfit. She styled a large, silver statement necklace, which adds focus to the neckline. If you do not want to add a large statement necklace, you can add a dainty necklace and bracelets. Her shoes are block, black velvet heels. Another way to style this dress would be to add a brown suede jacket or a bomber jacket and pair it with a pair of slip-on sneakers. She accessorized this look with black Ray-Ban sunglasses.

This is one of my favorite looks, and I cannot wait to recreate it myself. It is a great option for the casual girl or the girl that loves to get dressed up for a night out on the town.

STYLE GURU BIO: Katelyn Sampl

Hi stylish friends! My name is Katelyn Sampl and I am so excited to return this spring as a CollegeFashionista Style Guru. This will be my sixth semester with CollegeFashionista and I am looking forward to the opportunities that will come this spring. I am a junior at Florida State University and I am studying retail merchandising and product development. I am the president of an on-campus retail organization called AATCC. We have guest speakers, take trips to places like Atlanta for the Atlanta Apparel Mart and put on a fashion show every semester. I am also a fashion director of Clutch magazine. I have a strong love for fashion and I love putting outfits together and searching for new trends.

During the summer, I like to dress in light-weight items such as sundresses, rompers and shorts. I would describe my style as bohemian and casual when the weather is warm and breezy. Since I live in Florida, the weather is mostly warm which makes it easier to throw on an easy romper or tank top. During the cooler months, I like to layer my clothes to create a more styled look. I am able to keep many of my summer items on, but then add a sweater or leather jacket to cover up.

This outfit is a perfect example of adding a long sweater to a cute and casual look while taking it from summertime to winter or fall chic. The black extra-long sweater adds length to the outfit. My striped blouse is a great option to style underneath a sweater, denim jacket or leather jacket. I made the rips in my ripped boyfriend jeans myself and they have become my favorite pair of distressed denim! My lace up black flats complete the look.

Follow along with my style and CollegeFashionista posts throughout this semester! Thanks for reading and stay stylish.

STYLE GURU STYLE: Making My Way Downtown

If you know anything about fashion, you’ve heard of the Atlanta Apparel Mart in Downtown Atlanta. This is where store owners and buyers go every year to buy their inventory and merchandise. My fashion club AATCC was able to attend and we could not help but to share some of our stylish outfits with the city.

My striped shirt is from the brand called Amuse Society. I purchased it at a sample sale, along with six other pieces that I am loving. The brand is a mix between bohemian, street and classic styles. I love to mix up my style and wear things that are unique. My light-wash denim, high-waisted skirt has silver buttons up the middle and is perfect for pairing with a blouse. The A-line shape of the skirt is very flattering and would also be a great option in a dark denim as well. This to-die-for belt is from my fall 2016 Box Of Style. It is called B-Low The Belt Gatsby Wrap Belt and it can be styled with anything that has belt loops. The leather fringe edges are my favorite thing about it.

My shoes are a great addition to the look. They are Steve Madden and are made of black suede. The lace up trend is so in for fall and I love to style these shoes with everything from dresses to skirts to shorts and jeans. They match the leather belt and the black stripes in my shirt. My envelope cross-body purse is from Poverty Flats, an up and coming brand which was recently featured in PeopleStyleWatch. It has a thin black trim around it which ties the black accessories together.

ALL IN THE DETAILS: Sneaker Heaven

I am officially obsessed with the sneaker trend that is seen on every Instagram blogger’s feed. We all know how hard it is to get your hands on a pair of Kanye West Yeezy sneakers, so when I saw these adidas Yeezy Boosts I could not help myself from taking a picture and featuring this Fashionisto on CollegeFashionista. I even secretly wanted to try them on. His sneakers are so cool and are arguably some of the trendiest shoes out there.

I focused on the shoe details of this look because sneakers are super easy to style—they can be paired with so many different outfits. I love this look because it is casual and comfortable, but still stylish. My eyes first went to his sneakers because they are the best part of his outfit. The “turtle dove” Yeezy sneakers match perfectly with these cut-off jogger shorts from Zara and the turquoise shirt is a great pop of color. This Michael Kors graphite watch is classy and matches well with the sneakers. This summer sun is so harsh that accessories like Ray-Bans sunglasses are always a must.

You can also style these Yeezy sneakers with a dressy polo and nice shorts for a night out on the town. Sneakers are a staple in both male and female wardrobes because they offer versatility and comfort for any occasion. Let’s be honest, though—it might take a couple months in order to save up enough money to purchase a pair of these Yeezy sneakers. However, a girl can dream.

Want to rock a look that features a cool pair of sneakers? Either style an outfit that incorporates colors from your kicks or choose a brightly colored shirt that acts as a pop of color.

STYLE GURU BIO: Katelyn Sampl

Hey Style Gurus! I am back at it this semester at Florida State University. I am studying Retail Merchandising and I am the Vice President of the fashion club American Association of Textiles Colorists and Chemists. I will also be a member of the Collegiate Merchandising Association. We will takes trips to the Atlanta Apparel Mart and hear from speakers with retail experience. This summer I had an unbelievable experience of studying fashion principles abroad in London and Paris. I also interned with celebrity stylist and professional shopper, Melanie Pace. I was able to help style television and advertisements as well as personal shop for several clients.

