Whether you find him to be crazy, a genius, or a crazy genius, there's no doubt that Jeremy Scott has a unique and authentic aesthetic. The most admirable thing about him, in my opinion, is that this successful and mature individual has mastered the ability to so purely hold onto his childhood creativity. He has made an art form out of the thing that is sadly trained out of us when we hit grade school- to use our imagination to create the world we desire. His child-like creativity is so blatantly displayed in his Fall 2013 Ready-to-Wear collection, which is characterized by crazy prints, lots of leather, mixing textures, and graphic t-shirts that every adult child would want.

What was the first thought that came to mind when I saw Jeremy Scott’s collection? That old, classic Nickelodeon show “Aaahh!!! Real Monsters.” Clearly this man was inspired by something either hiding under his bed or in his closet and I don’t hate it.

Second thought that came to my mind - Goosebumps, the series of children’s horror books written by R.L. Stein in the 90’s. It’s evident that Scott looked to all things child-like and the 90’s for inspiration for this collection. It is an ode to the fantasy world we all lived in before the corruption that is adult life.

Despite the collection having such a variety of textures and colors, it remains to be so undeniably cohesive. Sweaters, sweatshirts, nylon hi-lo windbreakers, thigh high furry boots, graphic tee’s - if one thing is apparent, it’s that this “Ready-to-Wear” collection isn’t so ready for the meek or the mild.

Image Sources: www.mixmag.net; www.style.com

Yes, layering is an art form. We all know how inconvenient cold weather is. It’s great for a few days, but then it just turns into a hassle to get dressed every morning, especially the bipolar Southern weather; one day it’s hot the next day it’s cold (refer to Katy Perry song).

Layers are great for mornings that start cold and end warmer. So how do you prepare yourself for the weather while also looking extremely fierce? By layering. The other great thing about it is that you can take two items in your closet and put them together to get a piece of clothing that you otherwise would have had to buy.  For example a recent fall/ winter trend was military inspired jackets with leather sleeves. You can accomplish this trend by taking a black leather jacket and putting a green military vest over it. Ta-dah, now you have three looks with only two pieces of clothing and your incredibly warm.

I always turn to Leandra Medine, the Man Repeller, for innovative ways to layer clothes. Below she layers a pencil skirt, tank, shirt, military jacket, and oversized denim vest for an ironically effortless look.

I have also included several examples of how to create new items with pieces you already:

And finally, a step by step on how to perfect this art form.

First, I usually pick a color scheme I want to work with. I pick out a few pieces in that scheme and start layering things until I find the perfect combination. Below is one of my favorite go-to layered outfits. I started with a simple white top, put a plaid shirt over it, and then finally my leather jacket. I finish it with accessories; scarf, necklaces, etc. The layering is limitless; I even ended up layering two silver necklaces to add some glamour to a harder look.

Image Sources: manrepeller.com, Rachael Dornellas, tjmaxx.tumblr.com

Living in Patterson Hall, the hub of party-going freshmen girls, I see far too many “downtown” outfits that just make me shiver. Girls decked in flowy tanks, short dresses, or sheer tops…you look great, but it’s not summer! I watch their faces cringe when they hit the crisp, winter air. By the end of the night, they are drunkenly huddled together with frost bitten faces, hailing a cab.

Everyone can agree that it is often difficult to find an outfit that is stylish and sexy, yet conducive to the recent Antarctic weather. Are you supposed to walk into the bars wearing a parka and mittens? Unfortunately, there are no coat checks at Pavs. We need a solution! Here are my tips for styling weather-friendly outfits on your night out:

