{"id":1156,"date":"2014-04-22T23:19:10","date_gmt":"2014-04-23T05:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cuchicago.edu\/spectator\/?p=1156"},"modified":"2014-04-22T23:19:10","modified_gmt":"2014-04-23T05:19:10","slug":"10-tips-on-fashion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/?p=1156","title":{"rendered":"10 Tips on Fashion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Niko Vercelletto\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking good in college can be hard. Like really hard. With essays, tests, sports teams, clubs, a job and a budget so low that you have to resort to stealing the candy your roommate keeps in his desk drawer (sorry, Peter), style is probably the last thing on your mind. Here are simple, and most important, free and cheap ways to finally get it together and improve your style this spring.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    \"fitted<\/a>Make Sure Your Clothes Are Properly Fitted<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Make sure that you are wearing clothes that fit you properly. The bottom of your pants should barely hit your ankles and your shirt should not be too small or too big. Check the shoulder seam to make sure it lines up where your shoulder meets your arm. Make sure it\u2019s not too short by holding our arms straight out in front of you. Go through your closet and see what fits and what doesn\u2019t and go from there.<\/span><\/p>\n

    A properly sized $6 t-shirt from Wal-Mart will look way better than a $50 improperly sized t-shirt from Banana Republic.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Bring Out That Color Wheel!<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Let me stop you right now. I know exactly what you are thinking. \u201cNiko\u2026what\u2019s a color wheel?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

      Wearing colors that look good together are key to good style, and there are different ways of doing it. Complimentary colors(like purple\/yellow), primary colors (yellow\/blue\/red), and different shades of the same color (light blue, navy) can all work. Janene Mascarella, Beauty and Style Director for Bella NYC Magazine and Parade Magazine columnist, says to challenge yourself with color. \u201cPick a new color each day of the week and somehow work it into your wardrobe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

      I have a color wheel taped in my closet next to my clothes and I follow it religiously. Find one, use it and abuse it.\"color-wheel\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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        Wear Clothes Made For Spring and Summer<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        I went to a social gathering this past semester in the middle of winter and around midnight, in walks this guy wearing dark blue jeans, black sneakers, and a white tank top. A tank top\u2026in the middle of winter.<\/span><\/p>\n

        I do not care how cute or good you think an outfit looks, wearing clothes that are meant for the opposite season you are in makes it look like you are trying too hard; there is a fine line between personal style and a fashion faux pas.<\/span><\/p>\n

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          Mix and Match<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          On that note, do not be afraid to mix and match different types of same-season clothing that may seem to not go together.<\/span><\/p>\n

          Wearing a polo? Throw on a black racing jacket to give the outfit a bit more edge. Trying to tone down a suit jacket? Put on a graphic t-shirt underneath for a refined look with a bit of grit. \u201cGet a little more daring with your pairings\u201d says Mascarella. \u201cThose two things in your closet you wouldn\u2019t dream of wearing [together], try [them] on and see if you can make it work.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

          Style is an experiment and you are the scientist. Look through your closet and combine different pieces until something clicks. You will be surprised by what looks good together.<\/span><\/p>\n

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            Raid Your Friend\u2019s Closet<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Hammy downs, especially from someone stylish, are a style guru\u2019s Christmas. You never know what you get and if you are able to choose what you receive, it is even better. <\/span><\/p>\n

            Pick a friend whose style you admire and shop their closet for things they do not want or have outgrown. If you are a woman, you probably borrow their clothes anyway so now you just need to make it official by asking to keep the pieces forever.<\/span><\/p>\n

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              Wear Clothes You Are Comfortable In<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              People try way too hard to be something they are not and they think other people don\u2019t notice. News flash: they always notice.<\/span><\/p>\n

              If you are comfortable wearing preppy clothes, do not start wearing biker jackets and t-shirts with skulls on them because it is the latest trend. If you love wearing band tank tops and tees in the summer, do not start shopping at Ralph Lauren. \u201cYour personal style is what really matters and it\u2019s as unique as your signature,\u201d notes Mascarella. \u201cNothing is more stylish than confidence.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

              At the end of the day, the man (or woman) makes the clothes, not the other way around.<\/span><\/p>\n

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                Don\u2019t Be Scared of Color<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                For my high school graduation party, I broke my previous tip and I wore red jeans that I was not comfortable with at all. It was not my normal style and people noticed. It was uncomfortable, embarrassing, and I promised myself I would stick with black and blue jeans forever. <\/span><\/p>\n

                Two years later and those same red jeans are my go-to pair, especially for crisp, sunny days in the spring. Go through your closet, find a few pieces that are colorful, and center your outfit on one. What colors are best for the spring? <\/span><\/p>\n

