Stylish Students

Hi Everyone!

Today I wanted to share with you all my favorite products of 2018 that would make great gifts for this upcoming holiday season!

1. Gold Hoops From Target

These chunky hoops are such a staple! They are not too big and can be worn daily, and they are also so affordable! I love mine and although they are inexpensive they are great quality and have not tarnished. They are super lightweight which is important to me because I hate heavy earrings as they are not good for your ears. They are a perfect addition to a secret Santa gift!

2. Fenti Beauty Foundation

Rihanna’s foundation that has been praised by so many bloggers, celebrities, and beauty gurus for its span of forty different foundation shades has been my favorite beauty product this year. It has such a smooth finish that looks so natural and never looks caked on no matter how much you apply. Foundation is incredibly hard to get for someone else because you may not know their shade, but Sephora makes this easier. If you go online or in-store they allow you to compare one’s old foundation (no matter the brand) to any other one in-store (including Fenti), which is how I found my shade.

3. Drawstring PJ Pants

If the person you are buying a gift for is always wearing leggings, these are the perfect pants to buy them! They are between joggers and leggings so they are not extremely tight nor as lose as sweatpants. I love receiving comfy clothes for the holidays because I always end up wearing them all the time! These pants are also so soft and come in three different colors (black, grey, and pink), my favorite is the black pair because they look just like my black leggings but I can wear them on days where I don’t want to wear tight fitting clothes.

4. Scrunchies

Scrunchies had their comeback this year and I couldn’t be more happy about it. They are the perfect accessory and they also have a purpose! They are usually inexpensive and come in so many different patterns and fabric. They are better for your hair and also cuter than normal hair ties. My favorite scrunchie is my cheetah print one that I got from Princess Polly Boutique, it’s so trendy and I love the velvet material.

I hope you all have an amazing holiday season and spend time with all of your family and friends!

🙂

Jess

Name: Ruby Hodges

Age: 18

Hometown: London, Switzerland, and New Jersey

School: Chapman University

Major: Undeclared

How has your background influenced your style?

“I have traveled to a lot of places around the world, and my family is from Europe so I often travel there. I’ve lived in Switzerland and London, both have really influenced my style. It’s very different than American style, and everyone tries to look their best all the time. Just walking around in London everyone always looks put together, no one really wears sweatshirts or leggings. My family moved to New Jersey where I lived for the majority of my life and the style there is completely different than it is in Europe. How I dressed changed when I moved to the United States because of those around me. Most of my peers chose comfortability over trendiness, so I also did this as well. However, when I moved to California my style changed again as people are more trendy here than in NJ. I started to look cute for class and started putting more effort into my appearance.”

Who influences your style?

“Definitely Zendaya! I have always admired her and followed her on social media. I sometimes find myself looking at her Instagram to find inspiration for my outfits. I also watch Emma Chamberlain and Summer Mckeen on YouTube for outfit ideas and often purchase clothes that they talk about in their videos. I think my style is pretty similar to theirs and I usually love their outfits.”

What’s your staple item in your closet? Why?

“My black belt with stars on it from Brandy Melville! I wear it every time I go out and it matches with most of my outfits. I also love the rings that I’ve worn since the start of high school, I never take them off and when I do I feel like I’m missing something.”

Do you like to share your clothes?

“I surprisingly do like to share clothes! I love to wear my friend’s clothes, so it would be hypocritical for me not to share mine. Most of my friends have a similar style to me, so it’s nice to mix it up sometimes with their pieces. I make sure they eventually return my stuff to me though…as long as they’re respectful about it I don’t care at all!”

What has been your favorite trend?

“I like color blocking because I think it’s really trendy and I like to wear a lot of colors. I don’t like to have boring outfits, so I like to spice them up with cool patterns like stripes and checkered pieces.”

What’s your favorite store?

“Urban Outfitters! They have pieces for everyone and every event. Whether it is a school dance or just an everyday outfit they have an option. I always find what I’m looking for when I’m there. I love their jewelry as well! They always change their inventory, and their sale section is always changing. It might be a little bit more pricey than similar stores but the quality is so much better.

The fashion world is undoubtedly materialistic is many aspects, however, there are many brands that give back to those in need. There are many companies that give proceeds from their merchandise to charities that positively help others. It is important to remember that many people cannot afford the luxury of purchasing new clothes or trendy accessories, and these brands acknowledge that sentiment. I have listed a few products from companies that do this below, and I hope you check them out and considering purchasing an item if you can. These products are not only stylish, as they also serve a greater purpose.