I cannot wait to style some of the fashion finds that I got from London. I bought an awesome, blush pink bomber jacket and trendy sneakers. The style in London was very urban and grunge. I loved the fashion in Paris much more because it was polished, sophisticated and chic. Paris street style inspired this outfit that I am wearing. The dark, olive green dress is made out of a faux suede velvet material that adds an extra element to the look. The black gladiator sandals from Old Navy give the look a more casual, bohemian vibe that is perfect for the summertime. I added a dainty gold necklace and my Rebecca Minkoff, Mini MAC cross-body purse as accessories.

This year will be filled with trendy Fashionistas/os that I am so excited to meet and take pictures of. I am looking forward to reading other articles from fellow style gurus and learning how to take fashion risks and try new trends!

FASHION FROM ABROAD: London Calling

Studying abroad is the best decision I have ever made. Between the amazing street style fashions and the yummy food that I am eating, I do not want to go back home. While living here in London and studying international design and merchandising, I have been immersed in the urban fashion of London. Bomber jackets, sneakers and metallic accessories are just a few of the trends that I am obsessing over.

Another huge trend that I have been seeing on the streets of London are sleeveless blazers. This Fashionista rocked her outfit by pairing her sleeveless blazer with a thin, striped tank top and distressed boyfriend jeans. Her black belt, black large cross-body bag and metallic silver choker are the perfect accessories for her look. Sleeveless blazers come in a variety of colors and patterns, which are perfect for styling during any season. The summer London heat makes it impossible to wear heavy blazers but throwing on a sleeveless blazer will create a polished outfit. Another cute way to style a sleeveless blazer would be to add black skinny pants and a blousy sleeveless top for a night out in the city of London or wherever you call home this summer. Accessorize the look with black pumps and a black choker necklace for a complete outfit.

London street style is edgy, grunge, hip and urban. This look fits perfectly in the city and this Fashionista looks like she could be a local. Her sneakers are not only a huge trend currently, but London locals wear sneakers all the time because they walk everywhere in the city. It is important to be comfortable but still stylish while stepping out on the streets.

One of the best parts about being in a new country is embracing the culture and attempting to live like a local. London has been so amazing and I cannot wait to come back and see what the food, fashion and people are like in the future.

Captured: I snapped a picture of this Fashionista’s outfit in the Royal Kew Botanical Gardens in London, England.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Overall In Love With This Look

I never thought that I would have fallen in love this summer… with overalls! I do not personally own a pair of overalls, but after seeing this Fashionista rock her pair of light wash denim ones I cannot get enough of them. I want to find myself a pair of short overalls that I can wear while I am sightseeing and studying abroad in Paris. Her overalls are the main element of her outfit because they are such a fashion statement. There are certain ways to nail an overall look, including wearing a basic or striped top underneath, or a cropped sweater during colder months. I love that overalls come in a variety of different styles such as dark washed and cropped. By changing the way you accessorize and style the overalls you can wear them for any season.

These overalls are super cute rolled at the ankle and with the buckles both strapped or left hanging. The burnt orange T-shirt matches the straw, large fedora hat. Any kind of hat is very important during the sunny summer days. Hats keep your face protected and add an extra level of chicness to your look. I would have styled this outfit with a baseball hat and running sneakers for a more sporty style. This Fashionista was spotted at a cactus farm and her look went perfect with the atmosphere. Her platform espadrille sneakers are to die for and give the outfit a bohemian and relaxed vibe. Her adorable cream bucket bag with small hanging tassels is a great accessory that ties the whole look together.

What is your STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK? “My love for overalls comes from my obsession with all things bohemian. I am a free spirit and am drawn to fringe, leather and denim.”

STYLE GURU BIO: Katelyn Sampl

Summertime has arrived and I am so happy! Sun, water and sandals are just a few of my favorite things. My summer is just getting started and I would love to share what is happening in my life right now.

I am a junior at Florida State University and study retail merchandising and product development. I am interested in wardrobe styling, professional shopping and fashion consulting. I am currently interning in Orlando with a fashion stylist, professional shopper and blogger, Melanie Pace. In July I will also be traveling to London and Paris to study international merchandising and product development with the Florida State University. I can’t wait to share my stylish abroad outfits with CollegeFashionista.

I love all things fashion. It’s hard for me to define my personal style, but I tend to gravitate towards tassels, fringe and bohemian items. I like to mix many different styles and price points. A couple of my favorite stores to shop at are T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and H&M.

Now let’s get to the best part of the post—My outfit. I am obsessing over off-the-shoulder tops this season. I swear that I have one in stripes, floral and solid colors. Also, can we discuss this cross-body bag? The indigo color is so gorgeous and reminds me of the deep blue ocean. My shoes are also one of my favorite things about my look; They are taupe espadrilles that I picked from Forever 21. I made my necklace a choker by looping it around my neck an extra time, which I love.

This summer is going to be super RAD! Check out and follow along to see my personal style as well as other chic outfits and Fashionistas/os that I find around Orlando, London and Paris.