My love for fashion began at a young age with treasured Barbie overalls, Dr. Martens and neon jelly shoes.

The University of Oregon is a school with programs that are highly ranked in a national context. But there’s no program for fashion. Instead, I combined my keen eye for design and style with my love for writing in the advertising program. 

Many UO students are finding similar solutions in combining their majors with their interests in the fashion industry — from blogs to creative projects to successful clothing lines.

Design and Entrepreneurship

A number of UO students and alumni, especially those in business and/or product design, have successfully started their own fashion lines and businesses.

Kelsey Curtis, a product design major, aims to be one of them. She handmakes clothing, jewelry and other goods and plans to open a shop called Cedar & Pine with her roommate, Anna Post, also a product design student. Last June, they even sold these items at a booth at the UO Campus Block Party.

To those interested in creating your own brand, Curtis suggested, “Immerse yourself in other cultures and environments with a wide variety of people. The internet is also a great resource. I find a lot of inspiration from style icons, clothing brands and photographers.”

Creative Projects and Photography

Another way these students have begun to break into the industry is through various creative projects — many involving photography.

One of those students is Matthew Sorensen, a senior advertising student, who was also on the Emerald’s photobooth team last year. His latest work is on Modish Mint, a fashion-centric photography project. The group was co-founded with Rachel Ellam, who is the featured model and a recently graduated advertising major.

“We found that we had so many of the same artistic interests and wanted to keep a partnership going. That’s how Modish was born,” Sorensen said. “The feedback we’ve received has been amazing and we can’t wait to share the next few sets we have lined up.”

Sorensen’s advice for those interested in photography is this: “Go for it. If you have any doubt in your mind that you can’t do something, you won’t.”

Blogging and Publications

Students who are interested in writing and fashion have plenty of opportunities to publish their work both on and off campus.

On campus, Dressed Up Ducks is a great place to start. The blog showcases outfits of UO students about three times a week and is run by a group of current students mostly in the UO School of Journalism and Communication. Similarly, Her Campus Oregon, the UO chapter of a national online publication aimed toward college-aged women, hires a handful of student fashion writers each term.

Kaitlyn Garish, a recently graduated sociology major, interned for six months at College Fashionista, an online website that helps collegiates keep up with the latest trends.

For other students interested in a fashion career, Garish suggested, “Find opportunities and internships that can help you and teach you some important things about fashion. Starting your own blog will help you gain experience as well.”

Surprisingly, these students have yet to form any kind of official fashion club or group on campus. But keep your eyes peeled — I’m sure it won’t be long.

Follow Hailey Geller on Twitter @hgeller30

It’s that time of year when swimsuit season sneaks up on all of us. It’s pretty ironic that the smallest pieces of clothing cost way more than your average pair of pants.

To help combat the urge to spend hundreds of dollars on the hottest suits for the season, I have made a list of cheap finds for your guilt-free shopping trip. Don’t forget to lather on the sunscreen!

1. H&M’s ruffled H&M floral bikini top:

H&M is easily the best choice for cheap and trendy swimsuits. This is currently my favorite top from them and you can have it in four colors for only $14.95!

2. Forever 21’s Textured Neoprene Cutout bikini top:

Much like H&M, Forever 21 has a swimsuit for everyone. They do a great job providing suits that encompass the latest fashion trends from the runways for under $30. This one’s sleek and far from your standard swim top at a mere $17.90.

3. Rosewe’s Two-Piece Multicolored bikini: 

You’re going to love me for this find. The best knockoff Triangle swimsuit is on the market for just $19.25. You can find it in five different color block options (Why not have them all?!).

4. Victoria’s Secret’s Flounce Bralette swim top:

Victoria’s Secret offers a huge selection of styles, shapes, colors and prints perfect for summer. The clearance swim section tends to be overlooked and is full of hidden treasures. This top is on sale for $18 (originally $30.50). The matching bottoms are also on sale for $12!

5. Urban Outfitter’s Printed Ruched High-Waist Bikini Bottom:

Urban Outfitters’ selection of swimsuits is one of the best. Its website currently offers a selection of high-waisted bottoms on sale for $24.99 (originally $42). They can be mixed and matched with one of the many bikini tops also found on their site.

6. Top Shop’s one-piece ’70s retro halter:

Vibrant color, perfect for summer. Not too revealing on the top or bottom. A little more pricey, but a great find nonetheless for $68.

