fall fashion – CollegeFashionista

3 Fall Jackets To Spice Up Your Wardrobe

Ladies and gentlemen, fall fashion is finally back! After a summer of cut-off shorts and fun times, it’s time to return to the cozy trends of layering scarves, jackets, and socks. With cooler temperatures comes the need to layer on a jacket or two, especially when transitioning your summer pieces into a more fall-appropriate look. Jackets have to be my favorite way to do that. Here are three essential jackets that make your look stand out.

PHOTO: Cassidy Clark

1—Denim jackets

This is the most quintessential piece for transitioning summer looks into fall. A denim jacket goes well with brighter pieces and helps to tone it down a bit for the season. There are a wide range of fits and washes for any look. I love pairing light wash, cropped denim jackets with a summer dress, a scarf, and booties for an ultimate fall-chic look. If I would rather wear pants, an oversize medium wash jacket adds a cool, edgy look to any basic T-shirt. Don’t be afraid to wear denim-on-denim, either! Embrace the ’90s trend and all its glory this fall.

PHOTO: Kelly Rogowski

2—Trench coats

Trench coats are the hidden gem missing from a lot of closets. Whenever I imagine a woman wearing a trench coat, I also picture her as very confident and smart. Take advantage of that! Feeling under the weather one day? Throw a trench coat on to remind yourself of how strong and beautiful you are. It’s an instant confidence booster. Trench coats can look extra chic paired with black skinny jeans and top. They are also great for layering over chunky sweaters.

PHOTO: Jordyn Wissert

3—Statement jackets

Nothing makes more of a statement than a cool patterned or embroidered jacket. Who says all jackets need to be basics? They can be statement pieces too! The great thing about statement jackets is that you can wear the most basic outfit and it will still stand out with a statement jacket. Throw it over your go-to jeans and T-shirt look or a simple dress. Use the jacket as an accessory when you style it. You can wear it normally for a more functional purpose, drape it over your shoulders for an instant chic vibe, or tie it around your waist for a slimming affect.

How do you style your favorite jackets in the fall? Comment below!

Add This Podcast to Your Fall Semester Playlist

During my junior year of college, I took a listening class where I had to listen to seven hours worth of a material from a podcast. I thought it would be the most dreadful assignment I would ever have. Strangely enough, I became hooked on the podcast series Pop Fashion. Podcasts are like magazines for your ear. All the content you need is available without having to stay focused on one item. You can listen to them straight from a website or application, or you can download and have the ability to listen to them offline. Listening to a podcast can be mesmerizing. Hearing someone’s voice and having them put expression into it makes the story really come to life.

PHOTO: Daisa Harris

If you’re not listening to this podcast already, you should be! Pop Fashion is described as a podcast for fashion, news, trends, business, and fashion crime. They air on a weekly basis, and each episode tends to be in anywhere between 54 minutes to an hour. More importantly, I enjoy the fact that they don’t stick to the basics of fashion. They are smart and insightful. For instance, they touch upon retail, politics, food, and e-commerce (since everything ties back to fashion).

PHOTO: Daisa Harris

The hosts of the show, Lisa and Kaarin, are hilarious! They keep you entertained and tell you honest facts without sugarcoating the news. Kaarin and Lisa don’t have voices that put you to sleep or are super obnoxious that after five minutes of listening you wish you never hit play. You will get all the facts and they keep the information simple and easy to follow along. You don’t have to be an expert Fashionista to keep up with these ladies.

Add this to your weekly agenda and sync this to your Bluetooth speaker while you’re lounging at home. What other podcasts are you listening to? Comment your favorites below!

Additional photos by Daisa Harris.

4 Trends Every Fashionista Will Be Rocking on Campus This Fall

We are back in the swing of things at school, and it’s officially fall! That means breaking out the pumpkins, Halloween candy, and our favorite fall sweaters. While a classic sweater and leggings combo is a great fall outfit, there are so many new trends to try this season. Whether you keep it casual for class or dress up to go out, there is a trend for everyone this fall.

PHOTO: Lex Kelly

1—Denim

Whether it’s a funky denim jacket or a classic pair of Levi’s, denim is one of this season’s staples. Fashionistas can keep it casual with jeans and a T-shirt or experiment with the trend and pair denim on denim. There are so many ways to style denim, so every Fashionista will be wearing it this fall.

PHOTO: Daisa Harris

2—Red

Red is the color of the fall. From burgundy to cherry red, every shade is in style. For Fashionistas who usually steer clear of bright colors, try sporting a darker shade or a pop of red on your shoes. For any trendsetters out there—do you dare to wear a monochromatic red look?

