Stephanie Whitman – CollegeFashionista

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Summer’s Breezy Chic Style

This Fashionista is enjoying the cool summer breezes by flaunting her classroom chic. Excelling in street style, I give this Fashionista straight As for her overall chic and effortless look.

She makes style look effortless with her pale pink sheer silk/cotton blend top with shoulder panel detailing, skinny jeans and strappy sandals. In addition, this Fashionista got ahead of the fashion curve by wearing the haute spot trend with pride. This Fashionista's top has subtle polka-dotted patterned all over. To mimic the look of her top, try this ivory tank with strap or the 3.1 Phillip Lim sleeveless sheer top. However, if you want a bit of a sleeve, try this Fendi sheer appliqué top. Sheer items are very on-trend this summer and with the right layering are pieces that will transition from season to season. A great trend for fall, as seen in Stella McCartney and Bottega Veneta fall 2011 runway shows are cool breezy sheer fabrics and lace accents. It creates a mademoiselle chic effect on any Fashionista's wardrobe. With a bit of feminine detailing, they can be paired to look romantic with skirts and cardigans, or made to look edgy with a leather jacket and accessories.

This Fashionista paired her pale pink top with some dark skinny jeans, T-strap sandals and great accessories. She is truly embracing her life's style. J Brand has some amazing jeans that aren't your typical denim wash or even black — they are perfect for summer, as well as into the autumn. For a more true to denim approach to the skinny pant, try these from Free People.

Accessorizing with ease, this Fashionista adds a cross-body school bag, aviator sunglasses, classic stud earrings and finally a patterned schoolwork binder. Every aspect of this Fashionista's college life matches her stylish persona. Her floral binder is consistent with the floral trend seen on both the Givenchy and the Nina Ricci runway for fall 2011. Who says school supplies can't be chic?

Hint: To really get brainy chic, also check out this Topshop blue oversized cross-body tote bag. To receive a fashionable A, pair it with items, like this week's CollegeFashionista did, as well as these Tina Tang love stud earrings.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Not Big Hair, Big Bows

With a light pink oversized bow clipped in her hair, this Fashionista studies in the sun at a Campus Café. Combining comfort with fashion, she makes the staple jeans and T-shirt look her own by wearing a white multi-tiered ruffle shirt and a pair of skinny crop dark wash jeans — a great alternative to tradition capris. The extra length of the cropped skinny jean allows you to wear them even in the chillier seasons without looking like you are dressing in hopes for warmer temperatures. She finishes off her look with a pair of Havaiana golden color flip flops to add relaxation to her studying.

The J Brand cropped jean is a favorite of celebrities, like the newest Duchess, Kate Middleton. Stylishly pair those hip jeans with a fabulous light pink floral tier blouse from Topshop. Don’t forget to polish your nails with a summer pastel nail polish and instead of top coat apply one of the OPI crackle nail polishes like this turqoise shatter. Show of your crackle polished toes in these slim crystal mesh havaianas in gray/silver.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Gettin’ Buggy with it

No need to get rid of all the summer bugs, make sure they are crawling on your clothing. Rumor is that you’ll get bothered less if you wear them with pride? No, not really but I love the current summer trend that embraces resident insect pests. Giving frenemy a whole new definition, this Fashionista is wearing a beetle ruffled pale pink top paired with a contrasting colored green high wasted skirt. Making sure her bugs keep from getting too chilly in the summer breeze, covering her shoulders is a light chestnut leather jacket with silver embellishments. I love how Fashionista’s aren’t afraid of mixing some of their winter essentials with fresh summer looks. Being a CollegeFashionista/o doesn’t have to be a constantly pricey engagement, keep in mind that you can continue to use even bulkier/thicker pieces year round as long as you mix them with seasonal looks. It is constantly a game of mix and match, have fun with it! There is no going wrong as long as you are confident and open to trying new ensembles. Finishing off her look she has thrown on a pair of snakeskin flats with a slightly pointy toe. The pointy toe shoe is back with a vengeance and is taking names like the Sam Edelman Ionia in flamingo — don’t get scared off by this mature look, throw it together with a fun frilly top or lace short. It seems like nothing seems to scare this Fashionista from dressing to impress. Embrace your life’s style, Fashionistas/os.

