The Trend You Need to Add to Your Wardrobe

Ruffle details for summer are extremely popular and can be seen on nice cocktail dresses or a more casual outfit. I love taking simple pieces of clothing and having one element that stands out; in this case, it’s the ruffles. Search your favorite stores for garments with something extra and fun.

Casual Outfit

This outfit is perfect for a day of classes or simply shopping at the mall. It can be worn in almost every season. Swap these adorable shorts out for jeans or leggings and this ensemble can carry you into fall and winter. The sneakers add a touch of cool combined with the sleeve details of the sweater.

Dressy Outfit

Onto my favorite outfit, the dressier of the two. I love this for a fancy date night, summer wedding, or even a night out with the girls. This is an easy dress silhouette to either dress up or down. Throw on a jean jacket and sneakers or sandals to make it more casual, or add heels and a clutch purse to make it a little bit fancier. Lace-up heels are also a huge trend and work perfectly with this dress, especially with the light pink color.

Another intricate part of this dress is the back detailing, which looks awesome with a lace bralette underneath.

The silhouette is very flattering on any body type with the ruffles drawing attention to the bottom of the dress.

Keeping up with trends can be difficult and at times exhausting. But the ruffle details are here to stay! They are great paired with multiple pieces of clothing, and give the impression that your outfit is more put together than you intended—which is never a bad thing if you ask me! Be on the lookout for sleeve details and ruffles when you are out shopping.

What is your favorite way to wear ruffles? Let me know in the comments below. Be sure to share your style inspiration with @CFashionista on social media.

How to Be Productive in the Summer

Making lists, checking them twice. No, really! I know it’s not Christmastime, but lists are important for more than just Santa, they can help you organize your life. For me, being productive starts with making lists. This makes me feel more committed to accomplishing the tasks I have laid out for myself.

The Lists

On days when I have a lot going on, I make a to-do list for the day. I refer to the list throughout the day to make sure that I get everything done that I need to. You can make lists for your summer goals, things you have to buy before you go back to school, your favorite quotes, and so much more! Keep a notebook or journal in your room or purse and make a habit of writing in it. It really helps to write down all the things bouncing around in your head instead of stressing over it.

Workout Routine

During the semesters, I would be at the gym at least four times a week, but now that I’m home I have found it extremely difficult to work out. I love taking my dogs for a walk as an easy workout, but that’s far from what I’m used to. I find that I get the most out of my workout when I am listening to music that truly makes me happy and energized. A great pair of sneakers also helps to stay motivated.

Summer Job

Using your free summer to make some extra cash is never a bad idea. Apply to work at your favorite store in the mall or babysit for close friends. Whatever it may be, find a way to use your talents to benefit you.

In the summer, it’s easy to watch Netflix all day or lay by the pool—trust me, I know! If you stay on top of things it will make going back to school so much easier. Keeping up a workout routine and making some money in the summer will make your future self very happy.

How do you stay productive in the summer? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to share your tips with @CFashionista on social media.

STYLE GURU STYLE: All in the Accents

My personal style changes every other day, if I’m being honest. Sometimes I follow the current trends, and other times I stick by my favorite basics. I really enjoy shopping and finding interesting pieces to intertwine with the rest of my closet. I love taking a simple outfit and adding one element that becomes the center of attention.

My style has evolved immensely since my younger years. I used to hate the idea of wearing leggings as pants (before it was as popular as it is now), and I also wore a uniform for the majority of my school days growing up. Through this, I grew accustomed to spicing up dull, simple clothing and have since added these elements into my current style.

I’ve always loved stacking necklaces and rings to create a cool look while still on the simple side. This aspect of my style emerged when I searched for ways to make my school uniform a little different than everyone else’s.

I love taking this sweater and wearing it off the shoulder with a cute little lace bralette. My favorite pair of shoes at the moment are these studded, beaded sneakers. They add a little twist to an otherwise simple outfit, which I adore. I’m also a proud supporter of boyfriend jeans (as exhibited in this outfit). Because of the simplicity of the outfit, I layered a lot of jewelry and pulled my hair up into a messy bun to add some extra points of interest. I love classic handbags, like this Kate Spade shoulder bag, which is on constant rotation whenever I need it.

ALL IN THE DETAILS: Simple is Better

Subtle details can easily make an outfit. Embroidery, distressing, and studded accents are all having a major moment right now as far as trends go. All of these forms of details are perfect to throw into an everyday outfit or to dress up a look. Mixing these trends or picking a favorite and embracing it is what fashion is all about.

