Music – CollegeFashionista

How to Curate the Perfect Vinyl Collection

Over the past few years, vinyl records have been making a huge comeback. Now, even Urban Outfitters sells them alongside various types of record players. If you too want to start a vinyl collection, but don’t know where to start, follow these simple steps to curate the perfect vinyl collection for you.

First thing’s first, what genres of music do you like and when do you find yourself listening to music? If you can narrow your search down to what you like, you will have an easier time sifting through the hundreds of records once you get to the shop. For me, I found that I typically go for the alternative rock and new folk genres. Also, I tend to listen to music when I am relaxing (in which case I listen to more calming music) or when I am getting ready for my day (which then I would listen to albums to help me wake up in the morning).

Once you know what you like to listen to, you can now begin searching for a local record store. By simply searching for “record stores in the area” on the Internet, you can find different stores nearby and spend a day exploring them to see if they have the records you are looking for. And trust me, you’ll want to spend all day looking through those records.

Next, after you’ve acquired the perfect vinyl collection, it is time to find a place to put them. There are many types of shelves, and racks that hold record players, speakers, and vinyl. But, if you don’t want to go that route, storing them in cute, little crates works just as well! Also, they are super easy to find, making it such a simple way to store your new collection.

At last, you can now turn your record player on and experience the new tunes from your collection. Enjoy!

What album is on the top of your vinyl list? Let me know in the comments below!

Meet the Legends Behind Your Band T-Shirts

“Hey, nice Metallica shirt… name three songs.” If you’ve been personally victimized by this statement, you’ve come to the right place. Band T-shirts have been huge in casual fashion for the past couple of years. Personally, I’m a big fan of the movement, but the problem is that too many people are purchasing these T-shirts without actually knowing the band. I’m here to fix that. By the end of this article, you will be able to pass the dreaded three song test if someone comes up to you and asks about your shirt.

1一Led Zeppelin. Led Zeppelin IV is known to be one of the most influential albums in rock music. The band was formed in 1968 and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. The museum’s biography states that they were perhaps as influential during the ’70s as the Beatles were in the ’60s. Here are three songs: “When The Levee Breaks,” “Black Dog,” and “Whole Lotta Love.”

2一The Beatles. The Beatles are arguably the greatest band of all time. The band was formed in Liverpool in 1960 by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They were so popular that the fandom was referred to as “Beatlemania.” Here are three songs: “Come Together,” “Oh! Darling,” and “Penny Lane.”

3一The Rolling Stones. Everyone loves that iconic lip T-shirt, but do half of the people rocking it know the rock behind it? The Rolling Stones were formed in London in 1962 and grew to be one of the most successful rock bands in history. Their “A Bigger Band Tour” is the second highest grossing tour of all time behind U2. Here are three songs: “Beast of Burden,” “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’,” and “Gimme Shelter.”

4一Grateful Dead. Grateful Dead is known for its terrapins, bears, and skulls. In 1965, this group from California gave birth to possibly the greatest jam band in history. They’re still kicking and are currently touring the world with John Mayer on guitar. Here are three songs: “Casey Jones,” “Sugar Magnolia,” and “Touch Of Grey.”

5一Pink Floyd. Pink Floyd started in 1965 playing the underground music scene in London. After gaining popularity, they continued on to be one of the most famous rock bands of all time known for their live performances, deep, philosophical lyrics, and sonic experimentation. Here are three songs: “Wish You Were Here,” “Time,” and “Another Brick In The Wall, Pt. 2.”

6一Joy Division. The iconic post-punk album “Unknown Pleasures” is all over T-shirts. With the suicide of singer Ian Curtis, the band only lasted a little under four years. The small amount of music they were able to put out is still widely famous and lives on as an influence for modern music. Here are three songs: “Disorder,” “Ceremony,” and “Love Will Tear Us Apart.”

Do you have a favorite band T-shirt? Show me how you style it on Instagram! Don’t forget to tag @CFashionista.

Tips and Tricks for Making Perfect Summer Playlists

Now that it’s officially summer, it’s time to break out your headphones for a morning run and dust off your speakers for a pool party with friends. The world is now full of life and so are your playlists. Yet, it can still be a little difficult to sift through new releases in pursuit of finding the perfect new song to jam out to. Here are some tips and tricks for discovering new tunes that fit your tastes and provide good summer vibes.

My recommendation for finding new songs is to be openminded and explore the many music sources open to you. Check out Spotify’s playlists, particularly its “New Music Friday” playlist that features new releases for the week. Also, tune into college radio stations to discover some lesser known underground/indie songs. Who knows, maybe you’ll fall in love with the world’s next big artist! Another great way to amp up your summer playlists is to ask friends to share their playlists with you. Sharing is caring, and you might find interest in a genre you never knew you’d like.