Rock the Style Stalker Scorpion Lace Short with a solid colored gem colored top and the nude colored Vince Camuto “Kain” pointy toe pump. Flutter down the street with the Timmy Woods butterfly cross-body bag and the Juicy Couture vintage love bug ring. Another look to go for is the J Brand cutoff shorts in bright purple paired with the Forever 21 foil dragonfly top or the Lauren Moshi chain web short sleeve swing tee. Finally, feel girly in the Betsey Johnson butterfly chiffon long dress or the Kate Spade Betty butterfly print dress

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Bling on the Summer

I wouldn’t go as far as“frosting yourself, like Matthew McConaughey said in the rom-com How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days, but I would say to rebel against the longtime accessory rule of thumb. How many times have you heard to always after accessorizing to remove an accessory as to not over do it? Cross the line, as this Fashionista did, and layer away accessories. Wearing friendship style wrap bracelets with embezzled red beads on one wrist and a colorful patterned cuff bracelet on the other wrist, she is ready to take on the day in style. Perfectly setting off her printed H&M sun dress, this Fashionista rocks a tribal-inspired long pendent necklace layered with beaded shorter strands as well as a silver chain, creating a bohemian carefree fashion glow.

Check out FashionTV’s great spring/summer 2011 jewelry trend video for inspiration to incorporate in your look for the week. The colorful tribal necklace sported around this Fashionista’s neck is reminiscent of pieces from Malandrino’s spring/summer 2011 collection. You can also play with different materials — trending right now is mixing metals and experimenting with different color hues in gold like rose gold. Rose Gold can be just the right way to accessorize an outfit, try this talon rose gold vermeil ring available at Made Her Think. One of my favorite statement necklaces shown on the runway for summer was this Proenza Schouler necklace with large mixed cabochon stones. Sealing the deal for me are this Fashionista’s reptilian inspired gladiator sandals, which is one of my favorites for spring and summer because most any pair easily complements a fresh pedicure. Those of you that can, don’t forget to accessorize with your beloved furry friend; this pup, Sammy, was happy to be along for the fashionable ride. Embrace your life's style, Fashionistas/os.

Strut the pavement in a printed sundress like this Blu Moon Summer Lovin’ ruffle dress found at The Trend Boutique or this ASOS swing dress in watercolour print. The Cocobelle women’s snake ankle wrap sandal is a perfect summer investment that you can find at Endless.com. Clasp this beautiful DCK stone agate necklace and layer it with these beautiful Stephen & Co. multi-strand seed bead necklace both found at Nordstrom. Don't forget to polish your toes and fingers with Sand of the Beach by Essie.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: The Velvet Underground

Velvet is a hard trend to master and is easily interpreted as intimidating. Velvet typically trends around the holidays because of its popularity in designer holiday collections. How can Fashionistas/os incorporate staple velvet pieces year round? Originally sported in the early fourteenth century Kashmir, the textile was worn by the nobility to symbolize wealth and importance. King Richard II of England even asked to be clothed ‘in velveto’ when he passed. Velvet had a strong '90s revival, rocked famously in the classic Clueless. This trend is back in full swing with celebrity spottings on Jessica Alba, Nicole Richie, Isabel Lucas, and Julia Restoin Roitfeld all love rocking the velvet trend.

Wearing an olive green velvet jacket, this Fashionista incorporates her velvet piece with a Moroccan-inspired mini dress. Perfectly exemplifying how to do velvet year round while still keeping up with current trends successfully making it her own. The mini dress is reminiscent of a jumpsuit in the spring/summer 2011 Runway Collection from designer Céline. The cool desert tones like olive green, cream and smoky orange accented throughout this ensemble bring out the essence of Moroccan style and create a slue of jealousy among all that walk past. Elie Tahari 2012 Resort Collection pulls inspiration directly from Moroccan fashion dressing models in kaftans, turbans and desert colors. Embrace your life's style, Fashionistas/os.

Hint: Make velvet fit your life's style by making it grunge, girly, bohemian or even polished. If you can’t travel to Marrakesh to experience a Souk like American’s Next Top Models Cycle 16, get your travel fix by including pieces inspired by this far off foreign land. Try this Tucker smocked collar blouse from Shopbop.com. To channel your inner Moroccan fashion, try these Aubin & Wills velvet shorts. Pair together this incredible Woodford & Co magic carpet mini dress with the Blu Moon velvet open front Jjcket in blue from the Trend Boutique. Finish off your look with either the Disaya military velvet ribbon statement necklace from ASOS or this Marni necklace. Apply the MAC Lipstick shade 'Fresh Moroccan' to polish off your look.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Summer Loves Me, Summer Loves Me Not

Summer Floral pieces add the right feminine touch to any ensemble. Elle.com in their spread called “Parks and Recreation” highlights how to express your flower child spirit in celebration of this season’s warmer weather. Brides aren’t the only girls who get to embrace flowers into their day. Flowers symbolize ‘vitality’, therefore, enabling Fashionistas/os to easily perk up any outfit.