This Fashionista loves taking simple pieces and pairing them with items with a little more detailing. The strappy bralette and distressed denim add an interesting focal point to the outfit without overpowering the rest of the look. Her outfit is also dressed up with the sleek black booties and oversize cardigan. The layering in her outfit of the sweater over a basic white tank and the cool bralette really make the outfit.

Creating an outfit like this is effortless, especially for this time of year. Layers for walking around campus and a day of classes is just practical. Make it easy for yourself by keeping all of your detailed items together in your closet so that you can grab one and pair it with your go-to basics.

There is a fine line between tasteful details in an outfit and going overboard. Adding detailed pieces to any outfit doesn’t have to mean piling on jewelry and putting as many patches as you can on your jeans—unless, of course, that’s your style. Stick to your comfort zone when it comes to details. A little extra lace peeking out of your T-shirt or studded shoes could be just what a look calls for.

STYLE ADVICE: Basics for Winter

Is it spring break yet? The answer sadly is no, but that doesn’t mean our looks for winter have to be drab! Pull out your favorite basics just like this fashionable student did and embrace the casual timeless look.

This Fashionista is wearing one of my favorite winter staples, a slouchy cardigan, along with a staple for any wardrobe, light wash skinny jeans. By adding the pop of white in her basic tee and the adorable little black booties, she has all of her basics covered and looks fabulous at the same time.

In the colder months, it’s easy to give up on trying to make an outfit stylish, especially with adding layers upon layers. Instead of giving up, I encourage every Fashionista out there to dig through their wardrobes, pick out a few of their favorite basic pieces, mix, and match to create classic looks until the season changes.

Accessories are also a crucial part of making winter outfits stand out and look more put together. Scarves, sweaters, fun jewelry, big purses, etc., can easily be added to an outfit made up of basic, neutral clothing and help it to be more fun and fashionable. For example, this Fashionista piled on the rings and bracelets, and also added a fun belt to her look. By doing this, her outfit elevates from just a few basics to a complete look. Although this extra step may be a hassle, raiding your closet for things that go together perfectly, it’s well worth it in the end.

Until warmer weather, we’ll have to survive on basics, layers, and a piping hot mocha!

BEAUTY BAR: All Natural

As the New Year begins, Fashionistas start to ramp up their makeup looks, experiment and try new things. This Fashionista went for a simple bronze eye, fresh skin, and a glossy lip. The simplicity of the look really pulled together with her outfit making it a stunner. This look is perfect for winter and simple enough to achieve everyday!

To get this look I suggest using a neutral eyeshadow palette (I recommend the Morphe Brushes 35O), a simple lengthening mascara (no crazy volume needed!), a nice neutral toned highlight and a facial mist to pull it all together and add extra dewiness. This makeup look should only take about 15 minutes to do, which makes it perfect for those days you want to wear makeup, but don’t feel like getting all glammed up.

One of the most important parts of this makeup look is the glowing skin. A hydrating moisturizer, lightweight BB creme, and brightening concealer will help to bring this look to life. Applying with a beauty blender or other makeup sponge will aid in the application and make all the products blend together perfectly.

This look is also extremely versatile and can easily be turned into a smoky look for a night out with the girls or toned down for a day of classes and studying. Adding a bit of bronzer, a brighter lip and a different tone of eyeshadow would make it perfect for a summer day too! By mixing different products, playing with various trends and trying something new anything is possible.

STYLE GURU BIO: Makenzie Hackbarth

Hello beautiful Fashionistas! My name is Makenzie, and I am a freshman at Kent State University majoring in fashion merchandising. I am so excited to get involved with CollegeFashionista and cannot wait to be a part of this wonderful community for more years to come.

I have always loved fashion and writing. I could never dream of studying anything else or working in any other field. I was the kid that had the stencil fashion coloring books, wrote short stories in their free time and has a stash of fashion magazines overflowing in their desk.

I am so ready for 2017 and all of the opportunities that it holds in terms of fashion, school and adventures.

My style is mainly minimalist because of the strong love I have for the colors white, black, grey, and navy. Actually, these are all perfect winter colors…what a coincidence! I also love stripes (preferably black and white), florals and plaid. I would wear dresses all year round if I could, some might say I have too many, but I don’t think that’s possible.

I love this mock turtleneck sweater I found at Pacsun with a pair of dark wash jeans and my fluffy Ugg boots! This is my everyday winter go-to outfit, I live in sweaters from October to March because it’s always cold in the Midwest. I layered two simple necklaces, a few rings, small earrings in my double pierced ears, with a bright red polish on my fingers and I’m good to go.