Author: Madeline Best

How to Dress Like a Londoner in the Summertime

Rainy and cold even in the summer months, London fashion has adapted to the chiller air and unpredictable weather. Spending my summer abroad in England, I have started picking up on the differences between American and English fashion. While similar, London summer style sticks to layers and adds pops of color to liven up the overall muted color palette seen on many of the locals.

This American in London brought her love for patterns and textures with her abroad and has blended her style in with the local look. Taking a striped camisole such as this one from Madewell, this Fashionista layered her look to add another dimension to her outfit while keeping herself warm in the rainy weather. Pairing strappy shirts and dresses with white T-shirts underneath has been one of my favorite spring and summer trends. Straight out of the ’90s, this look has me falling in love with layers all over again. Sticking with ’90s inspiration, this Fashionista opted for a pair of platform sandals and a minimalistic choker. Known to rock edgy looks, many Londoners can be spotted in vintage-inspired outfits with statement-making accessories.

As a final touch, this Fashionista topped off her look with a textured denim jacket such as this one from ASOS. Screaming cool-girl chic, this American in London has perfected the art of blending in with the locals this summer by sticking to layers with small pops of color. While I do miss the colorful wardrobes of Americans in the summertime and clothing articles like shorts, London in the summertime has taught me to get creative with pieces in my closet I wouldn’t think to layer together.

Do you have any experience with dressing to a different style while traveling abroad? Let us know your tips on staying stylish while abroad in the comments below!

STYLE GURU STYLE: City of Stars

It’s spring break season, and while everyone else is hitting the beach, I’m back home enjoying the sights and sounds of Kansas City. Although the calendar officially says spring, the cold and rainy weather certainly says otherwise. Taking advantage of this intermediate weather, I found an excuse to wear the star-patterned dress I bought after being inspired by the Oscar-winning film La La Land. My dress is similar to this one available on ASOS.

This season, stars have overthrown polka dots and stripes as the new “it” print. What I love about this trend is the versatility offered by the print. Stars have been popping up on everything from pants to boots and even bags. Since the weather is still a bit chilly, I paired this dress with a pair of tights and black platform heels, similar to this pair from French Connection. I am interested to see if this print will continue to pop up in summer and fall fashion later this year.

With such a loud print, I chose to keep it simple with accessories by pairing the dress with a Kendra Scott marble necklace for a simple statement.

Although April showers bring May flowers, I can’t wait for weather that is sunny and warm. This summer, I will be traveling to London to study abroad and look forward to bringing this little starry number with me on my journey. For a warmer weather look, this dress can be paired with a pair of sandals, a sunhat, and a bright lip for a pop of color.

STYLE ADVICE: Bohemian Blues

Style is kicking it old school this spring with the “flare” of bell bottoms resurfacing in the fashion world. This Fashionista embodies bohemian casual by sporting a pair of Anthropologie bell bottoms with a cheeky T-shirt for her day out.

After years of skinny cut pants, it’s refreshing to see a change in the opposite direction. Bell bottoms, exuding a laid-back vibe reminiscent of the ’70s, are perfect for spring and summer when the sun begins to shine and we can finally shed our sweaters for shorter sleeves. What I love about this Fashionista’s look is the simplicity and casualness of the entire outfit. She put on her jeans, threw on a worded T-shirt, and was out the door ready for the day.

When going casual, it is key to stick to simplicity. For her day out, this Fashionista chose a pair of Free People suede booties to wear under her flares and an oversize pair of sunnies to accessorize her look. While sunglasses can be far from simple, even the most outrageous pair seem to mesh well with simplistic outfits.

With graphic T-shirts being big at the moment, this Fashionista chose a worded T-shirt to express her personality. Graphics are a great way to show off your style when you’re opting for a more laid-back look.

Whether its inspiration from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, or ’90s, denim is ever-evolving. My advice? Take a page from this Fashionista and find yourself a good pair of flares for the upcoming spring season. I am currently loving the denim selection Show Me Your MuMu has to offer.

STYLE ADVICE: Camo in the Urban Jungle

With a jacket just as patterned as the graffitied wall behind him, this Fashionisto was spotted downtown wearing an outfit fit for exploring the urban jungle he calls home.

Inspired by classic pieces with unique textures and prints, this Fashionisto credits his best wardrobe finds to thrift stores. Dressing up a classic flannel button-down and black jeans, he mixed in a variety of textured and patterned accessories to add a layer of urban-grunge to his look.