1. Louis Vuitton for UNICEF

This expensive luxury retailer began a campaign that donated $200 of each bracelet included in the #MAKEAPROMISE campaign to UNICEF; a charity with a mission to support vulnerable children around the world. Louis Vuitton created a silver locket pendant as well as a bracelet to represent their devotion to help children. The company also encourages direct donations from their employees, clients, and partners throughout the year.

To learn more about the partnership between Louis Vuitton and UNICEF go to-

https://www.unicef.org/corporate_partners/index_89777.html

2.  Lokai Bracelets

This brand promotes so many different charities and has a different design for each one. Their most popular charity bracelets support the Alzheimer’s Association, Make a Wish, Oceana, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and RED. My favorite Lokai bracelet has a camo design and supports the World Wildlife Foundation. There are so many different options for all different charities and they also are inexpensive at $18 per bracelet. It is such an easy way to give back, and you also get a cute accessory that has meaning!

3. Ivory Ella

With over 1.6 million dollars donated to saving elephants as well as other charitable organizations, Ivory Ella has truly made an impact. Their clothing brand has so many different items available including tops, joggers, bralettes, accessories, etc. Their trendy pieces have been popular among teenagers, which is so awesome because with every purchase a percentage is donated! My favorite item of theirs is their dark grey dorm joggers, they are so comfortable and cozy.

 

I hope you consider donating to a charity of your choice or purchasing an item from one of the brands above. Especially with the upcoming holiday season, it is so important to give back to those in need.

 

🙂

Jess

Hello Everyone!

Many of my readers are from my hometown in Connecticut or are Chapman University students. Either way, there is a beach nearby even if it is currently fifty degrees in CT, summertime is only seven months away! I have gone to the beach so many times since being in California and I have finally perfected my beach outfit. Jules at Sincerely Jules posted a “What to Wear to the Beach” blog post at https://sincerelyjules.com/what-to-wear-to-the-beach/ in which she detailed her favorite pieces she wore to the beach in the Hamptons. I have a few staples that coincide with Jules’s tips, but my suggestions are more budget friendly.

Jules highlighted her two priorities for her beach outfit,” I always try to wear something to the beach that serves two purposes: laying out & afterwards grabbing lunch”. I feel the same way as I always end up grabbing food at a restaurant after a long day at the beach, and I want to look cute and be comfortable! She suggested throwing on a denim jacket instead of a beach coverup for a more put together look, and the one she has linked is around $100. I love this denim jacket from Forever 21 that I’ve had for the past year, it is lightweight and stylish- perfect for the beach! She also suggested that you should wear a bandeau top to match with a pair of shorts or a skirt. I love this idea, and it is my go-to whenever I go to the beach. I have this tube top in a few different colors, and I often wear my white and black ones when I’m going to the beach. It’s $20 and I have gotten so much use out of every color I have! They are long enough where I feel comfortable wearing them in a restaurant, but they’re also laid back and casual enough for the beach. They can be dressed up with a cute skirt, I love the one Jules raved about here, it is definitely an investment but it is so adorable with a bandeau or tube top. I also found a skirt similar to that one here that is under $20. I love to wear denim high wasted shorts to the beach, and recently found my favorite pair thanks to the YouTuber Maggie MacDonald. They are from Zara and are the perfect length and price, and the rips do not budge even after many washes.  They would look amazing with the tube top I linked above, and are another option if you don’t want to wear a skirt! The bikini Jules linked was a scalloped black matching set that has been trending recently; the one that she tagged is around $150 and I don’t like to invest in my bikinis because I can always find one I like equally as much for way cheaper. There are many bikinis for sale with the same look, and I just found this one on clearance from Abercrombie and Fitch for only $17! Jules shared that she always wears a straw hat to the beach to cover face from the sun, I usually just stick to my favorite pair of sunglasses instead. I think fun sunglasses are a must whenever you are making a trip to the beach and it makes it easy to add a personal touch to your outfit. I also love to wear gold hoop earrings that can be found for a great price at Forever 21 and other fast fashion retailers! I never wear expensive jewelry to the beach because I’m afraid to lose it to the ocean.

Have fun in the sun!

🙂

Jess

Happy Halloween!

For the past week, many of my conversations with friends have revolved around what we are going to dress up as for Halloween weekend. I needed more than one costume as we knew we were going to go out a few different nights, and we wanted to wear something new each time. Buying four whole costumes is expensive so we came up with a few ideas to save money, and I highlighted them all in the infographic below. I listed a few ideas and I hope that they save you from spending a lot for only a few nights of the year. Coming up with costume ideas is so much fun and there is no reason to spend a lot! I know it is so easy to get caught up in the moment at a store and end up spending more than you wanted to, but there are plenty of tips and tricks that will let you look cute on a budget.