PHOTO: Kelly Rogowski

3—Loafers and Mules

Now that we have established a few clothing trends, every Fashionista needs a shoe to complete her outfit. Loafers and mules are the perfect transitional shoe from summer to fall before it gets too cold and you need two pairs of socks layered under your warmest boots. These styles are versatile, so there is a pair out there for every style from preppy to bohemian.

PHOTO: Kelly Rogowski

4—Athleisure

Finally, this trend is perfect for Fashionistas who like to keep it comfortable or try to squeeze in a workout between classes. Athleisure is back again for another season, and I am so excited to sport some fun printed leggings everywhere from running errands to the yoga studio. As a result, wearing cute workout clothes might inspire you to come up with a workout routine for the semester.

Denim, red, athleisure, loafers, and mules are just a few of this fall’s biggest trends. Fashionistas can even combine multiple trends in one outfit! I’m thinking a red blouse, your favorite jeans, and a great pair of mules.

How are you planning on styling these trends? Show us on social media and tag @CFashionista!

5 Fashion Pieces That Will Elevate Any Back to School Outfit

The time to head back to college has officially arrived—there’s coffee in one hand, school books in the other, and a chic outfit to top it all off. The crisp air is creeping up on us, and all the newest fall pieces are hitting your favorite retail stores. First of all, overthinking an outfit in the morning while getting ready is awful and time-consuming. So, with a new semester here, look out for these five items that will make your mornings easier and elevate any outfit.

PHOTO: Kelly Rogowski

1—Raw hem denim

Having a go-to bottom to reach for in the morning is going to make your life ten times easier. Raw hem denim is the perfect piece to spice up a somewhat basic outfit! You can pair your denim with so much: a plain white T-shirt, a chic off-the-shoulder top, or even a silk cami! Raw hem denim will help you elevate any outfit easily.

2—Loafers

Shoes are everything! Your shoes can make or a break an outfit. As a college girl, I love the combination of being stylish and comfortable for a long school day. Loafers are the perfect in between. They are stylish, look good with almost any outfit, and are definitely comfortable. I love being able to pair loafers with something as simple as jeans. The raw hem denim and loafer combination is to die for!

3—Denim jacket

The infamous denim jacket is making its rounds all over again, and this time the lust for it is even bigger. Denim jackets can enhance a look in so many different ways. You can go for the oversize look with a denim jacket and a dress, or you can go with the notorious denim-on-denim vibe. Denim jackets come in so many different textures. I love the oversize, distressed denim look.

PHOTO: Stella Fanega

4—Hoop earrings

Let’s talk hoops. Hoops are definitely making their way back, and I hear no complaints. They are simple, easy, and modish. Remember the denim-on-denim look I just mentioned? Picture that with a slick back ponytail and hoops. Furthermore, those little pieces of jewelry just elevated that outfit another notch.

5—Button-ups

Please tell me you’ve seen all the dashing ways that you can enhance your button-ups? First of all, you can make it into an off-the-shoulder piece. Second, you can tie at the bottom of your top into a bow. There are so many blog posts out there showing you how to elevate your button-ups. Adding a button-up with a twist to it is the perfect way to take your outfits to the next level.

You can find all these styles in some of your favorite stores like Zara, Forever 21, and Nordstrom. Having these go-to pieces will help you mix and match many different items and seriously make your outfit planning so much easier.

Are you going to add any of these pieces to your wardrobe and start elevating your looks? Tag @Cfashionista in your posts when you do!

Additional photos by Lex Kelly and Kelly Rogowski.

4 Key Wardrobe Pieces to Ease You Into Fall

Summer’s coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean style is. While it will be time to say goodbye to sandals and T-shirt dresses soon, fall staples that are just as cozy will take their place. The season of denim is here, and here’s what you need to rock it.

PHOTO: Cassidy Clark

1—A High-quality pair of jeans

Two of the biggest up-and-coming jeans trends are color-blocked and distressed denim. Pair these color-blocked jeans with a leather jacket, or try this distressed pair with a simple T-shirt.

PHOTO: Lex Kelley

2—A solid jean jacket

Denim jackets have been autumn staples for decades due to their practicality and style. Opt for a simple jean jacket like this one from Joe’s Jeans, or try integrating the aforementioned color-blocking style into outerwear with a jacket like this.

PHOTO: Cassidy Clark

3—A long vest

When it’s not too hot and not too cold, vests are the perfect accessory, and thus fall is their perfect season. It’s still too early for a full-on trench, but bring in that same level of elegance with a draping vest like this one. If you’re on the edgier side, try a vest like this one from Free People that boasts undertones of biker jacket.

PHOTO: Lex Kelley

4—A practical backpack

For those of us who are starting back at university this fall, this is obviously a must. However, a good backpack is a necessity for any age; it’s one of the most practical and fashionable ways to lug around a bunch of stuff. Try this Fjallraven Kanken backpack, pictured above, or a similar one like this North Face classic.

