Author: Sarah Luke

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Denim Daze

Denim shirts have been popular for a while now, but what made me stop this Fashionista was the wash and style of her top. This Fashionista is wearing a cropped denim tie shirt with high-waisted black pants and added a pop of color by wearing bright, yellow flats. The denim shirt trend obviously has not died yet. I still see people sporting them all over campus. But, what I love about this Fashionista’s take on the denim shirt is that it is sleeveless and cropped for the summer. It also had a unique washed out look to it.

I love the denim shirt trend, but sometimes it can get a bit boring. Try and go out of the box and purchase a denim shirt with a twist. Be different and rock a tie dye denim shirt or even a denim shirt with a print. Whenever wearing a denim shirt, be careful on what you pair it with. You do not want to be wearing the same colored denim pants as the shirt. Wear a denim shirt with a black, white or color pant. You want to maintain contrast between what you are wearing on the top and what you are wearing on the bottom.

Believe it or not, a denim shirt is a great item to have during warmer temperatures. Sometimes I use mine as a “summer sweater”. My denim shirts are loose fitted so they go perfectly over any outfit when I get chilly, and the lightweight material makes it bearable for warmer temperatures.

The denim shirt is a must-have item in your closet. So if you haven’t already, be on trend and get one into your wardrobe!

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Pencil It In

If you don’t have a pencil skirt in your closet by now, you missed the memo. I see them everywhere but usually, I see them worn out at night. I tend to frown upon these tight pencil skirts being worn in the daytime because of how inappropriate it could look. But, when I saw this Fashionista rocking her pencil skirt during the day, I thought she pulled it off perfectly. She wore her red striped pencil skirt with a loose white blouse, green army style jacket, yellow socks and white tennis shoes. What makes the outfit work is the casual shoe attire. I also love how she wore colorful socks with her tennis shoes, adding playfulness and more color to her outfit.

The secret to wearing this type of skirt during the day is to try and be modest in the other parts of your outfit. Take tips from this Fashionista and wear a long sleeve shirt with the skirt and casual, flat shoes. The best part about pencil skirts is that they are so versatile. Like I said before, I usually see these skirts worn out at night. The pencil skirt is a perfect day-to-night item to own. This Fashionista could easily switch her tennis shoes for heels and could be going for a night out on the town. Another thing that I love about pencil skirts is that it can be found anywhere, even at inexpensive stores. There are always a variety of color, patterns and prints available to go with each and every outfit. It is a must-have item to have in your closet!

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: The Mullet Skirt Trend

What I love most about the mullet skirt trend is that it is an appropriate item to wear to almost any place. Maybe that is why I have been seeing mullet skirts on Fashionistas all around downtown Chicago lately. The great thing about mullet skirts is that you can dress them up or down; they create a perfect day-to-night look. The long length in the back of the skirt makes it appropriate for more modest places like class and work. But, can easily be transitioned to settings like a party or a date.

This Fashionista is wearing her red mullet skirt belted with a tied up graphic tee, black blazer, and a pair of combat boots. If you are aiming for more of a casual look like her, wear this type of skirt with a crop top or tee. I love the idea of tying the tee to make it shorter, almost like a crop top. It allows the skirt to be fully shown and accentuates your waist. Then, wear some gladiator sandals or flats to make the outfit more casual. To dress up the mullet skirt, wear some pumps or wedges with the same exact ensemble and top it off with some bold accessories.

When shopping for a mullet skirt, be sure that the long end of the skirt is not reaching the ground. Pay attention to the fabric when purchasing one as well. I tend to favor mullet skirts that are flowier because the mullet skirt looks better if there is a lot of movement as you walk. I suggest buying a mullet skirt made out of chiffon or rayon because it is a lightweight fabric that you can wear in the spring or summer.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: High-Waist It and Crop It

This cropped striped denim jacket is what made me stop this Fashionista for a second look. Along with the jacket, she was wearing a white cropped T-shirt, high waisted leggings and a pair of sandals. I loved the way she wore two trends so nicely: high-waisted bottoms and cropped tops.

At first, I admit, I was a bit wary of the high-waisted pants trend; high-waisted pants reminded me of mom jeans. I thought this trend was one that we should have never revisited from fashion history. Then, as it became more popular, I started to embrace this trend for a number of reasons. First of all, they make your legs look longer, which is a major plus for short people like myself. Second, they look great with the cropped top trend that has been happening for a while (now, you can put all of those crop tops to more use!). So, I finally realized and admitted that high-waisted pants looked great when worn correctly.