• Blazers, blazers, blazers! This should be an investment piece for every college girl. A fitted blazer pairs perfectly with almost any look- skinny jeans, skirts, dresses. This key piece is very flexible and will sophisticate any outfit! It also provides the perfect amount of warmth to survive outside, but won’t burn up in the bars. Blazers come in a variety of styles and fits that you can find at almost any women’s store. I suggest checking out H&M or F21 for the best deals!
• Tights- not pantyhose. If you dare to expose your legs, at least show them some love. Wearing a mini dress or skirt in February can be a borderline fashion faux pas if it’s not paired with a winter touch. Tights add length to your legs, as well as hide the fact that you probably haven’t seen sun since September. Not to mention, they are easy to come across and inexpensive!
• Find a badass jacket. Along the same lines of a blazer, a fitted jacket adds shape and style to your winter wardrobe. Leather has been making a comeback this season- take advantage of it in this weather! Icons like the Kardashians can give you inspiration for how to rock these great fitted pieces. You will drop jaws walking into the bars with a chic leather jacket over a bright blouse and a pair of skinny pants.
• Modest toes, please! I’ll be blunt- summer wedges are NOT okay in the winter. Try to limit the exposure of your foot as much as possible- at LEAST your toes! Boots- especially knee highs- are very in! Take it to the next level with a pair or bootie wedges. Target sells some adorable pairs for under $40!
• Sleeves don’t always mean warmth. Wearing a long sleeve sheer blouse might as well be a tank top- the wind cuts right through you! Pair your blouses with one of the jackets I talked about above. Don’t be afraid to wear long sleeve shirts- a body hugging v-neck draws attention to your curves and can be very flattering.
• My secret weapons… When it’s cold out, anything goes. If you have long hair, wear it down to provide your upper body with some extra warmth. When times get tough, I like to think of my hair as a blanket. Another sneaky way to bundle up is to wear a pair of tights or leggings underneath your jeans. You’d be surprised how much of a difference it makes- not to mention, it adds a little more booty in the pants!

Ladies, do not underestimate the walk to and from the taxi. You might think that you can survive these seemingly short distances outside, but there is nothing more unbearable than the winter winds cutting through you like ice…literally. Most importantly, keeping your outfits in-season will make you stand out from the sea of girls in denial that tailgating ended months ago.

Image Source: http://www.whowhatwear.com/website/full-article/they-wear-cold-chic/

Face it: You can’t be good at everything.

Over the past few years (basically my whole life), I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that I simply cannot draw.  I love clothes, and I can imagine exactly the outfit I want to wear and would love to create, but trying to translate the image in my mind onto a piece of paper just doesn’t work. 

For example: Instead of drawing a simple, chiffon, ombre tank top I envision wearing as a day to night look, I end up drawing a boxy shape “something” on a disproportionate figure that relays no sense of movement, and makes me think my six-year old cousin has more artistic talent than I do.  My dreams were shot of ever being able to draw outfits until I discovered the work of Elvira ‘t Hart. 

As a young, Dutch designer, her unique talent of translating 2-D sketches into 3-D outfits is impeccable, and although her line may look unfinished, I definitely view the clothing as wearable.  When I first saw her sketches, the shape and design process was clear, but the imperfections and constant use of straight lines had me wondering how she could actually create garments that resembled these sketches. 

I have to admit I actually had hope for myself when I saw her sketches; how hard can drawing outfits created strictly of repetitive, straight lines be?  Well, drawing lines is the easy part; the hard part is translating these lines precisely into clothing.  The garments she creates are basically exact replicas of her sketches, leaving open space and unfinished strands as the main focus of her work; t' Hart uses her design aesthetic to produce a variety of pieces from dresses to blazers to bralette tops. 

Although some may view her garments as impractical, I view them as a form of art we've yet to see become popular in the fashion industry, making t' Hart a designer to look out for.

Image Sources: http://www.elvirathart.com/Collections.xhtml, http://www.elvirathart.com/Illustrations.xhtml

A few weeks ago, an ex-fling asked if I had “become any less of a heartless b*tch” over my Christmas break. It was the rudest thing that anyone had ever said to me, but for some reason, my only reaction was to laugh and say “I mean, I don’t really feel any different.”

Now I’m certainly not going to delve into what happened here, but I can assure you that I am not a heartless b*tch. I am actually quite loving (a good cook, a great listener, I love Mumford & Sons and you can apply to be my boyfriend here).

So this boy, with clear, clear resentment towards me, has it fixed in his mind that I conspired to screw him over.