PHOTO: Michelle Szczech

While denim will dominate the next few months, don’t forget it’s okay to slip other materials in just as often. Show us your favorite fall looks, with denim or without, on social media, and don’t forget to tag us @CFashionista!

Why Wide-Leg Pants Are Still Trending

Unless you have been living under a rock recently, you have surely spotted the wide-leg pant trend everywhere. From street style influencers like Bella Hadid to the runways of dozens of designers, wide-leg pants have been a huge trend for the past few seasons. While some trends tend to be short-lived, the wide-leg pants have key factors going for them that indicate they are a classic in the making. Check out why wide-leg pants are the staple you should be buying right now.

1—They balance classic with modern. Although recent designers are certainly putting a modern spin on the wide-leg pant, this style is nothing new. Throwing it back to the ’70s with elephant pants, the wide-leg style has reinvented itself time and time again. Current wide-leg pant styles are both trendy and practical and are sure to have your friends deeming you the “stylish one.” Try a black wide-leg pant for a classic look, or spice it up with a patterned fabric.

2—They work well with other current trends. While there are dozens of ways to style wide-leg pants, one of their biggest assets is their versatility with other trends. Cropped wide-leg pants work wonderfully with this season’s trendy sock boot. Pairing wide-leg pants with a wide corset belt is a match made in style heaven while opting for a trendy crop top adds a chic and practical element to the pant.

3—They can be dressed up or down. Whether you need a professional outfit for your internship or just want to look on-trend, wide-leg pants have a varied fit for any style need. For a business casual look, pair a simple wide-leg pant with a tucked-in white blouse and heels. If you are feeling a more casual ensemble, pair a wide-leg jeans with a T-shirt-style cropped top and mules.

Whether you are dressing to impress for that internship or simply want to rock the street style look that all of your favorite models seem to be donning, adding a wide-leg pant to your wardrobe this season is a practical and classic way to be versatile.

How are you rocking the wide-leg pant trend? Comment below or tag @CFashionista on social media!

How to Wear a Cape Coat This Fall

As autumn approaches and the blazing heat of summer starts to gently fade away, our wardrobes face a new trans-seasonal challenge. Dressing for fall is inherently difficult. It requires our clothing to work double duty as we start to think about appropriate back to school outfits as well as keep the season’s unpredictable weather in mind. One way to tackle this tricky style dilemma is to invest in a lightweight cover-up such as a duster jacket, wrap cardigan or in this case, the humble cape.

While it’s a classic piece, a cape comes with its share of pitfalls and isn’t always the easiest to style. So, if you are going to take the plunge, rebel against the sage advice of Edna Mode and invest in a cape. I would recommend choosing a design that will stand the test of time. Pick a muted monochromatic tone that will go with everything in your current wardrobe and stay away from bright clashing shades. The unique silhouette of the cape itself makes the garment a stand out piece all by itself, so there’s no need for loud colors on top of that as well. The cape I am wearing is from H&M.

Similarly, proportion plays a huge role in styling an outfit around a cape. A baggy cape tends to look better if the rest of the outfit is fitted and the bottom half of the outfit is kept minimal. In this example, I have worn a fitted T-shirt from H&M tucked into a slightly flared skirt from Forever 21 to highlight my waist and give my body shape. Considering that all of the attention is directed towards my top half, I decided to keep my shoes plain by wearing flats, also from Forever 21.

Another thing to keep in mind when styling a cape is accessories. Due to the unique way the sleeves are sewn into the main body of the fabric, it can be uncomfortable wearing a back pack with a cape. Switch this for a large handbag instead so the sleeves are free to drape correctly. Also when it comes to jewelry, less is more. Keep the attention on the top of the body and opt for a chunky statement necklace or earrings to add an unexpected edge to an otherwise minimalistic look.

Will you be adding a cape into your fall wardrobe? Let me know in the comments section below.

The Must-Have Shoe for Back to School

With summer winding down, there comes the exciting time of picking our back-to-school wardrobe! In addition to some new clothes, I like to pick out a pair of shoes that will be my back-to-school staple. More often than not it is a boot, but this year I have been drawn to a different style of shoe: the flat mule.

From high-end designers to more budget-friendly brands, mules are everywhere. Moreover, they come in all sorts of styles, prints, and colors. Additionally, they are available at a variety of prices, so it is easy to find the perfect pair. When I saw these Sam Edelman Studded Mules, it was love at first sight; I knew they were going to be my fall staple. I went for this black pair with a subtle stud detail for multiple reasons.

1—They can go with pretty much everything. The flat mule is an incredibly versatile style of shoe. You can wear it casually to class with a pair of boyfriend jeans and a graphic T-shirt, or maybe on a date with a midi skirt and an off-the-shoulder top. You can even wear them in a professional setting with a slim-leg trouser and a blazer!