The most important thing about high-waisted bottoms is the fit. You don’t want something too loose or that sits on your waist way too high. You can wear high-waisted pants or shorts in a variety of ways. Like I expressed before, cropped tops are a great item to wear them with. They allow the pants to be completely shown and together create a great contrast between long and short. To top off the look, you could wear a cropped jacket with the ensemble like this Fashionista did, or dress it up and wear it with a blazer. I definitely think high-waisted bottoms are a must-have item this season. So when in doubt, high-waist it and crop it!

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Feel Relaxed in Style

There are always those “lazy days” where you just feel like wearing lounge pants all day. Well, fight the urge to do so! Instead of wearing sweatpants in public (one of my biggest pet peeves), opt for something both comfortable and fashionable. This Fashionista on the go was wearing black leggings, a denim shirt, orange Vans and a green khaki handbag. What I liked about her outfit was that she still remained comfortable and somewhat sporty with a fashionable edge. Leggings are a great, comfortable option because they are easy to dress up or down. The denim shirt has been a popular trend this season, and paired with leggings makes it a fashion-forward outfit.

Besides leggings, there are many other comfortable, stylish alternatives. For example, harem pants have a relaxed fit and lots of room for movement. They are such an easy way to be both trendy and cozy. You can also wear harem pants in many different ways, so they are a versatile item to have. It is easy to dress harem pants up by wearing them with a top, blazer and a pair of heels. For more of a casual look, wear them with a T-shirt, flats and top your look off with some accessories.

Believe it or not, designers do make comfortable athletic wear. If you are a fan of hoodies, the Rib Neck Hoodie by Alexander Wang is a great option. For gym shoes, I recommend sneakers from the Converse x Missoni collection — they are so chic! Instead of wearing sweatpants and/or any old hoodie on your next “lazy day,” think outside of the box and feel relaxed in style.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Mix Labels with Affordable Pieces

This Fashionisto’s ability to successfully mix labels with more affordable items is what made me stop him on his way to class. He wore an exclusive Supreme box logo hat and Leaders 1354 x Adidas Originals Forum Mid Moccasin shoes with a simple zipped up hoodie, jeans and a cargo jacket. His basic outfit allowed his unique shoes and accessories to shine, letting them speak for themselves.

It is nice to own designer items, but it can be overwhelming to wear them all at once. Sometimes being decked out head-to-toe in designer items can be tacky; not to mention, it is not an affordable or realistic thing to do on a college budget. Instead, allow your designer pieces to shine on their own like this Fashionisto did. Wear one or two expensive pieces with some basic items. By doing this, you are allowing your unique designer pieces to be showcased.

Mixing designer items with more affordable pieces is my favorite thing to do. I always invest in designer items that I can wear with almost every outfit. If you buy something expensive that goes with everything, you will get the most out of your money. Try buying pieces like a scarf, hat, sunglasses or a handbag. These pieces can make any basic outfit look expensive. It is smart to buy accesories rather than clothes because accesories are usually less expensive and can be worn more often. If some designer pieces that you want are a little out of your price range, don’t forget to check out Ebay for used or even gently used designer items that are less than the retail price. Ebay is also a good place to find some vintage or more exclusive pieces.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Be Cool and Comfortable

What made me stop this Fashionista was her individual, cool style. Her blue dress, which seems like a vintage find, really stood out to me. It has a chevron and striped pattern on it that you can hardly see, but when the fabric moves in just the right way you can see it; it adds a great element to the design. She matched her dress with patterned tights that complimented the pattern on her dress. She wore shiny leather laced up boots to keep the look casual. Next, she accessorized with a grey briefcase-like handbag and a statement cocktail ring. I also loved the way she wore a bright pink lipstick color to add some more color to her look. To learn other beauty tips to add color to your look, read the ALL ABOUT BEAUTY: Brighten Up post.

This Fashionista’s whole ensemble is not something that everybody can pull off. It takes a sort of confidence to be able to pull off any certain look. While I totally love how this Fashionista is creative with her style, I know that if I were to wear this I would not feel like myself. Whatever you wear has a direct connection to how you feel so it is important that you are comfortable in what you are wearing at all times.

