STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Lace It Up

The temperatures are dipping and as the season grows colder we’re becoming more and more limited in our footwear choices. Gone are the days of slipping on a pair of sandals and we’re frantically searching for a new pair of boots to add to our collection. Motorcycle boots and ankle booties have been all the rage at VCU these past couple seasons, but what spin can we take on our beloved staple this year?

This Fashionista I spotted was rocking a pair of booties that gave her ensemble a cool, chic edge. She donned an oversized Fair Isle sweater, an impeccably tailored pair of dark skinny jeans and a must-have pair of lace-up booties. She made this look her own with a pair of statement earrings and an olive green tote.

These lace-up booties are slimmer and more streamlined than the combat boot we’re so used to seeing on campus. It’s a unique spin on an incredibly popular trend. This type of boot will still make any ensemble a bit more edgy while still having you look put together. The heel is high enough to give any look a healthy dose of glamour, yet small enough to run around campus all day with ease. These boots from Steve Madden and DSW are two budget-friendly options for any fashionable coed.

Not only will these boots make your outfit, but they are remarkably versatile as well. Rock them with a pair of skinny jeans like this Fashionista did or pair them with dresses and skirts (don’t forget the tights!) The styling possibilities are endless for this sharp boot.

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STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Lace it Up!

As I traveled home for the holidays, I was thrilled to be given the chance to explore other college campuses and the Fashionistas/os there. I was interested to parallel the different styles that are seen other places unlike RISD. RISD has a very unique student population. The diverse styles and personalities are all so interesting and individual, as well very eye-catching to say the least. As I traveled home to Atlanta for Thanksgiving and with Emory University in my neighborhood, I couldn't resist to take the opportunity to walk around campus and see what I could find. I was excited to meet this Fashionista. As she was moving her luggage back into her dorm, I took the opportunity to snap a picture and ask her about her time at Emory. I was intrigued by her use of lace in her outfit. From my previous posts, I haven't spoken much about lace and how beautiful it can be contributed in a wardrobe.

With the holidays coming up soon, I think that lace is very appropriate and exciting to stylize into a personal look. This Fashionista uses lace in a wonderful way. Here she uses an American Apparel bandeau underneath her Topshop, peter-pan collar lace top. I think that the layering of these two garment is very successful. This particular Fashionista beautifully styled her clothes and her overall look is well put together, including the color pallet. It has a sense of sophistication and elegance to it, with a feeling of casual chic.

The thing I love most about this Fashionista's outfit are her beautiful shoes. I myself have really loved the loafer look that many Fashonistas/os have been working in their daily looks recently around campus. I was thrilled to see that trend surfacing amongst other college campuses.

When it comes to approaching the upcoming weeks of finals and work that a lot of college students are gearing up to accomplish, my advice is when given the opportunity, dress up. I like to believe that if you are wearing something you feel great in, then your personal attitude and outlook on these upcoming weeks might be shifted for the better. Take on the challenge and as silly as it sounds, “dress up to study.” Try it out and see how it might alter your attitude towards studio hours as well liberal art final exam prep.

Like this Emory University student, take her advice and wear clothing that makes you feel good and confident.

Go out, get inspired.

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STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Lace It Up

So often Fashionista/os search for ways to set themselves apart. If two women are dressed in a little black dress, what makes them different? Maybe one woman accessorizes her LBD and the other relies on the cut and fit to make her unique. Whatever the case may be, Fashionista/os everywhere are finding quirky ways to stand out.

Take this Fashionista for example. Her individuality lies in her shoestrings. The cheetah print accent automatically draws my attention to her feet. Paired with black bottoms and a vibrant fuchsia blouse, she’s ready for class or a casual date night. The scarf adds layers and dimension to the entire outfit and also serves as the focal neckpiece—it’s perfect!

This Fashionista found her strings on eBay, however there are several places you can buy eye-catching shoe candy. Try these neon green laces from Nordstrom. They’ll spice up any outfit from the ankle down and would look great with these High Top Chuck Taylors. For more fun ways to jazz up your lace-up shoes, try these attachable wings from Journey’s for a fun twist. And I can’t forget the unavoidable DIY project. You can layer studs on any pair of shoes you own for a look that is completely unique like these motorcycle boots from Ash.

No matter your preference, it’s fun to switch things up in the most unconventional of ways. It keeps people guessing and keeps you ahead of the game.

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STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Lace It Up

If you’re looking for an easy go-to outfit for this fall, try lace on for size! Lace has recently spiked in popularity and is easy to find in many stores across the country this fall. It works as a great basic piece that can be used for both going to class and going out with your friends on the weekends. From shorts to shirts and headbands to dresses, there is a guaranteed piece to fit right into your wardrobe and into your budget!

There are many ways to wear this season’s most popular fabric. One way it can be used is by pairing it with brightly colored accessories. That’s exactly what this Fashionista did before she headed out to dinner with some friends before returning to college. The bright colors of the necklace and the purse give the simple fabric a pop of color. Neon colors, which are coming back this season, would also make the lace stand out.

A college kid’s budget definitely makes it hard to shop for all the clothes we want to fill our imaginary Pinterest closets. Since lace is a diverse fabric, pairing different accessories with the same garment can completely transform the original piece of clothing. Throwing on some nude flats can make it an easy outfit for a day of running around campus but pairing it with black pumps makes it suitable for a night out with your friends.

Lace also comes in many shapes and sizes. Designers this season have definitely not been afraid to experiment. Some of my personal favorites have been shift dresses, shorts and corset tops.