                \u201cPastels are really in this spring \u2013 minty green, baby blues and pale yellow. I say go for softer shades; they are so flattering for guys and girls,\u201d shares Mascarella. <\/span><\/p>\n

                When I throw on my fitted blue polo with khakis, navy blue boat shoes (shades, remember?),\u00a0a pair of Ray-Bans and a simple watch, I usually get compliments.<\/span><\/p>\n

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                  Target Is Trendy.\"target-2013\"<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  When I first started getting into fashion, I thought style involved spending $60 on a t-shirt, but unless it is woven with unicorn hair, it isn\u2019t worth it.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  Recently, budget stores like Target and JCPenney have really stepped up their game in the style department (seriously) and they should be the go to place for college students on a budget, especially if there are sales going on. <\/span><\/p>\n

                  Mascarella also endorses Target. \u201cStores like Target are great for your wardrobe staples like black leggings, tights, tanks and blue jeans. Saving money is always on trend, so there\u2019s no shame in shopping the chain retailers \u2013 it\u2019s smart!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

                  A couple of things about those sales at Target: If a price ends in an 8, wait to buy it, as it will be marked down again. If it ends in a 4, snag it. The price will not go any lower. Also, Target has consistent sales every week. Women\u2019s clothing normally goes on sale Tuesdays and men\u2019s clothing on Wednesdays.<\/span><\/p>\n

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                    Clearance is Awesome<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    Please, for the love of everything that is beautiful, do not pass the clearance section by.\u00a0Do you know why the clearance section is always in the back of the store? Because you have to walk past all the expensive clothes to get to it.<\/span><\/p>\n

                    That nice polo you see on the mannequin as soon you walk in? You can almost always find a similar item in the clearance section for at least 20% less all the way up to half off. If you shop on a sale day, those prices are marked down even more. That $120 pair of shoes you were eyeing? A similar pair is $30 in clearance. <\/span><\/p>\n

                    What is the secret to shopping clearance? \u201cAsk. You know that sales person who asks if there\u2019s anything she can help you with? Say yes. Ask them what recently went on sale that she recommends,\u201d says Mascarella.<\/span><\/p>\n

                    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a010. Buy Your Clothes In Season<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

                    Stores are constantly marketing clothes for the coming season, not the current one.<\/span><\/p>\n

                    Always wait until the day that the season starts to buy clothes for that season. The start of spring is when you buy spring clothing. It goes into clearance because the stores are putting everything out for the upcoming summer season. Wear the clothes when the seasons tell you, not when the clothing company tells you.<\/span><\/p>\n

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                    And that\u2019s it. Following these tips are a good jumping off point, and in college you don\u2019t need much more than that. You can start thinking about designer labels once you have graduated and have a steady paycheck coming in (just promise me you will still shop clearance). While these tips are the main things you should worry about when it comes to style, here are some quickie style tips for the nitty gritty.<\/span><\/p>\n

                    Quickie, Cheap Style Tips:<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
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                    1. You can\u2019t have elegance without elimination. Having only 10 pieces of clothing you wear all the time is better than having 100 pieces you never wear. It\u2019s wasteful and takes up a crap ton of space.<\/span><\/li>\n
                    2. Bouncing off the previous tip, take care of your clothes. Only towels, bed sheets, and underwear need to be washed in hot water. Laundry detergent is so much more powerful than it was even ten years ago, and it is not only cheaper to wash your clothes in warm water (cold is even better), but it will help them last a lot longer too.<\/span><\/li>\n
                    3. Never buy trend pieces unless you score a killer clearance deal. I hear bell bottom jeans are coming back. Don\u2019t let them come back.<\/span><\/li>\n
                    4. When a formal occasion comes up, wear black socks. I know that pretty much everyone wears white athletic socks for pretty much everything next to a wedding, but they have the word athletic in them for a reason. Wear them to the gym and nowhere else. You can buy 12 pairs of black socks for $10 on Amazon so there is really no excuse. <\/span><\/li>\n
                    5. Don\u2019t be a label whore. Wearing too much from any designer store (even knock-offs) conveys the image of trying way too hard and being high maintenance. Wearing sunglasses from Dolce & Gabbana does not make you classy. Don\u2019t hide behind the labels; personal style is sexier and classier than any label that will ever exist.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                      Written by Niko Vercelletto\u00a0 Looking good in college can be hard. Like really hard. With essays, tests, sports teams, clubs, a job and a budget so low that you have to resort to stealing the candy your roommate keeps in his desk drawer (sorry, Peter), style is probably the last thing on your mind. Here […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-life-culture"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1156"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1156\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}