With February weather still proving to be a bit chilly, what I love the most about this look is the camouflage utility jacket layered over the simple flannel. The complexity of the pattern on this jacket matched perfectly with the graffitied walls surrounding this Fashionisto, not to mention adding a statement piece to the outfit.

To keep warm, this Fashionisto also opted for a black pair of combat boots perfect for exploring the streets of downtown. To top off his look, he chose a hat representing his favorite hometown brewery.

Without the extended variety of accessories offered for women, I find it interesting how much thought and detail goes into the accessories men choose to wear. With items such as hats and patterns to express personality, menswear truly can be all about the details.

This being my first time diving into the world of menswear, I have a new appreciation for a world of fashion I was unfamiliar with beforehand. I look forward to asking men about the inspiration behind their looks and continuing to learn more about the male sense of style.

STYLE ADVICE: Downtown Days

A day spent wandering around art galleries and coffee shops downtown is an opportunity to bring out the edgy and vibrant pieces within your closet. While wandering the art district of my hometown, I came across this Fashionista wearing an outfit fit for a day of urban adventures.

Mixing an array of colors and patterns, this look creates a blend of trends and statement pieces one might not think to combine, yet it creates an aura of urban-chic. What I really love about this look is the light-pink denim utility jacket casually thrown over the rest of the outfit. Not only does it provide another layer of complexity to the outfit, but the light color presents a contrast to the dark edginess of the remainder of the outfit. In addition to the clothing items, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the variety of accessories being worn by this Fashionista. A great addition to this outfit, which includes eighties inspiration via an acid washed skirt, is the velveteen scrunchie worn as a bracelet. Who doesn’t love a good scrunchie? Functional and fashionable, they’re the best of both worlds.

Growing up in a city with a vibrant art scene, I always look forward to spending an afternoon downtown grabbing lunch and visiting a gallery or two. Living in a city with such a creative atmosphere I believe has contributed to the appreciation I have for design and fashion.

For those of you in college towns or cities with vibrant personalities, I challenge you to draw inspiration from your surroundings. You never know where it might lead you.

STYLE GURU BIO: Madeline Best

Hello Fashionista/os! My name is Madeline and I am a junior studying advertising at the University of Missouri. I have been intrigued by fashion for as long as I can remember, and consider it much more than simply getting dressed every morning. Fashion gives you the freedom to express who you are and allows you to, both figuratively and literally, show your true colors to the world. I am very excited to be returning to CollegeFashionista for a second semester. I look forward to continuing to combine my loves for photography and writing into Fashionista-worthy content.

While I have my bohemian and edgy moments, my true style lies in classic and simplistic pieces. For this look, I combined a turtleneck sweater with olive green jeans and my cold-weather favorite, riding boots. Between wearing them with jeans when going out and leggings to class, these Sam Edelman boots are my new favorite addition to my shoe collection. If you were to open my closet, you would find that I tend to stick with neutral colors, occasionally adding a pop of color into the mix. To add a dramatic flare to this look, I added a pair of Quay oversized cat-eye sunglasses as a statement piece.

Style is a subject I could talk about for hours on end. Learning about the inspiration Fashionistas put into their looks, and the creativity behind the clothes is an art form within itself.

I look forward to sharing the styles of myself and others this semester, and I hope you’ll stick around to find out what I have in store! To get updates on my latest posts, make sure to follow my social media accounts @myfairstyle.

STYLE GURU STYLE: Studying in Style

Unfortunately, it’s that time of year yet again when finals are upon us and stress levels are high. Luckily, this year I’ve discovered my new favorite study spot in a coffee shop just down the road from campus. When drinking my vanilla chai latte and trying to memorize as many flashcards as I can, comfort is key. For this look, I pulled together a comfortable and cozy outfit perfect to help get Fashionistas through finals.

One of my favorite trends this season are blanket scarves. Not only do they keep you warm, but the sheer size of them makes it all the more fun to wrap around yourself to create an oversized statement around your neck.

As for the rest of my outfit, when studying for hours on end it is a must to opt for clothes that will keep your comfortable so you can burn the midnight oil. For an option that lies between jeans and leggings, I opted for a pair of jeggings from HUE. I paired my jeggings with a tunic length sweater and a pair of zip-up boots from Free People;

To finish off my outfit, I threw on a military-inspired jacket from Madewell. Utility jackets are a staple I believe all Fashionistas should have in their wardrobes. With versatility to dress them up or down and ability to fit them to whatever your personal style is, these jackets are a true staple item.