Follow Hailey Geller @hgeller30

Abercrombie & Fitch is the infamous teen brand that took middle schools in the nation by storm in the early 2000s. Come on, I know you remember it too. The faded polos in every color with the classic moose or the paper thin tee shirts with “ABERCROMBIE” plastered across the chest.

The washboard ab covered shopping bags and male models greeting you on your way into the store are so yesterday.

The brand is hoping to move away from its usual marketing strategies and gear its focus to the products in order to attract to a larger and more diverse audience.

“We have moved away from sexualized marketing,” said Mackenzie Bruce, a spokeswoman for Abercrombie & Fitch told Adweek. “Today, our marketing has undergone a significant evolution. We are using mostly color images and are focused on showcasing product and trends.”

The policies for its employees once included some of the following:

– No French-tip manicures.

– Only certain hair-styling products may be used to insure the natural beach vibe.

– No mustaches, sorry guys.

– You must be sexy. Plain and simple.

CEO Mike Jeffries retired in December 2014 after two decades with the company.

In a 2006 interview with Salon, Jeffries admitted that his business was built around sex appeal.

“It’s almost everything,” Jeffries said. “That’s why we hire good-looking people in our stores. Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don’t market to anyone other than that.”

Since Jeffries left the company, the brand has changed dramatically for the better:

– Plus sizes will soon be an option for customers.

– The scent of the Fierce cologne has been reduced by 25 percent (On behalf of the customers, thank you!)

– Removed louvres and blinds from 240 stores to give a brighter and more welcoming appearance.

– Began an anti-bullying campaign — which has a following of 750,000 teens.

The company also recently announced that it will no longer hire employees based on “body type or physical attractiveness.” Its dress code and guidelines for hair and makeup will also be less strict.

Abercrombie employees will now be referred to as “brand representatives” rather than “models”.

“It’s comeback is going to be a process,” Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Ramsden said in a Bloomberg Business interview. “We’ll fine-tune some things going forward. The important point is there’s a strong conviction we’re going down the right path.”

Follow Hailey Geller on Twitter @hgeller30

New York City has long been known for its creative innovation, fast-paced lifestyle and huge crowds of street walkers. Additionally, it sets the scene for some of our favorite TV shows, including trend-setting characters acting as trailblazers in the fashion world.

Mad Men

Eight years ago, around 1.6 million viewers tuned into AMC on Thursday evening to watch the series premiere of Mad Men. It has since graced our televisions and Netflix screens with true ’60s mod fashion.

Janie Bryant is the Emmy award winning costume designer who brought the decade back to life on Madison Avenue. Plaid, polka dots, the first rompers, Lilly Pulitzer style shift dresses and pant suits were re-inspired.

Betty Draper is presented as the picture perfect housewife. She is focused on how she looks and how others perceive her. She is most often in full skirts with a matching blouse and a silk scarf as her major accessory- definitely a Grace Kelly look.

Peggy, an employee of Donald Draper is more conservative. She wears lots of plaid and button up sweaters much like a school girl uniform. Peggy’s sense of fashion matures after she receives a promotion as a copywriter and gets her very own secretary.

Joan reminds me a lot of Marilyn Monroe. She wears pretty basic pieces in jewel tones that are still worn in the professional scene today. Her outfits form perfectly to her amazing hourglass figure — Bryant is very much aware of Joan’s assets.

Gossip Girl

The ultimate fashion guide for college when it comes to designer and vintage fashion is the TV series ‘Gossip Girl’.

It is the quintessential life of the rich and famous “it girls” of the upper east side. Blair Waldorf and Serena Van Der Woodsen have a natural gift when it comes to personal style. They can be seen in skirts, dresses, cashmere sweaters, over the top hair accessories and of course the most fabulous shoes.

Chuck Bass and Nate Archibald serve as an inspiration for the modern day men. From head to toe these two were always looking their best. Chuck definitely won me over with his iconic purple suit and maybe the plaid scarf in the first season. (Check out this Buzzfeed article of the most memorable outfits from the show.)

Sex and the City

Sex and the City first aired on Television in 1998 and was broadcasted until 2004. It has since inspired two films and a spin off about the early life of Carrie Bradshaw in The Carrie Diaries.

For those who don’t know, Carrie Bradshaw first made her mark on television with her crazy curly hair sporting a blue Fendi coat and what would become her signature look, strappy heels.