In need of inspiration? These are some of my new favorite songs from my summer playlists:

“This Song” by RAC, Rostam – Awaken your inner party-goer with these driving dance beats.
“Stoned On You” by Jaymes Young – These smooth vocals and relaxing beats are perfect for lounging by the pool or chilling inside on a rainy summer day.
“Atlantis (feat. Kaiydo)” by Bridgit Mendler, Kaiydo – With its soothing electronic sounds, Atlantis adds a chill vibe to any pop playlist.
“Good Morning – PINES Remix” by Grouplove, PINES – This fun remix will brighten your mood and put a smile on your face.
“Freak Like Me” by NoMBe – Bluesy with modern electronic sounds, Freak Like Me is the perfect song to make you feel confident, strong, and ready to tackle the day with style.
“Feels Like Summer” by Weezer – Weezer’s new summer hit is sure to make you want to party at the beach all night and take in all those warm summer feelings.
“Vacation” by Dirty Heads – Nothing depicts the freedom of summer better than this new pop reggae hit.
“Instant Crush” by Palais, Your Girl Pho – This song is fun, flirty, upbeat, and a fitting tune to soundtrack your nightly dates with that special someone.

Listen to the music that will make you look back at this summer with warm nostalgia. Make sure to craft playlists that fit your summer vibes, and most importantly, fill you with joy.

What songs do you think are summer playlist must-haves? Let me know in the comments below!

San Francisco’s Must-See Summer of Love Exhibit

In honor of The Summer of Love’s 50th anniversary, San Francisco’s very own de Young museum is celebrating this historical event with a spectacular exhibition. I attended on the opening day, three hours before catching a plane ride home. For those who haven’t the slightest idea of what the Summer of Love is, don’t fret. I’ll be guiding you through the museum’s immersive experience, and how the iconic Summer of Love affected history itself.

So, what is the Summer of Love? In 1967, as many as 100,000 hippies gathered in San Fransisco. They showed off their eccentric fashion and behavior in Haight-Ashbury. They are known as the “Flower Children.” This group was not afraid to be themselves, protest for what they believed in, and create art. Go ahead and take a listen to “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)” by Scott McKenzie. This will give you an idea of the culture that the flower children created in San Francisco.

The de Young museum displays include psychedelic rock posters, interactive light shows, music, and countless clothing items from the sixties. The clothing on display features vivid colors, unusual textures, and innovative designs. But what else would you expect from the sixties? The San Franciscan music, fashion, and art scene all influenced each other in an amazing way, making everything flow seamlessly together.

If you’ve read this article or seen the exhibit and feel inspired, getting the San Franciscan “Flower Child” look is easy. Just travel down to your nearest vintage store. Look out for embroidered peasant blouses, bell bottom jeans, and suede fringe jackets. If wearing old clothing doesn’t appeal to you, you’re in luck. Sixties style has influenced today’s fashion trends, and you can find hippie-inspired looks by countless brands.

But, embracing the Summer of Love movement doesn’t have to only be through fashion. In fact, that’s not what it’s truly about. It’s all about being creative, open-minded, and free-spirited. This summer, go out and create something that speaks to you!

Let me know in the comments below how you spent your Summer of Love!

Top 5 Artists That Should Be On Your Summer Playlist

I’m sure the annoyingly repetitive tweet “Summer of 2017 is going to be THE summer I can feel it.” has graced your timeline at least once since May. Well, I’ve got the top five artists you should you be listening to make this summer memorable.

1—SZA. Solána Imani Rowe, better known as SZA is an alternative R&B and neo soul artist on the rise. She just dropped her first studio album, CTRL (seen on the cover wearing overalls) earlier this month and it’s currently on repeat. The 26-year-old has everybody singing the lyrics to her song “The Weekend;” “My man is my man is your man, her, this her man too.”

2—Lion Babe. Lion Babe is the dynamic duo everyone should be on the look out for. I stumbled upon them one day after mindlessly scrolling through my Twitter feed and never looked back. The duo consists of singer Jillian Hervey and record producer Lucas Goodman. They’re sound can be described as electro soul and alternative R&B. They just released the song “Hit the Ceiling.”

3—BØRNS. BØRNS is an American singer and songwriter. You might know his song “Electric Love,” which was featured on the hit TV show The Flash. Although not recently, he released an album titled Dopamine. His melodic voice mixed with his psychedelic pop sounds are perfect for long road trips with your family or best friends.

4—Paramore. The group that’s been making music for your teenage angst since 2005. Paramore, if you’ve never had the pleasure of hearing them, is a punk pop group. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro. Their fifth studio album After Laughter recently dropped and it’s definitely worth listening to. The cover is decorated with crazy colors and each member wearing a specific color, Hayley can be seen wearing a cute red denim jacket.

