Yes, watching TV is a nice alternative, but keeping your brain active after studying will help you retain information much easier in a short amount of time! Plus, if you’re the artsy type, you’ll be having fun in the meantime.

What I used:

Push Pins

Hemp String

Clamp Clips

Make three (or any number you want) equally spaced rows of hemp by tying the hemp string around the end push pins, pulling the string taught to prevent any slack. If you have a corner desk, like myself, loop the hemp around the push pin placed in the corner.

Then, decorate! Put up cards, drawings, anything that inspires you or makes you happy. Tumblr has awesome photos that you can print out and clip onto your clothesline bulletin board.

For more DIY ideas, style tips, & fashion fun, check out ToBeBrightStyle.com & be sure to LIKE To Be Bright on Facebook for your chance to win some awesome free giveaways!

Image Source: To Be Bright

Easter weekend this year happened to be one of the busiest for students attending the 81st Annual Carolina Cup in Camden, South Carolina this past Saturday.

Students from colleges in the Carolinas & beyond gather together with friends and family to partake in socialization activities, as well as watch some magnificent horses run their hearts out in this steeple chase event.

On the other side of the fence, within the tents and waving flags representing colleges from all over the states, you are overwhelmed by a sea of brightly patterned clothing.  From the latest Lilly Pulitzer Spring collection of dresses to the Vineyard Vines patterned bow ties, the ladies and gents attending Carolina Cup looked as fabulous as ever.

Naturally, I am not a fan of ‘prep’ for ladies but I find it heart-throbbing on boys.  In order to match my date (of 2 years) and prepster boyfriend’s green Ted Baker pants and white Ralph Lauren sport shirt, I turned to Nasty Gal to find me the perfect dress that wouldn’t feel too out-of-my-element.  Online, I found myself a white & mint cutout dress that I am borderline obsessed with.

And not one spill of beverage or speck of mud touched my color-vulnerable ‘Saturday’ best.

For original blog post - - - > To Be Bright

Image Source: http://tobebrightstyle.com/2013/03/31/off-to-the-races/

I’m not into constricting, collared t-shirts, or t-shirts in general unless i’m sleeping, relaxing, or working out.  Target has some of the funniest graphic tees (MEN’S SECTION – girl t shirts are too stuck up to be cool), so naturally I snagged one to cut up and make it more wearable, in my opinion.

WHAT YOU NEED:

- Regular Tee

- Scissors

 - Average ‘follow the line’ skills

Step 1: Follow the collar’s seam and cut the collar off entirely so you can breathe when it’s worn

Step 2: Follow the sleeve seams and cut off the sleeves for that open side look.

- You may experiment and make the sleeve opening longer by following the shirt’s seam and cut a little down the side, just be cautious, as this will stretch out on its own without the seam there to prevent it from doing so.

And voila, you’ve made something cooler out of the basic and the ordinary.

Check out To Be Bright for those everyday trends reflecting personal style.

LIKE 2BB's Facebook page - fun & neat opportunities await you.

Image Sources: http://tobebrightstyle.com/2013/03/02/diy-like-a-rolling-stone/

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

Have you ever witnessed a success story in your hometown? In my small town of Libertyville, Illinois, nothing big ever happens; it's actually considered a village.  However in 1999, two ambitious friends, Sue Katz and Lisa Thurman, got together and created Amazing Cosmetics.

The company started out small as on online venture and has now grown to enormous proportions.  Amazing Cosmetics sells all different types of makeup and is best known for their outstanding concealer.   My personal favorite is their lip-gloss.  All of their products are excellent quality, definitely worth the pretty penny you will spend.

Growing up, I attended school with their sons.  I remember in middle school, when I went through the infamous Hannah Montana phase,  I had a moment of insanity when I found out they used Amazing Cosmetics on their show!  It was my first glimpse seeing how far their success had taken them.  I begged my best friend Alex to snag me the signed poster, but that never worked out.  Alex would always sneak me lip-gloss whenever he worked at the warehouse on the weekends. I definitely felt like the coolest kid on the block for knowing the families personally.

Over the years, their products have been featured in movies such as The Notebook, Looper, Lincoln and many other films.  They have also been featured in several shows, such as Sex and the City, Gossip Girl, and Pretty Little Liars to name a few.

When I arrived at USC, I never thought I would find their products - there was a slim chance that I would find my favorite lip-gloss in Columbia.  Little did I realize they have branched out even farther, selling their products in stores like Sephora and Ulta all over the U.S.!  Once again, I had a moment of insanity, jumping up and down telling the sales girl how it said, “Made in Libertyville, Illinois” and how I knew the creators.  I proceeded to sit there and contemplate which lip-gloss would be my next purchase, even convincing the sales girl to buy some too.

I could'nt be more proud of my small village of Libertyville.  I feel lucky to know the families and see where their adventure began.  Amazing Cosmetics continues to grow and will be working with New York Fashion Week this month! It’s cliché, but the saying is true, big things really do come in small packages.

Image Source: http://www.soapboxstudio.com/samples.php?cat=3, http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/February-2008/Shopper-Amazing-Cosmetics/

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

As the month of January comes to an end, the only thing on my mind these days is applying for internships.  Last summer, I had the opportunity to intern in NYC as a graphic design intern.  However, my interests have changed to the mainstream and one of the most popular majors around: Public Relations.

EVERY FIRM has a department concerning public relations.  Great! Plenty of job positions right? Not quite.  The challenge is advertising myself to stand out from all the other public relation majors who also plan to intern this summer, let alone at the places I plan to apply to.  Oh, did I mention all these PR firms are ridiculously competitive?  Terrific. Now what?

Luckily, I came up with an idea that I've thought about for a while, yet never had the motivation to begin. Start my own blog.  

I had the opportunity to speak with an editor for a large media magazine whose advice to me was to make my resume and my work available online and on one site of my own.  Not only did I start planning my blog immediately after hearing this adivce, but I also realized I may have found a potential way to make myself look more appealing for an internship position.

This blog not only showcases my publications and other resume-building work, but also provides prospective companies insight to the type of person I am and the type of person I want to become.  On paper, it is very difficult to stand out from all the rest.  A visual representation highlighting talents, passions, and skills is a more efficient and fun way to showboat.

I began my blog very recently (a week ago to be exact) and I have already received such positive feedback from peers.  It is a style blog, one that I formed around my own needs and wants concerning what I would want to read if I came across it.  I focus on how to put outfits together, where to find the best quality merchandise for a fraction of its original price, and ways to make the ordinary extraordinary.  I try to incorporate the styles of voluntary viewers who want to contribute to the morning dilemmas of getting dressed in the morning that I have struggled with for several years.

In addition to my style tips, I have links and visual publications of some of my DIY work, Toms by Til, as well attachments of my online blogs and publications I have done for G&B.

If you want to stand out from the crowd, demonstrate independence, and showcase your passions, then start a blog.  It becomes a rewarding and exciting way to show off what you know. 

Check out what I've been working on - tobebright.org and 'Like' To Be Bright & Garnet and Black on Facebook.  

Involving yourself within a blog, by creating one of your own or participating in others, demonstrates your networking capabilities that ALL PR DEPARTMENTS are looking at today.  Expand your social media use by expanding yourself.

Image Source: http://tobebright.org