2—I love a black shoe with a pointed tip. While my pair is understated, another more detailed style of mules I love look like loafers but in mule form, like this pair. Moreover, the loafer detailing, which often includes tassels, can add more flair to the outfit and make more of a statement. Therefore, mules are a wonderful addition to a fashionable return to your campus.

What are some your must-haves for back to school? Let me know in the comments below!

Fall Fashion Essentials

For lots of us, the end of August means the end of summer. We pack up our rooms at home and make the transition to going back to school. As summer ends, fall begins and we leave our pool days in bikinis behind for bonfires wrapped in blankets. We also leave our summer wardrobes behind for fresh new fall ones. It can be tough when deciding what to pack versus what to leave behind, but below are six pieces that I don’t even hesitate to throw in the suitcase.

Jean Jacket

You’ll find yourself pairing this jacket with just about any outfit you throw together; its versatility is my favorite part about it. It’s perfect for layering!

Ripped Jeans

Whether you dress them up with a fur vest and booties, or down with an over-sized sweater and converse, you can’t go wrong with ripped jeans.

Knee-High Socks

This fashion trend is one that I’ve been sporting for years. Not only are knee-highs the way that I stay warm during the fall months, but they add so much to an outfit. You can bunch them up when paired with booties, pull them over the knee when paired with knee-high boots, or hide them underneath your outfit completely if you’re just trying to keep warm.

Booties

We can’t forget about our feet! For a night out, booties are the perfect option. A closed toe and thick heel make walking much more comfortable and keep your feet out of the cold. This makes booties so functional and fashionable!

Suede Skirt

For the girls’ nights out, this skirt is the perfect pairing with your booties. The color and texture of the skirt give it a fall feel, while still giving you the option of showing off your legs. You can throw tights on underneath or your knee-high socks to hide some skin for the colder temps.

Leather Satchel

Some girls switch up their bags depending on the season and some like to keep it the same throughout the whole year. Regardless of which girl you are, a leather satchel is the perfect way to go. Especially for fall, leather is the best move because of its water/weather resistant quality and its tendency to match almost every outfit.

My favorite part of fall has to be the fashion that comes along with it. I love the versatility of my essentials. Balancing school, work, and a social life sometimes leaves us with very little time to focus on fashion so the items on this list make it quick and easy to get ready and go. Enjoy the beauties of summer while they last. Before you know it, they’ll be fading away and it’ll be time to say hello to all of the beauties fall has to offer, especially its fashion.

I’m always looking for more to add to this list of essentials so let me know your favorite fall-time pieces in the comment section below!

5 Ways to Start Your School Year Off With Confidence

Ready or not, it’s that time of the year! That time that comes around so fast, we blink our eyes and summer is over. We all dread it, but certainly can’t avoid it: it’s back to school time. For most, those words make you cringe and the thought of hearing your alarm go off at 6:30 a.m. every morning is traumatizing. So, why not prepare yourself so that you can ring in the new year feeling fresh and prepared? I’m here to give you a list of five ways to start off your school year with confidence!

1—A killer wardrobe. Make back to school shopping fun by searching for the perfect new style. Don’t be afraid to switch it up and go for a new look. I have always firmly believed that you can wear anything you want as long as you wear it with confidence. I suggest picking up a pair of statement pants, as I’m wearing in the pictures. Palazzo pants like the ones I’m wearing are super comfy, all while looking extra trendy, making for the perfect back to school clothing essential.

2—A simple everyday makeup routine. Why not spice up your natural face and bring out your best qualities? Having a go-to look makes mornings much easier and allows you to feel confident when strutting through the halls. My current favorite makeup trend is a bright, orange crease color, as featured in my pictures. This shade makes blue or green eyes pop and blends with your base color flawlessly. Say goodbye to your tired morning face and find a routine that works for you!

3—A planner. It’s no secret that the best way to stay on top of everything is to organize your life. The ultimate trick to this is using a planner. You can lay out what needs to get done every day and prepare for what’s to come. Planning makes for a stress-free school year. So find a fun planner that will be pleasing to look at every day!

4—Popping accessories. Whether this is a cute new backpack or a statement necklace, be sure to add accessories to your back to school list. These simple items create excitement for heading back to school by spicing up your outfit and adding confidence! In my look, I styled a huge trend at the moment: tassel earrings. I often reach for them because big earrings are in and top off any look. Don’t be afraid to start a new trend by accessorizing your outfit.

5—A new signature scent. Everybody has their go-to lotion/perfume duo, so try switching it up this year and wait for the compliments to roll in. Who doesn’t love a good smelling scent? Amaze all your peers and find a bomb new combination to boost your self-esteem as you walk into that classroom!

What will your first-day outfit include? Show us on social media and be sure to tag @CFashionista.