Carrie is a New York City newspaper columnist who later becomes a freelance writer for Vogue. Her weekly column for the The New York Star was titled “Sex and the City.” Carrie lives for fashion and had an extreme case of shoe addiction, specifically  Manolo Blahniks.

At one point in the series she had claimed to have spent over $40,000 on shoes alone, meaning her closet was probably stocked full of at least 100 pairs. Carrie was known for her unique vintage looks intertwining haute couture and remains a fashion icon today as “style has no age-limits”.

Follow Hailey Geller on Twitter @hgeller30

Nike is busy bringing the best and most innovative products to the Summer 2015 market, as you would expect them to.

Get ready for bright color pallets and bold prints that take sports wear to the next level.

Here are a few of the collections to get you pumped for what’s to come:

Nike F.C. Collection: Dedicated to the “fearless football demonstrated by not just the heroes of today, but also the legends of the past.” The colors and prints are representative of what it means to be on a football team and a legend at that. The collection includes jackets, tees, sweatpants and shoes and is currently available online and in select Nike stores.

The KD8: The most technically advanced shoe Nike will have created for basketball star, Kevin Durant for his 2015-2016 season. Designer Leo Chang found inspiration from the Sabertooth Tiger. The shoe will feature a crimson woven look with a molded midsole.

Nike x Liberty Collection: The exclusive “Merlin” print was originally produced by Liberty for a silk scarf in 1972. The collection includes a variety of collaborative sneakers, jackets, tee shirts as well as hats. This limited edition collection was released May 15, so hurry and get your favorite looks while supplies last.

Modern Weder Bremen Home Kit: This season, the SV Werder Bremen team will switch back to the traditionally lighter green color. The shirt has a light green v-neck collar and white stripes down the shoulders for the classic white sleeves. The new home kit will be available online starting June 25.

The Nike Tech Pack Collection: The collection will showcase the lightweight and breathable fabrics, it will be ready for all of you sweat prone areas. This unique coed collection will include wind runners, vests and jumpsuits. The collection will launch worldwide beginning May 28. For now you can take a look at the fully interactive collection on your Android or iOS mobile device.

To stay updated on all of the new releases check out the Nike News site.

Follow Hailey Geller on Twitter @hgeller30

Kohl’s is one of the leading department stores in the United States with 1,164 stores in 49 of the 50 states. At the end of April, they announced their collaboration with fashion designer Thakoon Panichugul with a limited-edition collection.

Thakoon Panichugul was originally born in Thailand and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. He was a student at Pasons The New School for Design in New York City and launched his first womens wear collection in 2004. His clothing and accessories are sold in 180 specialty and department stores in 32 countries.

Thakoon’s iconic designs can be seen on Michelle Obama from the 2008 Democratic National Convention in a floral print dress and on Emma Stone at the 2014 Met Gala in a pink two-piece.

“I am excited to partner with Kohl’s to share my process of inspiration,” said Thakoon Panichgul in a press release. “The DesigNation collection allows me to explore London, a city I have always loved, and to showcase its style culture through our lens.”

Thakoon will be the seventh DesigNation collection for Kohl’s. The collection will include timeless looks of everyday fashion with inspiration from London where he recently celebrated the brand’s tenth anniversary.

“We are excited to bring Thakoon to our customers this fall to enhance our women’s apparel offerings with innovative designs, great quality and great value,” said Nancy Feldman, Kohl’s executive vice president of women’s apparel in the same press release.

Everything in the collection, from knit tops to dresses will be less than $200. Get ready for the launch online and in stores beginning fall 2015, just in time for back to school shopping.

Follow Hailey Geller @hgeller30

Kohl’s is one of the leading department stores in the United States with 1,164 stores in 49 of the 50 states. At the end of April, they announced their collaboration with fashion designer Thakoon Panichugul with a limited-edition collection.

Thakoon Panichugul was originally born in Thailand and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. He was a student at Pasons The New School for Design in New York City and launched his first womens wear collection in 2004. His clothing and accessories are sold in 180 specialty and department stores in 32 countries.

Thakoon’s iconic designs can be seen on Michelle Obama from the 2008 Democratic National Convention in a floral print dress and on Emma Stone at the 2014 Met Gala in a pink two-piece.

“I am excited to partner with Kohl’s to share my process of inspiration,” said Thakoon Panichgul in a press release. “The DesigNation collection allows me to explore London, a city I have always loved, and to showcase its style culture through our lens.”