Don’t get me wrong; trying new styles and trends is a good thing. It is nice to go out of your comfort zone and push boundaries in what you wear but be sure that you feel comfortable flaunting that new outfit and style. If you look great but do not feel great, then try something else on that will make you achieve both. You can also start small. If you want to start wearing something that you are not truly comfortable with yet, take baby steps. For example, if you love sequins but you are not ready to put on that showstopper sequin dress, maybe start small by just wearing a sequin top or sequin shoes first. That way, you grow to be more comfortable with a certain trend. In fashion, it is important to stay true to yourself. If your comfortable in what you are wearing, it will shine through in your cool attitude and style.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Dress for the Weather

Week by week, Chicago’s weather has been gradually getting warmer and then randomly becoming cooler again. I often see weather-confused students walking around campus because of this. My style advice this week: look up the weather before getting dressed, and dress appropriately for the weather. There are too many times when I see outfits that do not make sense with the weather forecast. I am all for individuality and creativity, but I think practicality should also play a role in one's outfit choice, especially if you are commuting to school.

This Fashionista was found walking to class, and serves as a great example of how to style an outfit for the appropriate temperature. If you are really that eager to bring out your favorite summer items, maybe meet in the middle and mix a summer item with spring pieces like she did. Rather wearing the item as you would in the summer, complete the look with items that make sense with the current weather. When I saw this Fashionista, it was a chilly yet sunny kind of day. She wore her summer dress but still kept her outfit practical by wearing the dress with tights, boots and a denim jacket. All of these items were appropriate for the weather that day.

You should also consider the season in which you are dressing for when getting ready in the morning. When it is March and only fifty-sixty degrees outside, it should not be your cue to wear sandals. Instead, embrace the season and opt for flats or oxfords, a shoe that is more appropriate during spring weather. Instead of wearing a heavy jacket during this drastic temperature change, maybe wear something lighter like a denim or leather jacket. Next time you leave for class, don't forget to check the weather forecast!

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Stay Classy

Among all the baggy outfits seen on campus, it is nice to see a classic, tailored look on a guy. This Fashionisto is wearing a buttoned up shirt, tie, grey cardigan, khaki slim pants, and some casual black shoes. His ensemble gives off a classy vibe that we do not usually see on a younger guy.  I appreciated the simplicity and well fitted look of his outfit. Sometimes we need to ignore all the current crazy trends and revisit our timeless items that we have to create a classic look.

That being said, it is easy to create this outfit with must-have items that you should already have. One must-have item is a versatile cardigan. A cardigan goes with almost any look and can effortlessly dress up any outfit. Another must-have item is a well-fitted button up shirt. It is important to be aware of what kind of fabric the shirt is made out of. You want to buy a shirt with a fabric that can be worn for both a casual and dressy outfit. Try a cotton Oxford shirt. For a dressier look like this Fashionisto, wear this type of shirt with khakis (another must-have item!) or with corduroys. You can easily wear this type of shirt with a denim pant and a hoodie for a more casual look, too.

The important thing to know about these three must-have items is that they are timeless and can transform any outfit into a classier, tailored style. Wear all items at once and you will be the classiest guy around, like this Fashionisto!

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Mix Prints

It was a beautiful day in Chicago when I spotted this Fashionista with a perfect transition from winter to spring outfit. Her ability to mix prints well and her addition of a pop of color is what made me love her outfit. She wore a cotton pinstriped dress, a lightweight jacket, a pink Marc by Marc Jacobs bag, a bohemian inspired scarf and tights with boots. She mixed cold weather items with warm weather items as well as prints.

It seems as if mixing prints would make your outfit clash, but as long as you do it correctly, numerous prints can compliment each other well. Take notes from this Fashionista, who wore a black and white print and combined it with a colorful one. This combination works perfectly because the black and white print is muted, whereas the colorful print is a louder textile. When you put both together they do not clash, but rather balance each other out. Also, one of the most important things to mixing prints together successfully is that they have a common element.

Some other ways you can mix prints is by matching a floral blazer with a lace print. Floral and lace work well together because they are both intricate, flowery prints. The floral blazer is a great spring item to have, as floral has been a reoccurring print seen in Diane von Furstenberg’s collection as well as Marc by Marc Jacobs. Another way you can mix prints is by wearing an abstract print with a more distinguished print, like a polka dotted cardigan or striped cardigan.