Okay, I did screw him over, but it was completely unintentional. Accidental screwage, if you will. But regardless of the type and/or means of said ‘screwage,’ I will let him believe in his conspiracy theory because I, myself, believe in many a conspiracy theory.

In fact, other than being just a little too awesome, I think my biggest flaw is that I believe most things are conspiracies.

Two things have happened recently that have heightened my sense of societal screwage:

1. The conception of Kimye’s embryo and;

2. The news that Vanity Fair is opening their International Best-Dressed List to we unworthy plebeians.

VF made this announcement last week, asking its readers to submit pictures of themselves in their finest sartorial arrangements through various social media outlets. Those pictures will then be put on their website to be voted on, and those votes will determine who will join A-list celebs on the list that’s published annually in their September issue.

Democracy! Democracy! We have a chance!

Upon hearing the news, I rushed to vanityfair.com to scour articles about the “challenge” (oh, it’s a challenge now is it?) only to be interrupted by ads.

I then clicked on an ad, which took me to the Marc Jacobs jumpsuit of my dreams because a group of marketers somewhere in a far-off land have planted a chip into my brain to know exactly what the Marc Jacobs jumpsuit of my dreams looks like.

And then I wanted it. They led me to this jumpsuit, and they’ll choose me if I buy this jumpsuit. Vanity Fair basically just told me that if I buy it, I will get on the International Best-Dressed List and I’ll be famous and Ryan Gosling will marry me. So I bought it.

And Vanity Fair just made a boatload of money from their advertising rates because the ads are working.

Conspiracy.

Image Source: http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2013/01/join-international-best-dressed-list

The arrival of the holiday season can only mean one thing, time to celebrate!

Whether you are headed to a party with your regular crowd, old high school friends, or even just family, you want to be dressed to impress. Instead of rolling up in an ensemble of red and green, consider some other festive alternatives. Not that tacky sweaters aren’t hilarious and all, but these parties will be a great opportunity to showcase your personal style and have some fun. It’s the ideal time to incorporate decadence and glamour into your wardrobe.

Your keyword for holiday parties should be rich, and I don’t mean that as in expensive. Colors should be saturated and fabrics interesting. A great trend to try is the use of jewel tones. Going back to the predictability of red and green, try out the similar, yet more sophisticated, jewel tones of emerald and garnet to create an outfit that is displays your Christmas spirit without screaming about it. Emerald cords, which can currently be found at J Crew, would take center stage in an outfit of neutral accents like white, cream, grey, and navy. Similarly, try pairing a boring LBD with garnet suede pumps to add spice. Other jewel tones like sapphire, amethyst, and topaz are also great options that add class without being obvious. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box too, jewel tones don’t have to be found solely in your outfit. They look great on nails, and the colors are made by virtually every brand of polish.

-Sparkle and Metallics, with balance.

A sparkly mini goes from cute to over-the-top when you add in a jeweled or glittery top or heels; Disco balls were only hot in the 80's. Instead, balance your sparkly skirt with matte black tights, black patent heels, and a solid colored shirt or blouse that’s stylish without being in your face.

The key is to create a focal point, not something for the rest of your outfit to compete against. Silver and gold are your best bets, but if you’ve got a lot of confidence and personality, don’t be afraid to try out fun colors too. With anything outfit you’re considering, save the more dramatic amounts of sparkle and shine for New Years.

-Wear Winter White.

This can be tricky though, because you don’t want to come off looking out of season. Make sure that any white you select is of a heavy fabric and has a bright snowy appearance. White shoes are a definite no. White can be a bold move, but if you rock it right, all eyes will be on you.

Basically, have fun in your holiday attire! Pile on jeweled bangles, carry a fabulous velvet clutch, perk up your pout with daring red lips, just whatever you do remember that it’s all about celebration. And what better way is there to celebrate than by being fabulous?

Image Source: http://www.jcrew.com/womens_feature/NewArrivals.jsp?intcmp=home_p1_promo_w&navLoc=promo#page1