With grace, this Fashionista celebrates the blooming of rose buds by sporting a floral print dress paired with lace up strappy kitten heels. Kitten heels have for years been a sticky trend, ironically, walking the fine line of in or out. The Kitten Heel, originally named after a cat claw, has recently been seen being worn by Michelle Obama and Alexa Chung. The iconic Audrey Hepburn also wore this heel with pride through out her life. It is important to know just how to sport this, admittedly more foot friendly, high heel. Fashionista, Amy, shows her true fashion chameleon by molding together the trends of the lace up sandal with the throw-back trend of the kitten heel. Continue to embrace your life's style, Fashionistas/os.

Let your spirit bloom with this Anna Sui “Watercolor Floral Garden Mixed Print Dress” that you can find on Revolve Clothing. Claw your way around in these amazing Kitten Heel Pumps in Leopard from Target. Add a showstopping masculine flair to your feminine outfit with this Marc by Marc Jacobs Jorie Large Watch. Even have some fun by adding a great fringe bag such as Christian Audigier's "Cynthia" Fringe Detail Shoulder Handbag found on ShopNBC or the JJ Winters Mini Fringe Bag found on Singer22.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Don’t Let Boys Have All The Fun

Who said boys have all the fun? I love seeing Fashionistas experiment with masculine trends. Some of my favorites include men’s watches and masculine-inspired monochromatic dress suits. Spring/summer 2011 has been claimed to be the return of the fedora trend. This Fashionista, Sassy, agrees that the masculine style of the fedora isn’t just for the boys. The fedora first popped into the style scene in the 1920s and boomed through the 1950s, making a brief appearance on the head of the iconic Madonna in the 1980s.

This Fashionista's fedora is paired nicely with a neutral cream-colored tank with subtle lace detailing and a great pair of denim cuffed shorts. Her nails are bright orange, tying the outfit together with a pop of color. Bright colored nails are a great way to accessorize any outfit. Trending right now are bright colored nails with both ring fingers polished with a contrasting color. Tribal beaded necklaces are a great way to accessorize your outfit staying true to one of spring/summer 2011 biggest trends. Strappy sandals, like this Fashionista is wearing, are a great way to finish off your warm weather look. The Seattle sun has finally emerged from the clouds allowing Seattelites' toes to wiggle in sandals once again. Continue to embrace your life's style, Fashionistas/os.

Hint: Show off your newly sun kissed legs in the roll up shorts in vintage Honolulu from 7 For All Mankind . Allow your toes to get some air and wiggle freely in these red criss-cross snake sandals from Pixie Market or the tribal-inspired Nyle sandal from DV by Dolce Vita. You can accessorize your look with these colorful tribal beads from LuLu’s. Finally, finish off your look with bright colored nails polished with one of the colors from essie’s latest collection Braziliant.

Style Guru Bio: Stephanie Mariah Whitman

My name is Stephanie Mariah Whitman. Originally from a small town in Minnesota or “Minnesnowta,” my passion for fashion began in middle school shortly after out growing my tomboy demeanor of not caring how I looked and wrestling with the boys. My first style phase, I like to joke, was grunge because of my tendency to lack polish. After my grunge phase, I lived for outings to the mall where my father would hand me $20 to go shopping while he waited in one of our indoor shopping center's coffee shops. My personal style admittedly started out rocky, mainly consisting of tight fitting sheer graphic T-shirts and velour pants that my friends and I coined “shaky pants” because they aided dancing to OutKasts hot single at the time, “Hey Ya."

I always had my own way of putting outfits together, even if it meant excessively layering all of my favorite clothing pieces as a child. I truly fell into my fashion niche when I attended boarding school in Switzerland as a sophomore in high school. Attending school 30 minutes from Milan, Italy, one of the fashion capitals of the world, gave me the inspiration and confidence to truly express my own personal style without worrying about pushing the limits of the Minnesota fashion scope. I began reading fashion magazines, researching fashion news online and trying new things with my existing clothing. It all came together when I realized my love for the art world had a direct connection with fashion. Fashion for me is my art. There is no adrenaline rush quite the same as seeing something you haven’t seen before or being able to visualize a complete outfit by just looking at one piece that you find inspirational. The fashion world is challenging, inspiring, fast paced, exciting, psychological and ever evolving. I love meeting fashion chameleons. I believe every person is entitled to express themselves in their own way. My life motto is to embrace your life’s style. I look forward to having the opportunity to highlight resident fashion chameleons of the University of Washington and connecting with Fashionistas/os everywhere. Embrace your life’s style, Fashionistas/os.