I hope my tips helped you guys save money for the upcoming holiday! Halloween is so much fun and it’s an awesome time to dress up and have fun with friends. With a few staple items and some inexpensive accessories, you can get the perfect look on a budget. I am currently writing this in my unicorn costume that I’m going out in tonight! I decided to wear the same black skirt I wore in my devil costume and borrowed a black sparkly top from my roommate. A girl in my hall also had glitter for one of her costumes, and she is letting me borrow it for tonight! With so many students dressing up, you are bound to find someone to let you borrow something and in return, you can help them out as well! I hope you guys have a fun and safe Halloween!

 

🙂

Jess

I attended Wilton Public Schools in Wilton, CT for all thirteen years of my education, and it was an extremely difficult but rewarding experience. It is rated as one of the top public schools in the United States and has been recognized nationally for various achievements. The teachers are all well qualified and most have a passion for teaching, however, nothing is ever perfect and Wilton does have its faults.

When I was in middle school, I began to recognize that there were some unfair rules and policies within the district. The school’s dress code was outdated and sexualized women’s bodies. In eighth grade, at age thirteen I was told that because my bra strap was showing I would have to either have my Mom bring me in a different shirt or change into my gym t-shirt. Being a young teenager is already overwhelming and stressful as everyone is trying to fit in with their peers, and I did not want to have to wear my gym shirt for the rest of the day. Both of these options affected my learning more than my “distracting” bra strap could have affected other students and faculty. My school’s reasoning for my need to change was that it disrupted male students learning and impaired my male teachers’ ability to teach. If the second reason held true, then these teachers should not be around teenagers to begin with as that is predatory and makes me extremely uncomfortable. As for the first reason, schools should be teaching acceptance instead of promoting the idea that a women’s education is less important than a mans’.

My experience of being dress coded at school is one of thousands across schools in the United States. My roommate Sara attended a private Catholic high school in the Los Angeles area; the students were all female and had to wear a uniform consisting of a skirt and polo shirt. Some students chose to make their skirts a little bit shorter than the abnormally long one that was given to them. It is understandable that a private school would want consistency among the student’s attire, however, the schools reasoning for not allowing the shortening of their skirts was that it distracted the male faculty. My question is: If a male member of the faculty suggested that he was looking at a female student’s body in a sexual way- wouldn’t that be extremely concerning and make you question his character? Why instead blame the student for wanted to add a bit of individuality into their uniform? One of Sara’s (male) teachers mentioned to her psychology class that none of the male teachers had made a remark about being distracted by a student’s appearance, and if they did it would be creepy and questionable. Why is it so acceptable to make female students feel shamed for showing their bodies?

This promotes a cycle of victim blaming as women are so often asked “what were you wearing” in cases of sexual assault. A women’s clothing or lack of does not give men permission to sexualize their bodies and objectify them. Women’s bodies are not distractions for men, and they in no way are entitled to view them as such. Schools in the United States should be valuing a girl’s education and prioritize their learning over their style choices. Dress coding makes students uncomfortable in a place where they should be ready to learn. Girls should be worried about their upcoming assignments, not whether or not a teacher is distracted by their physical appearance.

 

Love style? If your answer is a YES, I’m sure you have noticed these items becoming more popular this year.

1. Checkered Vans

Van’s used to be worn only by skaters but now they are seen everywhere. They are super comfortable and can be worn with any casual outfit. I love the black and white checkered pair because they spice up any plain outfit without being overpowering. Even though I’ve never touched a skateboard in my life, I own at least five pairs of this style of shoe. I have seen them all over campus lately, and the checkered pair defiantly became a trend in 2018. Before this specific pair was popular, I usually only saw the pure white slip-on Vans. However, now more people are branching out and wearing different styles.

2. Vintage High Wasted Boyfriend Jeans

Skinny Jeans are no longer the go-to pair of jeans as boyfriend jeans have taken the fashion world by storm. They are much more comfortable than tight suffocating denim, and they are so much fun to style. Finding a vintage pair of Levis at a trendy thrift store or on Etsy has become a popular activity; you can easily make rips in them yourself to personalize them to your liking. Pro Tip– the sizing on vintage denim is almost always different than the size you normally are, make sure to try them on in person before buying a pair.

3.  Nike Air Force 1

I have seen so many pairs of Air Force 1’s recently around campus, before coming to Chapman I had no idea how popular these shoes have become. The ones I often see are the all-white pair, however, when I bought mine recently I decided to change it up and get the pair with a red Nike swoosh. I love how versatile they are which surprised me as I was worried basketball sneakers would be outside of my comfort zone. I wear them with boyfriend jeans, leggings, and even dressier outfits when I want to have a more casual look. In the past, mainly men were wearing these types of sneakers, but it’s really awesome to see more inclusive trends in the fashion industry. However, usually, these shoes are sold as men’s sneakers so order two sizes down. 

