Author Archives | Dorie Pagnano

Closet profile: Megan Little draws style inspiration from her favorite eras

Name: Megan Little

Year: Sophomore

Major: Landscape Architecture

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Describe your style in one sentence: I would say comfortable, sustainable and put together.

Fashion inspiration: A combination of of 60s mod-like Twiggy, 70s bohemian and the 90s. I draw inspiration from a lot of different eras and people.

Favorite recent purchase: My favorite recent purchase is this new kimono that is cream and has these beautiful magenta flowers and tassels, it’s my baby at the moment.

Favorite place to shop: Thrift stores, like Buffalo and Goodwill is probably where I get a lot of my clothes now. My favorite overall store is House of Vintage in Portland. I use to thrift more for fun, and now it’s on a college student budget. If I want to have a large array of clothing, it is kind of a necessity.

Trends you love and hate: A trend I love that is very prominent in Oregon, but also everywhere is Docs. Docs will always be a trend because they are classic, but I’m all for the Doc game. I don’t know if this is still a trend, but the whole short in the front and long in the back thing- I’m not really a fan of that.

If you could splurge on anything, what would it be?: Shoes and coats. I’m a sucker for big 20s and 60s faux fur coats and costume jewelry too, so I think anything like that.

Go-to look: Mom jeans, Dr. Martens, striped shirt and a cardigan.

Has living in Eugene influenced your style?: Definitely. I’m from California, so I’m use to wearing sundresses whenever I want, so I think way more about the weather and comfortability. It’s so difficult when it’s pouring rain to be comfortable and cute, but I’ve definitely adapted my style to living here.

Define Eugene’s style: I think it’s so eclectic, there are so many different types of people that live here. You could say there are specific styles, but every person I see is dressed differently and I think that’s really cool. Eugene’s style is eclectic, it’s different, you don’t often see the same thing.

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Six fashion-forward Instagram accounts you should follow

1. @WhoWhatWear

Launched by two former ELLE magazine editors in 2006, Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power have created one of the most recognizable style platforms on social media today. With a variety of content that includes tips to save money, trend reports, celebrity style and outfit inspiration, WhoWhatWear is an essential account to follow whether you are looking to brush up on some fashion knowledge or just see five different ways to wear your favorite blazer.

2. @SongOfStyle

Aimee Song is a genius when it comes to fashion, travel and adorable home decor. Originally, Song set out to be an interior designer when she began blogging in 2008, but when she began posting her personal outfits and only received popular feedback, Song’s course soon changed. With 1.8 million followers, Song is only seeing the beginning of her success especially in light of recent collaborations with Piperlime and Seven For All Mankind.

3. @WeWoreWhat

Danielle Bernstein is a fashion blogger from New York City. What started as a solely street style blog (and the majority still is) has transformed into a personal account of Bernstein’s travels, food, dog, parties and fashion inspiration. Bernstein started sharing her love for fashion on social media while she went to school at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. A fashion week regular and only 22, Bernstein has established herself as a notable force with an unparalleled eye for simplistic and high-end pieces.

4. @IAmGalla

Adam Gallagher has to be one of the best dressed guys in New York. Gallagher is a stand-out in what most would argue is a female dominated industry of writing, blogging and posting about matters that pertain to fashion. The native Californian turned city-boy provides polished, unexpected and sleek style inspiration to men. His Instagram pictures are enough to make anyone want to put effort into an outfit, and then move to New York, of course.

5. @TheRealOliviaP

You might remember the name Olivia Palermo as a socialite casted on MTV’s “The City” back in 2009, but unlike most reality television stars, Palermo has blossomed since her short-lived TV debut. Palermo has worked for names like Diane Von Furstenberg, ELLE Magazine, Stuart Weitzman and Piperlime.com, as well as appearing as a guest judge on shows like Project Runway and Top Model. As for her Instagram, you will find a daily dose of street style, inside glimpses at all things fashion and the envy-inducing life of Olivia Palermo.

6. @TheNativeFox

Jennifer Grace’s name is inspired by her heritage — Native American and Polish. The effortlessly cool San Diego native is famous among the fashion community for embracing neutrals and having a killer shoe game. Her closet contains incredible leather jackets, an array of boyfriend jeans and perfect minimalist accessories. @TheNativeFox is the best type of blend between beach style and city chic.

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13 Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

If you’re anything like me, figuring out your halloween costume is not high on the list of priorities this week. Somehow though, it is already October 30th. It seems that every year, most procrastinators have costumes that magically fall together. Although there may not be total clarity on what exactly you are, or whose clothes you are wearing for that matter, we make it work. So, if you’re starting to feel the last minute frenzy — do not fret. Here are some super easy, low cost and commitment costume ideas to kick off your weekend.

Greasers: Recreate everyone’s favorite middle school classic with a white shirt, jeans, black or denim jacket and converse.

Farmer or Scarecrow: Overalls, plaid shirt, straw hat. Boom.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s: A black dress, pearls (or some type of sophisticated statement necklace) and black sunglasses. A cigarette holder, black gloves and tiara will finish off the costume perfectly.

