Think Like a Man

Recently I've been learning a lot about comparisons, how we're responsible for the gifts we're given and what we do with them.  Good message, but when it comes to fashion I've taken a stance to compare my style and lifestyle to that of a man's.  Men are cool, they never seem to care about anything and for some reason it works.  I wake up and it may take three tries to look "effortless" but I see my brother finishes in ten seconds and still looks dapper.  I can't help but feel like there's a lesson to be learned from the opposite sex; yeah I know.

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Every season there is a new trend for a women to wear, new hairstyles to try, and stilettos to strut in.  While we're busy driving ourselves crazy keeping up, guys are still strutting in their suits, jeans and Oxfords.  What am I doing wrong?

I'll tell you, men walk with confidence and assurance because they know what they have on is working for them in fact they don't just walk, they stride.  One of the most important rules of fashion is to keep it simple, keep it clean, and make sure it fits.  Men have adopted this style while women keep struggling while making things complicated and have to be constantly reminded, correct me if I'm wrong but aren't we the more evolved species?

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Eddie Redmayne (above) shows un-complication with a kickback style.

This summer I vow to think like a man: keep things uncomplicated and clean.  I vow to have more fun with my clothes or rather have more fun in my clothes and stop worrying about messing it up.  I vow to chill, perhaps I would get ready faster if I didn't feel the need to secretly be the best dressed in every room (you know you do it).  Men have a style they stick to allowing themselves to walk, I mean stride, with confidence because they know they look good.  Fun fact: Mark Twain had fourteen pairs of the same white suit because he knew it worked for him.

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Guys allow themselves to be playful in their clothes, they get dressed ready to take on the day even if it lasts till the next day, they're ready.  I get dressed to last the next couple hours which means if it lasts longer I get cramped toes and a tummy to match, basically if my day outlasts my outfit I'm ready to blow!  I admire the way a man walks in a suit, they way he strides in jeans and kicks-back in loafers while never sacrificing himself.


I personally know the three guys up at on the sides and yes they really do have as much fun as it looks.  When it comes time for them to work they pull it together and keep a piece of themselves.  While on the left Patrick opts for a very casual look for his day to day it fits his personality and you can't help but love him and laugh with him.  On the right in the back Ben keeps it casual and clean a very laid back person, one of the most approachable people as you can probably tell.  And in the front of him is Rudy, his expression, stand and style says it all.  Clearly he runs things and we're all privileged to know him, but in all reality his personality is as polished and clean like his style.  Rudy and his crew are some of the funniest people I know, he actually has a pair of green cord slacks that match his personality.  I vow to take getting ready more like those guys

Now I know that comparing myself to other women is wrong but comparing myself to guys is winning.  Finally a male thought a understand.  But when all is said and done, thanks guys!

Negative X Negative

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Back in the days of torture, I mean algebra, we are taught the rules of positives and negatives.  Two positives equal positives, negative+positive can equal a negative or positive depending on the bigger number and two negatives equal a positive.  In a nutshell a teacher stood in front of a classroom and declared the age old truth that opposites attract, I could have watched a Nicholas Sparks movie and saved myself the trouble.  This isn't algebra and I'm not a math teacher what I am is bored of math but in fact I do need it in the world of fashion, who would have thought.

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Black and pink are sworn enemies, polka dots and stripes never mingle, having on more than one print is too "busy," I could go on and on but that would require me remembering all the rules.  And with the new rules of today why should I?  The new thing is being bold and brave with your clothes and forging a new path.  Even if fashion can be subjective (I use that lightly)  it is very obvious when it is done wrong.


Rule #1: Make sure the clothes you are wearing actually fit.  If you look on the right over-sized dress, over-sized coat and a bag just hanging off the wrist are cool on the runway but never on the sidewalk.  Look on the left and that girl has a nice fitted pair of pants, and a jacket with enough room for movement yet still gives her a figure.  This isn't just a rule for mixing prints but for every piece of clothing the reason I stress this now is because with prints sometimes it adds weight and to just have useless fabric flapping in the wind makes it seem like a whole lot more flaps in the wind.