4. Oversized Jean Jackets

A staple in my New England Fall wardrobe was my oversized denim jacket. I stole mine from my Mom’s closet, which made me appreciate it even more. I love wearing it back home as it is the perfect transition jacket between summer and fall. However, styling it in California is a bit different; I usually wear it over a cute short dress or on a colder day I’ll wear it with a pair of black leggings. Brandy Melville has awesome oversized jean jackets in store, just make sure to try on a bunch because they all fit differently as with anything vintage.

5. Trendy Sunglasses

Weird sunglasses have become all the rage recently. They are such an awesome accessory to make any outfit just a little bit cooler. I just bought a pair of red sunglasses that have lenses in the shape of a heart, and they are adorable! They are usually pretty affordable, and you can find a bunch of pairs online.

🙂
Jess

https://linkto.run/p/ECZW86BV

 

 

Name: Sara Dardari

Age: 18

Hometown: Glendale, CA

School: Chapman University

Major: Business “even though I’m in that stage of still wanting to be a doctor”

How has your background influenced your style?

“From kindergarten to twelfth grade I wore uniforms to school every day. I never had to wake up and question what I should wear that day, and at Chapman, I realized that picking out new outfits every day is not easy. Growing up in Los Angeles, style was definitely something of importance to one’s social status. In school, this didn’t affect me, but on weekends and summers I always felt pressured to be wearing the new trend.”

Who influences your style?

“I don’t have a specific person who influences my style, but I get inspiration from many Instagram fashion bloggers. I also get inspiration from walking around campus, as many girls here dress really cute. I don’t like to wear sweatpants or sweatshirts to class as it makes me feel lazy and not at my best, and also because at Chapman most people dress nicely to class.”

What’s your staple item in your closet? Why?

She jokingly says “just like any other Californian, I love my flip flops. They’re easy to slide on and I hate having to tie my shoes. They also match with almost everything. Another one of my staple items are my black jeans, they’re also easy to put on with any cute top to complete an outfit.”

Do you like to share your clothes?

“Like is a strong word, but growing up I always shared my clothes with my younger sister, Tamara; our sizes are pretty much the same. She is also really into fashion, and I always go to her for style advice. My Mom and I have the same shoe size, which is awesome because she owns so many fashionable pairs of shoes.”

How has social media affected your style?

“I think now more than ever social media plays such a huge role in fashion. I am always watching YouTube videos about influencers clothing hauls, lookbooks, as well as following them on other platforms to see their outfits. In middle school, especially, I wanted to look like these beauty gurus; I tried to dress like them, as well as do my make makeup like them. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve developed my own sense of style, but I still love to get inspired by people who are really passionate about fashion.”

What has been your favorite trend?

“I love tube tops because they’re cute and stylish “just like me”. I also love to wear leggings because they are comfortable, but make you look more put together than a pair of sweatpants.”

What’s your favorite store?

“I love Urban Outfitters, Brandy Melville, and Free People. They all have a similar style, but I go to them for different reasons. Urban has awesome jeans and cute accessories to make my outfits seem more put together. Brandy has really good basics and is usually pretty inexpensive. I love Free People for their cute dresses and unique pieces.”

hi everyone!

I’m Jess, and I am so excited to be starting Stylish Students!

I will be interviewing current college students about how their style reflects who they are. I cannot wait to begin sharing their stories on this blog. I also will be writing tips on how to dress well on a college student’s budget, the best stores near Chapman University, and so much more.

I went to high school in Connecticut a few miles away from the beach, which really shaped my style. The stereotype of all kid’s in CT dressing up as though they were in a J Crew catalog held true for many of my peers, and even me in my preppy middle school phase. I started to become more interested in fashion when I would go into Manhattan on the weekends with my Mom to explore New York City (about an hour train ride from where I’m from for perspective). I was so in love with everything about NYC, especially the fashion scene that was so different from anywhere else I’ve ever been. I started to reach out of my comfort zone and ditched my preppy clothes for clothing that I was more comfortable in. Because I lived so close to NYC my whole life, my fashion choices definitely have a more urban east coast vibe. I also get a lot of my fashion inspiration from my friends and people I follow on social media. I wanted to blend the two together by posting about my peer’s style as I think that you can learn so much about someone through this.

I hope you enjoy getting a glimpse into other student’s lives through their unique story!

Jess