Author: Lilly Tabrizi

Hey everyone! My name is Lilly Tabrizi, and I just finished my freshman year at Chapman University! I've loved fashion ever since middle school, but I truly began to realize that I wanted to work in the industry beginning in 9th grade. After I took my first art class in high school, I was immediately hooked on creating things - from random abstract art pieces to sewing articles of clothing. I have done a fashion internship at a small start up fashion company where I worked with buyers and styled certain photoshoots. Additionally, I recently launched my own fashion blog, ZINKLEDEE, so I could express my sense of fashion to the college world! I am so excited to be part of the #gurugang for College Fashionista and cannot wait to write articles for this online fashion platform as well as connect with fashionistas all around the world!

My South African Escapade—From Johannesburg to Cape Town to Kapama

When my parents said that we were going on a trip to South Africa, I didn’t actually think that we were going to jump on a plane to Cape Town, fly on a helicopter to Kapama, and visit our family in Johannesburg (Joburg) all in under 10 days. To say that this trip was the best experience of my life is an understatement. I got to take a selfie with a giraffe that was about 20 feet away from me while I was sitting in an open safari vehicle. I would say that our trip was a success.

After a tedious and painful 20-hour plane ride, we finally arrived in Joburg. Here, we got to visit my family and explore the downtown area, which has superb food. Out of all of the restaurants we went to, my favorite food “stop” was a cute little juice bar called Bliss Juicery. The kindheartedness of Bliss’s employees, it’s interesting smoothie flavors, and it’s location truly made it the most unique juice bar I have ever been to. Because this is a post for CollegeFashionista, I must mention the cute hat that my uncle gave me and my black leather jacket. The hat was an authentic Greek fisherman’s cap, but you would probably recognize it as a sibling of the Brixton fiddler cap which is gaining much popularity here in the US.

After a few days in Joburg, we hopped on a plane to Cape Town! Cape Town is currently my favorite place in the world. It is basically a conglomerate of breathtaking mountains, a turquoise blue ocean, and a city full of life. What more can you ask for? The first highlight of this little trip was staying at the Waterfront Apartments. My aunt decided to rent us a penthouse suite that overlooked the beautiful Table Moutain. The second highlight of Cape Town was visiting Simon’s Town where we got to see baby penguins and observe the breathtaking ocean and views of the mountain. My third highlight was going to Truth Coffee. It followed a Steampunk aesthetic, and every one of its employees wore vintage, high-quality Steampunk attire from actual Steampunk goggles to hand-sewn leather-lined formal blazers.

Three days later, we hopped on a helicopter which took us from Nelspruit to Kapama where we got to stay in private little safari huts. We stayed at Kapama for two days and went on a total of four safaris—two sunrise and two sunset safaris. We got to see three of the five big five: the lion, elephant, and rhino. One of my favorite parts of the reserve was the breathtaking infinity pool that was completely open to the wild. When we were swimming, four nyalas came up to us and drank some water out of the pool. Kapama was definitely the highlight of my trip!

Where have you Fashionistas traveled this summer, and what was your favorite part of the trip? Let us know in the comments below. 

How to Follow the Country Western Aesthetic in a Modern Way

High-waisted denim Levi shorts are probably one of my favorite articles of clothing for the summer—I view them as a multipurpose article of clothing. You can wear them to the beach over your swimsuit or you can wear them to a concert with a crop top and some Converse. You can even wear them to a fancy dinner if you pair them with a nice blouse, some fancy wedges, and some bold jewelry. That is only the beginning—trust me, the list goes on and on.

This Fashionista decided to pair her high-waisted Levis with a gingham long sleeve crop top from Zara. She accessorized with a simple leather belt, some silver bangle bracelets, and some heeled pointed toe booties. I love this look, especially for the summer, because it is not only cute but also comfortable. This look is perfect for a concert or even just for brunch with some friends downtown!

However, this Fashionista wanted to add a little spunk to the simple gingham blouse and booties. Rather than throwing on a pair of un-ripped blue-washed Levi shorts, she decided to throw on her Levis with rips and triangular cut-outs on each side of the leg. Shorts with side cut-outs are a great way to add some flair to the outfit. Another perk of side cut-out shorts is that they typically vibe with all different kinds of body shapes because of the way they accentuate the upper leg.

Now, let’s talk about the title of this article and how it relates to this Fashionista’s specific outfit. Country western attire usually consists of thick belts, denim jeans or shorts, cowboy hats, and cowboy boots. Although this look does not follow all of the above components of western attire, it does follow a few but in a modernized way. The pointed booties mirror the typical cowboy boots, the high-waisted ripped denim Levis mirror the denim jeans or shorts, and lastly, the gingham cropped blouse somewhat mirrors cowboy flannels. This look, in my opinion, is the perfect look for summer!

How do you guys feel about this Fashionista’s modern approach to country western attire? Let me know in the comments below!