Rule #2: Patterns are fun, patterns are creative and they are also expressive, patterns are also very loud.  Imagine being in a room full of kids none of them should have their voices louder than a three but if two or more of them start screaming your ears bleed.  In fashion when two pieces start competing it makes the eyes bleed and confuses the brain as to where it should really be paying attention to.  With all that said if you're going to mix pieces make sure it's complimentary not aggressive with the other pieces.  Find like colors that are complimentary or secondary, if you have a bold print don't add another bold print that's just a battle waiting to happen and you will emerge the fashion loser.

Rule #3: When mixing don't find different prints in the same size, look for different ones in different sizes.  Maybe I'm a broken record but I really can't stress the fact that competition is bad with clothes there should be a harmony not a knockout in an outfit.

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 Something ladies should remember is to bring life into the clothes, so many times patterns are done in really dark materials with really easy prints.  That shouldn't be the case because if you're going to be bold then by all means be bold!

Fresh

It's been there for you after the morning coffee.  It saved your first kiss after there was too much garlic in your pizza and it's a natural pick me up when you have to sit through drowsy lectures.  Mint has always been a part of our lives doesn't it make sense for it to be include in our fashion?   Except now instead of mint it's called grayed jade a much softer shade of blue with punches of green.

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 What I love about this color is the element of freshness it brings to the day.  Especially in light fabrics would this color work, when the wind blows and the fabric dances around the body it does something to the soul, my soul at least.   Something amazing about new color trends is the way it affects either the people who don't have time for fashion or those who don't care about fashion simply because it's so easy to try it out without having to plunge yourself to deep into the trend pool.

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Start with a light cardigan the idea of throwing on something over a summer dress or a gray t-shirt and jeans means it stays in the closet even when the trend is gone.  Don't break the piggy bank just yet trying to find one of these, start sifting through thrift shops if this is a style worth trying.  When putting on the cardigan use complimenting colors to harmonize the outfit.  Grayed Jade is really a romantic color complimented by other pastels in light pinks, linen and jade.  Those touches can be complimented by using accessories one of my favorites is a head scarf to add elements of surprise.

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Clothing may not be your thing but that doesn't mean you can't have fun with this color.  When it comes to decorating the apartment, dorm, or anything requiring decor keep this color in the back of your mind.  That doesn't mean painting the walls in grayed jade but little accents in frames or chairs could freshen up a room.  Perhaps finding a nice bedding in this new color is all you need.  Or if you or someone you know is entering into the long lasting marriage game this might be a nice little color scheme to add or accent the big day with.

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Raw Deal

Great stories are told when authors are being persecuted or when they are flat broke, I prefer to write the next great classic broke.  The same can really be said about fashion it thrives under limit and sometimes it's important to not buy every trend out there, just see which trends are important to your style and your wallet.  Typically people don't believe it's possible to be broke and stylish, that's why it's so easy to use our money or lack there of to describe our style, example, "my style is broke college student."  I get it sweatpants are cheaper plus college kids can't afford the finer things so why bother?  Believe me when I tell you to look under your sleeve, there are more tricks up there than you would think.

The first thing everyone should do is to actually budget out their money.   Peanuts made working minimum wage should magically cover everything from tuition to rent and all the easy mac you can eat.  If there is some cushion with the finances it pays to be smart with it and for a lot of kids smart doesn't actually equal more clothes.  I honestly believe that one of the reasons people go broke buying clothes is because some people don't necessarily know their personal style which means they just mimic what they see other people wearing.  A perfect example is with the brown riding boots and scarves I see on every girl on campus, and it seems so many boys wear tank tops and snapbacks.  Don't go blowing your money trying to keep up the Joneses just be your own Jones.

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Don't blow your peanuts trying to mimic the cast of Gossip Girl rather draw inspiration on the style not the budget.

