Photo by Annie Lefever

Annie Lefever is a junior design and merchandising major with a super busy schedule. She recently picked up a minor in sociology and switched from her everyday carryall handbag to an acid wash Jansport backpack with a lot of character to accommodate for the extra textbooks she now has to carry on a daily basis. Inside her pin-decorated backpack, she carries a ton of essentials to get her through the day.

First up, an umbrella, because who trusts the weather these days?

Her polka dot and striped planner keeps her organized and ensures she doesn’t miss a beat. She writes down everything she needs to know, from due dates to birthdays.

She never leaves her apartment without her keys and her blue reflective sunglasses that she wears all year round.

The day would never be complete without a couple cups of coffee and a few snacks, so she makes sure to keep her Michael Kors wallet handy, along with Purell hand sanitizer to make sure her hands are clean and a pack of gum to have minty fresh breath.

She keeps a few rescue materials like Dr. Scholl’s Rub Relief stick in case her shoes get too uncomfortable, and pepper spray.

To touch up her beauty, she has Clean & Clear oil absorbing sheets within reach, along with two mini perfumes and a hand lotion.

Whenever she has downtime during the day, she pulls out “Angry White Men: American Masculinity at the End of an Era” by Michael Kimmel, a book she has to read for a sociology class. If she’s not in the mood to read, she turns to her iPhone, instead, and plugs in her earphones.

The final items in her bag include a striped USB to save all her papers and design work, and a chevron pencil case with her writing materials.

With Fashion Week well in the books, there’s one thing we were reminded of: the line between musician and designer is becoming increasingly thin. Whether artists are selling clothing through their own online store, opening up pop-up shops in random cities or showcasing their collection at fashion weeks around the world, musicians are expanding their brands by combining music and fashion.

When it comes to successfully crossing over from musician to designer, Victoria Beckham may be the reigning champion. After a prolific career as Posh Spice of the ’90s pop group, Spice Girls, Beckham started her own fashion label and quickly earned the reputation of a respected designer.

Rather than hang up the microphone to take on the sole role as fashion designer, musicians are attempting to straddle both roles. Two of the biggest names in music today, Kanye West and Rihanna, have now become some of the most talked about in the fashion industry.

Kanye, who’s shown his Yeezy collection for four seasons now, has successfully built anticipation for his collections time after time. However, he usually receives criticism, whether it is about his execution or the clothing itself. His Yeezy Season 4 collection, which was shown during New York Fashion Week, was met with the most negative reviews he’s received to date. Rihanna, on the other hand, has managed to produce collections that have been met with relatively positive reviews for two seasons now. Showing at both NYFW and Paris Fashion Week, she seems to have the right idea of how the crossover should be done.

Kanye and Rihanna are not the only ones testing the waters and attempting to hold their own in both fields. In the summer months leading up to Fashion Week, the popularity of tour merchandise skyrocketed. With pioneers like Kanye, Justin Bieber and Drake leading the way, many musicians are looking to make tour merchandise that can be worn well after the concert has ended. There aren’t many females who are thriving in the this category, but Rihanna has definitely made an attempt to do so by opening a pop-up shop in Paris that featured exclusive merchandise from her latest tour.

There will always be mixed reviews about artists trying their hand at a field that is not their own, but it’s safe to say that this won’t stop musicians from expanding. Judging by the way this past Fashion Week has played out, it is interesting to think about seasons the to come. Also, as musicians continue to tour, should we expect more of them to enter the tour merchandise game, or will the trend quickly become played out?

Photo Courtesy Ashim D’Silva

Now that you’ve made it through your first week as a design and merchandising major, it’s time to look forward to what more you should expect. Of course, all the general struggles of every college student will apply – you will pull more than a couple all-nighters, you will shed a few tears and you will find it difficult to complete some assignments.

You will be asked, “What is Design and Merchandising?”

Expect to answer this question to just about everyone you meet that is not a D&M major. Chances are, even after you try to explain what it is, most people will generalize and get it completely wrong. Honestly, the only time your answer to this question will actually matter is when you’re interviewing for a co-op, so don’t sweat it if you don’t have the perfect answer yet. However, it’s important that you yourself understand what the major is about (see below).