A Greek God or Goddess: Toga. White sundress. Sandals. Flip flops. It doesn’t get easier than this.

Cleopatra: A white or black dress, with gold accessories and as many gems as possible. A gold crown/headband and an intense cat eye completes the costume.

Friday Night Lights: An old football jersey or letterman jacket. Bonus points if you write “Dillon Panthers” somewhere. Texas forever.

Orange Is The New Black: Incase you have a pair of scrubs lying around, or a head-to-toe orange outfit, you can recreate one of Netflix’s best series yet.

Rosie the Riveter: All you need is a red bandana and a blue collared shirt.

Taylor Swift: In light of her new album release, you too can be T-Swift for halloween. This costume is about the accessories- carry around a mic and put a polaroid of yourself with your birth year on it, attach it to a string and tie it around your neck. Any musician with an obviously recognizable style would work though too. (think Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga).

Patriotic: Green dress and green crown and you’re lady liberty, black suit and black top hat and you’re Abraham Lincoln, or just American flag print items and you are patriotic.

Genie: Pair MC Hammer style pants or long maxi skirt with a bandeau top in royal shades, like blue or purple. Braid your hair and accessorize with gold jewelry and a headband.

Superhero: Wear bright spandex, create your own cape using extra fabric, tablecloth or sheet and attach a letter to your chest.

Ghost: This idea is included in all Halloween guides, because it is pretty much impossible to mess up. Instead of being just a ghost though, be the ghost of your favorite actor/ singer/ writer etc. who has passed away. This makes the idea more unique and gives you the option to dress up the costume according to who you are being.

Happy Halloween!

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Dress for Success: Helpful hints for nailing an interview

As we finally settle into the 2014-2015 school year, many students are looking to get jobs, internships or more involved on campus. Whether it is to build your resume, add some extra money to your wallet, or even meet new people, it is always important to dress for success. We are constantly reminded of the importance of being “professional.” We’re told to monitor our social media accounts, to write articulate and engaging cover letters, to do the research for a job and know the necessary qualifications and expectations. But when it finally comes time for the interview — how do you dress for the occasion?

First off, it is important to recognize the value of clothing in making a first impression. Before you even begin to speak, the clothes you wear communicate something about who you are. Some may argue that the way you dress for an interview is of equal importance to what you actually say. However, the clothes you wear should never distract from the reason you’re there. Don’t let your style sacrifice your professionalism.

Understand the position you are looking to attain. A suit, or skirt and sweater set, is not always the most appropriate option for an interview. Instead, when doing research about the place you are applying for, observe what others are wearing that work in similar environments. Employers want to see that you are prepared and polished, but nonetheless have a firm grasp on what the job entails, which you can convey through your clothing.

As for what you’re actually wearing, few employers are concerned with specifics. Brands or colors are not what matter, it is about showing the interviewer that you are able to pull yourself together, despite your age, sense of style or clothes in your closet.

Finally, personalize outfits. You never know what questions may be asked of you during an interview. The whole point of an interview is to get to know the individual as more than an impressive resume.

If you are interviewing for a music store, look cleaned up but wear your favorite bands shirt. If you are interviewing for a position that consists of interacting with adults on the daily basis, you might consider dressing more conservatively. If you are interviewing for a job in retail, wear your favorite piece, or something you believe represents your personal style well.

Employers want to see that you are both interested and invested in the job outside of the interview because, of course, this will make for a more successful candidate. Personalizing outfits is not only a conversation starter, but shows the employer that you have confidence in who you are. Confidence leaves a lasting impression — and you want to be remembered after you walk out that door.

 

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Closet Profile: Julie Collins mixes eclectic and prep

Name: Julie Collins

Year: Senior

Hometown: Milwaukie, Oregon

Major: Sociology

“College is a time when you can do whatever you want, so people take that a lot of different ways. You don’t have your parents telling you what to wear or a job to dress for. I feel like college is the time where you really learn your style.”

Describe your style in one sentence: Something along the lines of preppy eclectic — like if I’m wearing a long floral dress I’ll put on docs or a beanie. Or, if I do something classic that has clean lines I’ll try to add some edge.

Who is your fashion inspiration? Mary Kate Olsen. I love the way she mixes classic things, like a tailored blazer with super chunky scarves and boots. I also get inspiration from websites like Cheap Monday. I’m a big thrift store shopper. I love pairing those clothes with something modern or chic — like a big sweater with modern accessories, that makes outfits more one-of-a-kind.

What is your favorite recent purchase? An oversized, black, button-up chiffon top from American Apparel. I wear it over pants or as a cardigan for a cooler look. I wear it everyday.

What trends do you love and hate? A trend I both love and hate are western patterns. I think they get misrepresented. I like more graphic patterns, like something that is more abstract than something taken directly from another culture. I also love chunky shoes, like Oxfords!

What are your favorite places to shop? Urban Outfitters clearance section, H&M — especially their designer-inspired lines that make their clothes more accessible, and St.Vinnies.

If you could splurge on anything, what would it be? A pair of awesome boots and a really well-fitted and edgy peacoat or trench — you buy them to wear them a lot.