5—Mac Demarco. McBriare Samuel Lanyon “Mac” DeMarco better known as just Mac DeMarco is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer from Canada. His music has been described as many different things: slacker rock, blue wave, and jizz jazz. However, if we’re using technical terms, it falls under the genre of indie rock and psychedelic rock. Mac never fails to entertain his listeners with his creative video ideas and lyrics. His style is described as hobo chic; you can always find Mac wearing his favorite red Vans wherever he goes. His most recent studio album is This Old Dog, which released May 5.

If you decide to check out these very talented artists let me know in the comments below and tell me what you liked or didn’t like about them!

How I Let Music Shape My Style

For those of us not going to any music festivals and are scrolling jealously through the feeds of those who are, we can still showcase our love for music. As for myself, I take a lot of my fashion inspiration from what I listen to. I might dress similarly to how my favorite singers dress or how their music makes me feel. If I’m in the mood to listen to Coldplay for instance, I’ll opt to wear something fun and colorful that day. As the genre of whatever I listen to always changes so does the style of clothing I wear.

First off, one of the easiest ways I express my love for both music and fashion is to wear a band T-shirt. I own several T-shirts adorned with my favorite bands and singers. I find them to be both stylish and comfortable. You can easily find them at the mall, thrift stores, or online. (I got this Florence + the Machine top from their official merchandise website).

The best part about T-shirts like these is that I can dress them up or down by how I style them. I opted for some blue high-waisted jeans. I also decided to wear some bright yellow platform sandals with the outfit to give the look some color. It turns my casual attire into something a little bit more dressed up. As for accessories, I am wearing a moon necklace and cat-eye sunglasses

Another way that I get inspired by music is to get outfit ideas from singers I like. Lately, it’s been Dua Lipa. She combines feminine pieces with sportswear. She keeps the hair simple and always wears a choker necklace. Whether I’m at a concert or just hanging out with friends, I still manage to weave music in my fashion choices.

Do you have anything that influences the way you dress? Let me know in the comments below!

A Fangirl’s Guide to Styling Merch

Being a fangirl and being fashion forward don’t always go hand in hand. I know this from personal experience. For my first ever One Direction concert, I chose to be in the presence of the five loves of my life while wearing a DIY cutoff tank top that was horribly tie-dyed and complete with a poorly placed, hand-painted infinity sign. Looking back, it was not my best look.

Ever since, wearing merch has been a bit of a struggle for me. I’m all for supporting my boys, but I find it hard to rock 1D merchandise without feeling like I’m 14 years old again and screaming along to “What Makes You Beautiful” live at the top of my lungs. So, to rep or not to rep? That is the question.

This shirt helped me to finally be able to answer with a yes. Written in a minimalistic red font, the phrase “Girl Almighty” is the title of my favorite One Direction song. But to anyone who hasn’t listened to Four, it’s just a simple graphic T-shirt. It’s cute enough to pass for everyday wear, but I can’t wear it without receiving knowing smiles from strangers. I’ve found that when it comes to merch, the more low-key it is, the more wearable it is. That being said, fan merch is having a major moment right now (think Justin Bieber’s Purpose Tour) so finding fashionable ways to rep your faves is starting to get easier.

To style my One Direction shirt, I decided to keep it simple in order to let the message shine. I rolled my sleeves and tucked the shirt into a pair of high-waisted denim shorts for a laid-back vibe. Next, I slipped on my go-to summer sneakers, checkered Vans. The only other statement piece I chose for my outfit was my mirrored sunglasses. Their rose tint played nicely off the rose on my T-shirt without stealing the show from my boys.

A look like this doesn’t just have to stay in the One Direction fandom. Once you find a stylish piece of merch you love, it’s easy to style a simple outfit around it so your favorite artist’s message shines through.

Who’s merch will you be repping this summer? Sound off in the comments below.

4 Must-Have Pool Day Essentials You’ll Need This Summer

Since I was young, I have always wanted a pool in my backyard. But, despite my never-ending pleas, I have yet to convince my dad. So until I get one, I pack up my bag and head to my friend’s pool. After years of having pool days, I have come up with a few key essentials to have the best pool day.

Sunburn is not cool, ladies. I’ll be the first one to admit that I feel more confident with a little bit of a tan. But, getting sunburnt is not the way to achieve the bronzed goddess look. Sunscreen is my number one pool and summer essential. I make it a note to always use SPF 30 or higher when I go outside. Contrary to popular belief, you can still get a nice summer tan while wearing sunscreen.

Those sweltering summer days can dehydrate a person pretty quickly, which makes water my next essential. One of my favorite things to drink in the summer is fruit infused water. I’ve tried strawberry, cucumber, and lemon, but there are a bunch of flavors to try. When I’m headed to the pool I always make sure to pour my water into an insulated water bottle. There are so many cute summer themed water bottles in the stores at the moment, it’s hard not to find one you like.