No matter the temperature, final destination or even what accessories you have in your closet, lace is a must for this year’s back-to-school fashion. There is no limit to the possibilities, so go explore!

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STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Lace It Up

When you think of lace apparel the first thing that comes to my mind is fancy. However, nowadays you no longer have to ignore the delicate, feminine lacy dresses hanging in the back of your closet because, as seen by this Fashionista, it's time to let these garments have the spotlight. Lace is a great fabric to wear because it can not only be dressed up or down to suit your personal style, but it also comes in both sultry and sweet forms. As a child, I was constantly wearing fancy lace dresses, but today it takes a more mature form in my wardrobe. It does not have to strictly be an elegant material, worn only for lavish events; in general it's a great summer fabric for all occasions and, with the proper accessories, you can even tone down that fancy dress or lace blouse to make it daytime appropriate.

This Fashionista wore a white lace shift dress and incorporated her personality with her accessories. Her cowboy boots and aviator sunglasses add a playful element to her sweet and simple lace dress, while showing off her southern flair. To create a look showcasing your Fourth of July spirit, top the outfit off with this stars and stripes denim jacket, perfect for toning down any fancier lace you may want to wear but don’t have a special occasion to wear it to.

Forget about embellishing an outfit with just a lace trim this summer and get laced up from head to toe. Now is the time to pull those lacy dresses out from the shadows of your closet and put them in the spotlight where they're truly meant to be.

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STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Lace it up

This week’s style advice is all about one critical trend this summer, lace. Lace is overtaking and completely filling the racks in every cute boutique and store. Lace tops are the hottest new fad with a bandeau peeking through. This look is best paired with a trendy pair of shorts, jeans or bold accessories. Also be sure to keep your eyes peeled for this sexy cool fabric, because of the summer heat you won’t be able to wear enough of it! Look for a color that compliments your skin tone. A bronze tan looks great with a pale tiffany blue or pastel pink, but don’t be afraid to try some of the bold and daring colors such as chartreuse or orange. Bold necklaces are also a must!

This confident Fashionista is modeling a grey lace T-shirt top from Aerie over a Victoria’s Secret mint green strapless bikini top. On the bottom she sports dark denim shorts from Abercrombie and Fitch and American Eagle brown leather sandals. She definitely knows how to work it on a sunny beach afternoon. This Fashionista keeps the look fresh and classy with a bright colored bikini top underneath the dark grey lace. The short lace T-shirt compliments her figure and the bikini top brightens up the entire outfit. This trendy ensemble definitely keeps her looking adorable and chic on the sandy shore.

To achieve this lacey look, first begin with selecting any type of lace top. Lace tops can be found on chic online boutique NASTY GAL and also in the store Free People. A trendy variety of bright colored bandeau or bikini tops can be found at ASOS.

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STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Lace It Up

This past academic year, students have really taken a liking to the layered look. In the fall, Fashionistas all over campus would pair a waffle long-sleeved shirt with vests and scarves. In the winter, tanks would lie under heavy cardigans, topped with a winter parka. Now that spring is here, the layers have stayed but the garments have changed. During springtime it is tricky to layer clothing because we are dealing with warmer weather, but that’s the great thing about layers — you can always take one off!

One of the best lightweight layer options I’ve seen around campus is lace. Lace tops, crop tops and tanks are all great layering options that won’t make you sweat to death on those warmer spring days. Personally, I think the best look is the lace crop-top. As seen on today’s Fashionista, this sort of top can be layered over a solid-colored flowy tank (another hot spring trend!) for the perfect spring outfit. This Fashionista also takes advantage of the layering trend I discussed earlier by adding a leather jacket to the already layered tank and crop top. This outfit is ideal for spring days when the weather is fluctuating and layers need to be put on and off for maximum comfort. The lace top also adds some interesting texture to the otherwise solid outfit. Introducing the combination of lace and leather layering is an age old texture combination that today’s Fashionista pulls off flawlessly.

So where to go to stock up on some lace goodies? I’d suggest Urban Outfitters. They have some great dresses, tops and shorts that are all embellished with lace. My favorite is their Kimchi Blue Lace Tulip Back Tank. It’s a great spring option! Also designers like Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs and stores like American Apparel have a ton of lace garments perfect for springtime.

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STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Lace It Up

One thing every girl must have in their closet is lace. It’s a must have this season now that spring is right around the corner. Truthfully, my entire closet is filled with lace. From black lace dresses to white lace tanks, my go to outfit always has some lace in it. Why? Because it adds a rare simplicity to every outfit that is hard to find with any other pattern. When you wear lace, you can never over do it because its simple and elegant in one color. Yet the interlaced, mesh-like pattern is intricate enough to be one step above simple. To put it this way, if funk and simplicity had a love child, it’d be lace.

I spotted this Fashionista while on spring break, adoring her lace tank specifically. The best part of it is the price. She thrifted this sucker for a mere ten dollars! She looked comfortable yet lovely, breezy yet radiant and effortless yet trendy. She paired this lace tank with a forest green maxi skirt, a mesh trucker hat, gold aviators and blue bowed sandals. What I love most about lace is that you don’t need to layer it with scarves and accessories because lace in itself is enough to complete an outfit.

Now let’s get lacy crazy! Instead of opting for the norm and buying a lace tank top, try something different with lace. Try finding picks with accents of lace to make an outfit more darling. Instead of finding a lace tank, think outside the box and opt for some shorts, jackets or even boots to bring out that simplistic yet sophisticated side of you. Can’t find any? Purchase any type of clothing and sew on a lace patch. One thing is for sure: lace will never fail you