Before you spend money on clothes, don't.  Something I've found shamelessly people watching on campus are all the cool clothes on different people.  When I do happen to make their acquaintance and befriend these people I may suggest that if they find themselves willing to part with any of the clothing in their closet I would happily take them off their hands.  Even with people who didn't seem to be my size or my style it's really important to keep an open mind.  I'm not a hippie but I do love long skirts in crazy patterns, and long flowing blouses.  My style isn't exactly in the rockstar spectrum but leather skirts and vintage t-shirts are welcome in my closet.  One way to sift through someone's closet is to find one person you know, just mention it once or twice but don't be pushy or desperate it's not becoming.  Get prepared to do a little leg work like going to their apartment, or having to take all the clothes regardless if you like them or not.  If you're friend says all or nothing like mine have, just take them all sort your taste and donate the rest to your local thrift shop.  Never feel obligated to take all the pieces just to be nice but rather offer to take the rest they don't need and donate them.  Somewhere out there someone needs a good cat sweater.

Swapping doesn't mean restricting yourself to girls there is the opposite sex to consider.  Some boys have cool clothes and some boys happen to be close to our size.  I've gotten cool stuff from my brother, like sweaters and button down shirts.  Girls have always had a draw to the masculine wear in the form of boyfriend jeans, boyfriend blazer and the ever classic white shirt.  It's all in the little things like using tricks such as a belt, tying the the ends of the shirt together in a knot or rolling up a baggy pair of jeans.  Boys clothes can be a relaxed and stylish addition to the closet.

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 Jennifer Aniston rolls up a pair of Justin Theroux's jeans while pairing it with a sleek blazer and white lace up shoes.

Now lets talk about spending money, obviously start with thrift stores, people give away a lot of gems for different reasons.  One of the biggest secrets to thrifting: location, location, location.  Neighborhoods that are higher on the totem pole will have clothing in the finer variety but thrift stores in okay neighborhoods may not have the better clothes and because of that it's easy to fall in the trap of taking whatever you can find.  Now this is in now way discredits some of these thrift stores because they could in fact have some hidden jewels.  But be careful about the well known thrift stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army, my problem with some of them around me is the way they price sometimes.  Instead of pricing all the clothes individually there is a set price for dresses, tops, pants sometimes it's justified but trust me not all things are created equally and should not be priced as such.  Never fall for those kind of tricks, pick the ones that are actually worth the price and move on.

Thrifting can be lucrative especially for the broke.  Finding designer items for nothing and then re-selling them online for more money could potentially help keep the lights on.  The owner of Nasty Gal, Sophia Amoruso (below), started that way by selling vintage designer items people didn't know were worth so much or were fine with parting away with it.  She's not the only one I've heard lots of stories of people who do that and they clean out, why not cut out a piece of the pie for yourself.  But remember sometimes to make money you have to spend and if you want to re-sell that does mean you have to purchase and if you don't have the means don't break your back trying.  Thrifting isn't necessarily in stores because I've found some great savings in unexpected places.  My church has a huge rummage sale once a year and the line for it wraps around the church because  it is a church and they price things so dirt cheap.  One of the tricks I have up my sleeve is to help out therefore I get first dibs at buying things.  As I fold clothes I make a note of what I want or set it aside in a corner for myself in doing this I've found some great gems such as, new nude pumps and new wedges for $2 and $3 dollars each.  At the very last hour the rule becomes if you can fit it all in one bag it becomes a dollar a bag, many fancy and new dresses have found their way to my closet because of this.  I don't really shop that much through out the year but to get one or two more things after the rummage sale blowout.  My church may not be in your area but there are probably functions like them all over the place ask around and you'll probably be surprised at what you hear.