A cute pair of sunglasses is a must for any pool day. Sunglasses are important for the obvious reason of blocking out the sun, but they can also serve as a lifesaver in some situations. For example, they’re perfect for when your friends want to have an impromptu photo shoot and you forgot to wear waterproof mascara to the pool. That has happened to you, right? No? Just me? Okay, well this is awkward. Nevertheless, sunglasses serve a useful purpose and can complete any pool day look.

What’s a pool day without some good tunes? Music is by far my favorite pool day essential. Spotify is my go-to place for some amazing summer playlists. I tried Spotify premium last summer; in my opinion, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made.

Until next time, you can find me lounging on a pool float, drinking my fruit infused water, still trying to convince my dad to get a pool.

What’s your favorite pool day essential? Let us know in the comments below!

3 Bands You Need to See Live Now

If you’re anything like me, you love going to concerts and seeing how artists transform an album into a completely different experience for an audience. I’ve been to a good amount of concerts in my day and I have a running list of artists that left an amazing impression upon me. Here are my top three favorite performers, in ascending order, that I recommend you see as soon as you can, regardless of if you have even heard of them.

1—New Politics. New Politics, a “dance rock” band comprised of three male members, is a group that will definitely leave a lasting impression. The lead singer, David, has infinite amounts of energy and is known for standing on the crowd. Yes, you read that correctly. He goes into the crowd, pulls himself up to stand on the nearby outstretched hands, and continues to sing while, literally, being supported by his fans. Louis, the only member not from Denmark, is one of the best drummers I’ve ever seen. Søren is the guitarist and he supplies humor throughout the show. New Politics is currently on tour with 311 and The Skints.

2—Magic Giant. This indie-folk band from Los Angeles is a group that’s on the rise. What sets Magic Giant apart from any band I’ve ever seen perform is the love that radiates throughout the entire set. Not only do the three members dress like hippies, but they also are unable to stop showing love to the fans. At the show that I attended, the lead singer, Austin, went down into the crowd and started hugging people during the set and told everyone to hug one another. The positivity of all of the guys—Austin, Zang, and Zambricki—shows in the performances, and that’s something that just listening to an album may not portray.

3—Bishop Briggs. Bishop Briggs is my all-time favorite performer. She has the most incredible voice and hearing it live is a completely different experience than listening to her music at home. When Bishop comes on stage, all you see is a young girl (probably with either two braids or buns on her head) who is very shy and nervous. At the beginning of each song, however, her innocent smile fades away and a powerful, strong woman emerges who owns the stage, jumping around full of passion. Then, when the song ends, she’s back to the shy girl. I’ve never seen music transform a person’s disposition until I saw Bishop Briggs live. Her voice unleashes a totally different person. Not only is Bishop incredible, but her band is also a sight to behold. The band uses electronic instruments, and they are so passionate about the music. Every beat is accompanied with head bopping and swaying. I don’t think they look up from their instruments the entire show; they’re locked in. It’s intense. Bishop Briggs just wrapped up her first headlining tour, but I highly recommend buying a ticket for her next tour.

Who are your favorite performers? Let me know in the comments!

The Summer Soundtrack You’ve Been Looking For

We’ve all been there. Spending countless hours searching through our favorite streaming sites or through the most adorable record stores to find the best songs to listen to under the summer sun. Whether you’re sipping smoothies on a weekend beach vacation, relaxing in a hammock in your backyard, or taking a road trip with friends, we are always looking for great songs that can make those experiences all the more memorable.

Well look no further! I’ve fortunately done the research, and am more than happy to share my findings. Without further ado, here is my perfect summer soundtrack:

“Hard Times” – Paramore
“Daft Pretty Boys” – Bad Suns
“Lifted Up (1985)” – Passion Pit
“Radar Detector” – Darwin Deez
“Throw Shade” – CRUISR
“South” – Hippo Campus
“Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want” – She & Him
“American Money” – BØRNS
“How We Feel” – Panama
“Location” – Khalid
“It’s a Vibe” – 2 Chainz
“Doves in the Wind” – SZA

This playlist has a good mix of songs so bright, you instantly feel like you need to put on your favorite sunglasses. It features some lesser known artists, as well as some crowd favorites, in order to please every part of your musical palette.

These songs are great for belting out in your car or playing through your headphones during your morning commute. They are also great for listening to in the comfort of your own home. One of my favorite ways to listen to music is on vinyl! Not only are albums a great addition to any room’s aesthetic, but the sound is beautiful and is a great way to set the mood for a bonfire, lounging in the pool, or just staying in and reading a book. The best part is that you can also connect them to a wireless speaker to amplify the sound if you’re throwing a party or getting ready for a girls night out.

What are your favorite songs at the moment and what’s you favorite way to listen to them? Let me know in the comments below!