Your go-to look: I’m more of a fall and winter person, being from Oregon. So a classic black skirt and weird graphic tee or a nice oversized sweater and outerwear. I have a denim, acid-washed jacket that I wore almost every day spring term that still kept with my winter look.

Define Eugene’s style: That’s a difficult one. For the university it is partly eclectic hippie style because a lot of people are going thrift shopping for the first time. Then there is classic college kid style, which is simple and easy: North Face backpacks, Ugg boots, yoga pants. I don’t have anything against it, it’s just not me.

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How study abroad experiences influence style

Studying abroad. Ask any college graduate, professor or student who has just gotten back from overseas — spending part of your education somewhere besides Eugene is a must. Going abroad offers a multitude of incredible benefits, but more than getting credits or learning a language, studying abroad seems to serve as an opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture.

Although grasping the concept of a new place is far deeper than the food you eat and the clothes you wear, many University of Oregon students have embraced the beauty in learning, trying and wearing new things.

Charlotte Williams spent her summer semester at sea. She noticed a pretty big style difference in Spain and Portugal in comparison to America. She described the women as having an “effortlessly chic aura about them.” The clothes in these countries included pieces of denim, leather, flowy and light materials which Williams loved because it related most to her own personal style. When asked about the relationship between culture and style, Williams agreed that the relaxed atmosphere of both countries clearly influenced current trends. “I am definitely inspired by the style I saw in Spain and Portugal,” said Williams. “The women I saw there are my main fashion influences now that I am back home.”

Senior Ryan Olsen studied abroad in Townsville, Australia. For men, the biggest style difference he noticed was the length of shorts. “Everyone wore rugby shorts that only went halfway down their thighs, no one wore basketball shorts that went below the knee.” Olsen described Australian culture as “very laid back with a kind of ‘who cares’ attitude,” which was reflected by the tank tops, rugby shorts and sandals worn for day-to-day activities. Olsen noticed that unlike America, wearing hats to bars or clubs was inappropriate. Olsen said that back home his style has not changed, but he loves to wear Havaiana sandals whenever it’s nice out — which are a favorite among Australian men.

Brooke Barker spent her summer in Angers, France. Being only a two-hour train ride from Paris, Barker knew it was a city she had to see before she left. The biggest difference she noticed between American and French style? “More sophistication, especially men — they care much more about how they look. I never saw anyone in sweats. Most people wear heels and beautiful dresses.” Surprisingly, Brooke was reminded of an American trend while in France, as she saw little kids wearing shirts with sayings in English, similar to shirts that have French words, but they rarely made sense grammatically. The biggest takeaway she got from Parisian culture in relation to style is to care about quality. “I can’t go into Forever 21 anymore,” she joked, and is learning the value of investing in timeless pieces.

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Winter wardrobe refresher

As the gloomiest months in Eugene approach, students are dusting off their cold weather pieces they so happily stored away sometime last spring term. However, being Oregonians, we embrace every season the Pacific Northwest has to offer, from 20 degree snow days to 95 degree tailgates. Worn-out boots, stained sweatshirts and ripped rain jackets all signify who we are, and we are proud to wear floor length wind breakers to class instead of floral dresses and pastel shorts (at least most of the time). Throughout campus, specific brands have become trusted by Oregon students year in and year out to provide comfort and reliability. Brands such as The North Face, Lululemon, Hunter and Ray Ban are familiar names to students and are seemingly large contributors to the campus fashion influence. But if you found that any of these brands in particular sparked your interest, you should check out these equally cool and lesser-known brands for a winter wardrobe refresher.

If you are a proud owner of North Face clothing, look into Penfield, which was created by Harvey Gross in Hudson, Mass. in 1975. Gross made his outerwear unique by embracing the concept of down insulated apparel, which set Penfield apart for its innovation and high quality offered with each piece. Penfield tends to be a tad more expensive, with jackets starting at $120.

Everyone knows about women’s affinity for a great pair of yoga pants. Leggings are reliable at any time of day, especially as the temperature drops and the temptation of wearing something easy and comfortable rises. Lululemon is celebrated as a staple yoga pant, but if you are looking to switch it up from one basic black legging to the other, try out Zella. Exclusive to Nordstrom, Lululemon’s old product manager Libby Vance was hired by the department store to create a legging almost identical to Lulu, but for $52 instead of $92.

Hunter rain boots are a surefire sign that bad weather is here to stay. If you are searching for a pair of rain boots to keep you dry this season (and there is no avoiding water repellant footwear in Eugene), test out Chooka. These boots were driven by the idea that function should not compromise style, so they offer the same assortment of bright colors and patterns as Hunters. They’re also sold at the same stores, but for a fraction of the price: try $69.95 versus $148.

Lastly, an accessory for every season. Although we all wish we could share wardrobes with Beyonce, Rihanna, Kate Moss and Ciara, the unfortunate truth is that the closest we will get to their highly coveted closets is Instagram and gossip magazines (at least for the near future). But, there is hope to have at least one thing in common with them: trade in your Ray Bans for Le Specs, which have been sported by all the fashionistas listed above. Best of all, they are much cheaper than Ray Bans, $50 and up rather than $120, and offer a variety of super fun styles.

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