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Modern age has brought unexpected luxury like the internet which makes research easier, keeping in contact with long lost relatives easier and of course shopping.  For students who want to look good try finding a cheap online source like ebay or craigslist.  Again people give away really great clothes for various reasons why not take advantage of them?  Be careful when buying online make sure it's legitimate and be clear on the return policy if they even have one.  Review every website you can to make sure it's worth spending a nickel on after all this is your money so be smart about it.

Lastly buy things out of season when the price is lower, you'll be happy and with the fashion circle everything comes back in at some point.  Certain things like boots and jackets go on sale or are cheaper during the summertime which is probably why moms stocked up before school started.  Different trends are out but that doesn't mean you can't use them to compliment your style.  For example certain colors come and go but it's a color they have a tendency to compliment each other.  Or for example the peplum dress should die out anytime from now if it hasn't already but what about the peplum blazer?  Blazers will never die it's too much of a staple same thing with the jumpsuit and romper the eccentric, patterned, and color blocked ones will die out but the classic ones in solid colors like black and white wont.

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There are plenty of ways to save money hopefully you're inspired to try a few new ones.  Let me know some other great deals and be sure to pass it along to another friend.

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Broke College Student

Recently I asked a girl what her style was, her reply?  "Broke college student," when did it become that our budget defined our style?  If we were to put down the remote and turn off Gossip Girl we would realize fashion runs further than money, perhaps once we realize that we won't need to hide behind our sweatpants and footsie pajamas.
 Simplicity is key especially during the college years, when you start with just a few essentials it's amazing the places you'll go.  simple doesn't  equal sweatpants and sweat shirts but rather a classic pair of jeans and a white t-shirt.  Warning: keep the ugly running shoes under the bed where they belong instead, put on a nice pair of flats or sandals, it gives off a relaxed vibe and on the plus side it takes a whole one minute to put on.   Therefore keep burning that midnight oil!  If you really want to spend a another ten seconds getting ready add a sleek blazer to the mix, you'll need one for all those job interviews so why not put some extra mileage into them?

Aubrey always wears different blazers, from professional to casual in jeans and a school tee.

Invest in a dress!  Some girls suck in their teeth at the mere mention of a dress but the cool thing is once that dress is on, you're done.  Don't worry about a matching top and bottom it's already all there all you have to do now is walk out you're door.  Solid colors is a great choice for girls who are maybe new to wearing dresses or perhaps aren't very big on dresses, solids allow for more flexibility from class to party to shopping.

 Karen wears her dress with a wide black belt in matching tights, boots, and a long button-up sweater.  This fabulous look takes little time to put together and fits into a wide variety of occasions.

Freshmen 15, sophomore 16, college can be a duel between the A's and B's.  By B's I'm referring to bulge!  Sometimes we silly humans think it's more important to read an extra chapter rather than actually going to the gym.  At least that's what I tell myself, but you know what's easier than going to the gym?  Putting on a nice A-line skirt.  Think about it, high enough to hide the pooch and roomy enough to glide when I strut.  Throw that on with a nice blouse you're ready for your class presentation or job interview, even with a nice t-shirt and flats it makes for an easy everyday look.  Skirts do come in different sizes such as the long skirts with a bohemian feel to it.  

 The identity of the fashionable is protected under the circumstance of I don't know who she is...  Found this girl studying and I like the idea of a casual sweater thrown over a skirt for a casual look with the flats to pull it together.

Who goes to college without shorts?  Beach party? Shorts!  Sunny day?  Shorts!  Shopping with the girls?  Shorts!  Everyone has them therefore the trick is to stand out in them, little tip?  High waisted shorts are the number one way to go.  High enough to hide the pooch, but short enough to show off those pins, hands down best colors to go with are black, white and navy.  Don't fear though there are lots of different styles for different body types, different patterns for different personalities no need to hop on a conveyor belt.  With the idea of shorts ladies please keep your butt cheeks in check.  Your bum does not look like the Victoria's Secret models after re-touching, find a pair that keeps everything in check for a sophisticated and polished look.  

Many more fashion tips, essentials and articles to come but I would like to know what you find/found essential as a broke college student.