Only a few more days of messy buns and finals, then heading home for the holidays can begin!

STYLE GURU STYLE: Hats Off to Fall

With fall finally upon us, I have begun to resurrect the cold weather accessories that have been collecting dust in the back of my closet since last year. What I love about fall is the variety of accessory choices it offers. Not only can you choose from the typical year-round accessory options such as jewelry and handbags, but now you can opt for hats, scarves and boots on top of it all. If you have ever heard of the accessory rule put them on and take one off, I think fall fashion was made to break the rules.

In this neutral-colored look, I’ve opted to accessorize with a mixture of jewelry, a hat, booties and a matching cross-body. I am currently loving this statement-making black wool hat from Forever 21. Not only does it keep me warm, but it gives an everyday fall look an extra dose of drama. Floppy hats such as this can be dressed up or dressed down to fit all sorts of autumnal occasions, making it a great investment piece to purchase.

One of my favorite things about fall fashion are the shoe choices. Boots, booties, knee-high boots—you can have them all. For this look, I went with a pair of Chelsea boots from Free People. What I love about this boot style is the versatility offered. Due to the low heel and short length, these boots are perfect for pairing with a pair of jeans like I did or could be worn with fall dresses and skirts.

Enjoy the sweater weather while it lasts my fellow Fashionistas, next thing you know we will all be wrapped up in parkas and peacoats.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: A Shift to Fall

School is back in full swing, days are beginning to grow short and a subtle change is beginning to occur in the leaves surrounding campus. With the weather not yet fall but no longer the dog days of summer, we find ourselves in the middle of the road not yet able to commit to sweaters but not yet time to pack away the shorts.

This Fashionista was spotted on her way to coffee downtown wearing the epitome of bohemian cool. By mixing neutrals with metallics, the look not only embodies an earthy yet fashionable feel, but it also utilizes a color palette perfect for the transition from summer to  fall. Shift dresses and neutral colored clothing are a great way to transition your wardrobe from summer to fall without jumping straight from floral dresses to vests just yet.

What I love about this Free People dress is the balance of an elegant lace and neckline with the casual feel of the shift silhouette and frayed hem. With shift dresses continuing their popularity this school year, I believe they are a good investment if you are in the market for casual, yet cute clothing. The gold accessories worn by the Fashionista add a pop to the look while still keeping a neutral palette.

Although I am not yet ready to say goodbye to the warm weather, I am looking forward to wearing the autumnal pieces that have been collecting dust in my closet since last year. For now, I suggest we all take note from this bohemian Fashionista and continue to wear our sandals and shifts while we still can, because next thing you know there will be snow!

STYLE GURU BIO: Madeline Best

If you were to open up my closet, you would quickly spot a few trends. A large portion of my wardrobe is dedicated to stripes, the color navy and combinations of the two. I tend to go for neutral colored clothes in classic prints and shapes. With a love for the east coast and the quintessential preppy look, I am an avid consumer of sweaters, boots, shift dresses and simplistic handbags. Although the classic look is how I would best represent myself, I’m also a lover of all things bohemian. If J.Crew and Free People had a love child, it would be my wardrobe. Anything with an interesting print, flowing sleeves, tassels and embroidery is sure to catch my eye.

The look I am currently wearing is what I consider an accurate representation of this preppy bohemian mix. With a pair of J.Crew pull on shorts, kate spade handbag, Free People sandals and, yet again, a J.Crew embroidered blouse I’ve put together my ideal end of summer outfit. The best part of this look? Half of it was thrifted. As a college student on a budget, thrift and consignment stores have become my best friend. Both the top and shorts I am wearing were bought from Plato’s Closet for a combined total of roughly $15 dollars. A steal, am I right? I tend to invest more in timeless accessories such as handbags, shoes and jewelry that I know I will get years of wear out of.

As for makeup, my go-to year round is berry-colored lipstick. Currently, I am wearing NYX soft matte lip cream in the shade “Abu Dhabi.” What I love about liquid lipstick is the fact that once it dries, there is less of a chance for smudging or the dreaded lipstick on teeth look. I highly recommend the lip products from NYX as dupes for Kylie Jenner’s liquid lipsticks.

I’m excited to begin my time with CollegeFashionista, and I hope that you’ll continue to follow my journey as I explore street style, fall clothes and all things fashionable for collegiate Fashionista’s everywhere.