Venesa Coger – CollegeFashionista

STYLE ADVICE: Neutral Spring

The climate will always play a factor in what we wear on a day to day basis. The clouds seem to have taken over the sunshine, hence why this Fashionisto went for the neutral tones in his outfit. Usually as college students, we tend to go grab our sweats and hoodies and head out to class. Since the semester is coming to an end, and you’re probably too busy focusing on finals or graduation, simply grab the most casual go-to items and head out.

This Fashionisto kept it simple and easy. Without much effort, he chose a graphic T-shirt from a local shop. He then paired it with light gray denim which has just enough distressed details for spring. This Fashionisto was even brave enough to wear white sneakers to match his T-shirt. However, if you don’t want to risk wearing white sneakers, I do advise picking another color such as gray or black. To add the finishing touches to his outfit, this Fashionisto wore his lightweight black bomber jacket and light brown beanie. He made sure to keep all his items in the same neutral tone family without wearing too much black or white. It balanced out evenly and perfectly.

You never know what’s to come in the Northeast between the gloomy skies and windy weather. So it’s a must that you stay prepared all while staying true to your style. This Fashionisto’s outfit took no longer than 10 minutes to get ready; next time instead of grabbing your sweats, go for your denim. Even casually dressing will put you in a positive mood to finish the semester off strong.

STYLE GURU STYLE: Comfort and Denim

Warm weather gets me so excited because I know that I can start pulling out some of my favorite summer pieces. Although, I was born in the winter I enjoy the summer 10 times more. Reasons being I can finally take off several layers, show a little skin, and be very comfortable. I’ve packed away all my sweaters and heavy coats and pulled out my crop tops and sandals. I’m definitely ready for sunshine.

Sometimes I consider myself a denim hoarder because nine times out of ten while going shopping I run straight to the denim section. I always feel like I don’t own enough when in fact I do. My collection includes skinny, leggings, girlfriend, and boyfriend jeans (what’s the difference again?). Surprisingly, a few months ago I finally found denim overalls that fit me in all the right areas while still having a little bit of bagginess to it. All winter long, I wore dark denim so I made sure to purchase the light/medium wash so that it matched my summer ready vibe.

The best part about these overalls is that it can easily be a transitional piece from day to night. But, for this look I paired it with my black and white striped crop top. I love stripes because they go with everything. It accentuated my look and gave it the perfect balance between my overalls adding texture and the bold pattern. I don’t often wear lots of jewelry, so I wore my feathery statement earrings. I even traded in my plain black flats for these extremely bold chunky link chain sneakers. Did I mention they’re platform and so comfortable?

All summer long I plan to stick to my comfort and denim. But, I’ll amp up my look by taking more risk between my quirky shoe selection and accessories styles. You should too! You never know what will work for you.

BEAUTY BAR: Glowing in the Wind

The spring term can feel like complete chaos at times, between due dates and the unpredictable weather in the Northeast. Somehow, this Fashionista knows how to stay glowing through it all. I love how her eyeshadow and lipstick compliments her edgy style. What I admire most is how she was able to achieve this look in a timely fashion (life goals).

This Fashionista started her beauty routine with Urban Decay’s Naked Skin One and Done and Benefits Cosmetics Boi-ing Concealer. She then contoured and highlighted the high points of her face using Elf Blush in st. lucia to contour, Elf Baked Blush in rich rose, and MAC Highlighter in lightscapade. I love how these products gave her a smooth and flawless finish. For her eyes she used her favorite Naked 3 palette and L’Oreal Infallible eyeliner which is how she achieved that perfect winged eye. She added to her look with this bold lipstick shade from Colourpop.

Her beauty look seems so effortless—it’s no surprise that her outfit is also. I love how she paired her velvet over-the-knee boots with a pink, light-weight bomber jacket and baseball cap. This Fashionista is showcasing that her style can be fierce and athletic at the same time. Her outfit makes a statement that you’re never limited to one trend.

How a person dresses, tells a lot about their mood and how they are feeling, especially in college. But, I can tell that this Fashionista is ready to tackle the day head on with her flawless beauty and edgy outfit. She sure has motivated me to take the time to update my beauty routine.

ALL IN THE DETAILS: Winter Lace Up

It may be winter and sweaters are in but that doesn’t mean the way you dress has to be boring. My favorite trend from spring/summer has crossed over into winter, the lace up top. As a junior, I’m constantly thinking about how to dress for the job that I want while displaying my personal style.

This Fashionista is a junior as well, majoring in fashion merchandising. When she graduates, she hopes to become a buyer for a prestige fashion company. She also shared with me the struggles of having to commute to school and dressing up for class. But, she finds the perfect balance between business casual and comfort.

While her days are quite long due to classes and club meetings, she pairs her oversize lace up sweater with black dressy ankle leggings together for comfortability. She doesn’t overshadow the details of her sweater by wearing delicate jewelry such as: a thin choker, midi rings, and stud earrings.

Staying warm and stylish during these cold days, she then turns her outfit into business casual with this perfect color blocked trench coat. I love the way she mixed up neutral tones and kept it simple without overdoing it. Her personal style definitely shines through. She topped her outfit off with a pair of simple black chelsea boots for a more polished look. This Fashionista is ready to conquer her next interview in the fashion industry.

It’s the little details that matter and make you stand out from the rest. Next time you get dress try utilizing a trendy statement into your business casual attire.

STYLE GURU BIO: Venesa Coger

Hello everyone! My name is Venesa, and this is my first semester as a Style Guru; I couldn’t be more ecstatic about joining CollegeFashionista.

I was born in New York City, and moved to New Haven, Connecticut, at six years old. I’m a transfer student and junior at the University of Bridgeport where I’m majoring in fashion merchandising. Even though I’m fairly new, I’ve seen so many students expressing their unique and creative styles on campus that would be awesome to write articles on.

Besides majoring in fashion, I work as a stylist for Express. I have my own fashion website: venesajco.com, I sing and dance, I love taking pictures, and I’ll soon be releasing YouTube videos. During my free time, I’m always on Pinterest and Polyvore for fashion inspiration or on Snapchat and Instagram watching Keke Palmer. She’s my favorite multi-talented celebrity and inspiration. My current obsessions in fashion are: chokers (hope they never go out of style again), sneakers, and bomber jackets (in all colors please). You can find me wearing anything casual and comfy, all while looking chic. I don’t have a specific go-to style because my style is very versatile, I like to try different ideas and trends in fashion instead of limiting myself.

Due to the mixed signals winter has given me, for this look I decided to pair my high-waisted black denim with a grey cowl neck cropped sweater. I broke down the neutral tones by adding my light pink bag and matching light pink Adidas sneakers. To complete my outfit, my leather moto jacket added to my street style vibe.

I’m thankful for this opportunity of being a Style Guru for CollegeFashionista, and even more excited to be sharing this journey with you all. Come get to know me and don’t be afraid to say hello.