Thakoon will be the seventh DesigNation collection for Kohl’s. The collection will include timeless looks of everyday fashion with inspiration from London where he recently celebrated the brand’s tenth anniversary.

“We are excited to bring Thakoon to our customers this fall to enhance our women’s apparel offerings with innovative designs, great quality and great value,” said Nancy Feldman, Kohl’s executive vice president of women’s apparel in the same press release.

Everything in the collection, from knit tops to dresses will be less than $200. Get ready for the launch online and in stores beginning fall 2015, just in time for back to school shopping.

Follow Hailey Geller @hgeller30

In honor of Pride Week, it is only fitting to honor those who are making a difference and advocating for the LGBTQ community.

Clean & Clear made transgender teen Jazz Jennings  the face of its #SeeTheRealMe campaign. The campaign asks people to share their personal stories through social media. Jennings shared her story and path to finding her identity.

“I’ve always known who I am,” Jazz said in the Clean & Clear video. “I was a girl trapped in a boy’s body. Growing up has been quite a struggle being transgender- especially in middle school… sometimes, I’ve been called an ‘it.’”

Jazz was diagnosed with gender dysphoria at age five. She recently was named one of Time’s 2014 Most Influential Teens and will soon have her very own reality series on TLC, according to US Magazine.

Andreja Pejic turned heads in 2011 as a male model for designers Marc Jacobs and Jean Paul Gaultier. The renowned model underwent surgery in 2014 for a sex change.

She has walked dozens of runways in her career and did her first show as a transitioned woman in Giles Deacon’s fall 2015  show.

Pejic is an advocate and activist within the trans community, telling People Magazine, “What’s in between anyone’s legs is not who they are.”

Other large brands are making an effort to support the LGBTQ community, as well.

Apple CEO Tim Cook came out last year. “Let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me,” Cook said.

Furthermore, Apple and Steve Jobs lent support to same-sex marriage, more specifically, by opposing Proposition 8 in California. To further show its support of LGBT rights and the community, Apple released a video of participants at the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade.

Nike designed a collection called Be True that included footwear and apparel inspired by the LGBT community.

“We are a company committed to diversity, inclusion and unleashing human potential,” said Tim Hershey, Nike’s vice president of global merchandising and executive chair of Nike’s LGBT & Friends Employee Network.

The collection was launched on June 5, 2014 with the signature #BeTrue logo. It was said to “celebrate the full spectrum of an athlete’s pursuit of sport.” The footwear was covered in rainbow designs.

Google has been known for their support of the LGBT community for years. They even have a Pride Plus LGBT community embedded on their site. It is a community for LGBT and allies to work together and make a difference. Check it out.

Follow Hailey Geller on Twitter @hgeller30

To all our Oregon moms, Happy Mother’s Day. As if giving us life wasn’t enough, you’ve supported us through the best of times and the worst of times. And for that, you have our boundless appreciation.

In honor of the holiday, a few of our Ducks football players spoke about their favorite memories with their moms, and why their moms are the best. Here is what they had to say:

Deforest Buckner, junior defensive lineman and general social science major:

E: Favorite memory?

“Not really one memory, but it would be her and I waking up at 4:30 in the morning to take me to school and that’s when we would have our deep talks.”

E: Why is she the best?

“She’s the best because there is no other mom like her.”

Evan Voeller, redshirt freshman offensive lineman and general social science major:

E: Favorite memory?

“Going out of her way to take me to different football camps and games across the state of Oregon.”

E: Why is she the best?

“She is the best because she loves to cook for me.”

Zach Okun, freshman offensive lineman, undeclared major:

E: Favorite memory?

“Tahoe trip last summer. It was a good bonding time with her as well as the rest of my family.”

E: Why is she the best?

“Incredibly loving and supportive of whatever I choose to pursue.”

Tyrell Crosby, freshman offensive lineman, undeclared major:

E: Favorite memory?

“When my mom was by my side for six days while I was in the hospital in 8th grade.”

E: Why is she the best?

“She’s the best because I know she doesn’t always do something the best but she is always trying her best to help me or my other siblings with anything we need.”

Tui Talia, senior defensive lineman, general social science: crime law society:

E: Favorite memory?

“Taking a family trip to Tonga when I was younger, and she showed me around her village and introduced me to all her family members.”

E: Why is she the best?

“Because she taught me a lot growing up. Always encouraged me to stride for the best and always put God and others before myself.”