D&M is not just about “loving fashion”

Sure, you love your magazine subscriptions, drooling over designers and expanding your wardrobe at all costs, but these should not be reasons why you are in this major. Maybe that’s what made you interested in the fashion industry, but this major goes incredibly deeper than that. It’s not just about making collages and talking about trendy clothing. And being “creative” is not enough; it will only take you so far. Like any other major, you should actually be passionate about your reason to study the subject.

Expect to spend a lot of money

Yes, textbooks are expensive and all college students spend hundreds of dollars on them each month. However, as a design major, you may only have to purchase a couple textbooks, but you will also have to purchase many art supplies, and, no, art supplies are not cheap. You’ll be spending eye-watering amounts of money on paper, pencils, paints and boards. In addition to art supplies, you’ll also have to purchase extra materials for various classes. Just like textbooks for some classes, you’ll probably never even touch some of your art materials, but don’t worry, they’ll probably come in handy for some random, unrelated weekend project.. P.S. just wait for the Adobe subscriptions (use the student discount) and printing costs. You will pour out your wallet in order to print your assignments.

You do not have to be “dressed up” everyday

With the amount of work you’ll have, no one will have the energy to insult your outfit. In other words, if you wake up after having only three hours of sleep and decide you don’t want to wear a face full of makeup with the best outfit in your closet, you’re not obligated to do so just because you’re a D&M major. No one will actually care about what you wear, and it isn’t your business to care what anyone thinks. Everyone’s style is different.

The struggle will, at times, be too real

Expect to struggle in every way possible, but don’t expect to get any work done if you allow yourself to get stuck in the struggle. You might accidentally cut yourself while you rush to finish your design project, but you have no time to stop and cry about it. Grab some bandages and keep going. Aside from the design sequence, there will be more classes that you will struggle through. For example, presentation techniques is a sophomore level class that will, single handedly, demolish your bank account and you will want to cry from week one all the way to week ten. The best thing to keep in mind is that it will be worth it in the very end.

You will change your mind about which direction you want to go in

If you think you have an idea of what direction you want to go, understand that it will change. A great thing about D&M is that it’s so broad and allows you to explore many different areas. Being open to explore these areas will be a tremendous help. You may want to be a buyer, but then realize that you actually hate it. You’ll have more than enough time to explore your options; no one pressures you to have an answer and to commit to it.

Expect to receive criticism

It starts in your first design critique, and it will never end! Don’t run and don’t cry, instead learn to take criticism from peers and professors alike. You’ll see that it really helps to receive a few tips and suggestions from your peers as well, rather than just your teachers. Professors want you to succeed, but if you don’t keep an open mind you will never see what you are capable of. Honestly, do yourself a favor, and learn to embrace criticism now so you can start growing and improving as soon as possible. Also, learn to give constructive criticism. This skill will help both you and your classmates. Just remember, it’s never personal.

Expect to be challenged in all areas of the major

Design and merchandising is not just a creative major, and it’s not just a business major. You need to do it all — or at least try your best to refine your skills. You’ll have to find the balance between “study subjects” and “project subjects.” The secret to this is honing your time management and learning to plan ahead. Do not underestimate the value of time: paint needs time to dry, papers need time to write and group projects don’t just happen on their own. Lastly, even though you may have a stronger gravitation to “the business side” or “the creative side,” you still need to strive to understand all areas of the major and improve your weaker side. Don’t just write off buying because you think you’re bad at math or ignore design because you’re tired of painting; instead, take every struggle as a learning opportunity. Keep an open mind because you never truly know what area you’ll end up in.

The major will get stressful, and you may start to go crazy. However, there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel. Whether that light is not having classes on Fridays, finishing your project early or your teacher cancelling class, you will always have something to look forward to.  

Each season there are always a few recurring trends that make everyone go crazy. This summer is no different.

Out of all the decades, the ’90s seem to be the front-runner for influence in today’s fashion trends. We see the era’s influence without fail every season. The driving force behind ’90s fashion success was definitely its “too cool to care” attitude. The era was all about rebellion, and it reflected in the clothes of models, celebrities and everyday teens. Almost 20 years after the ’90s era we still can’t get enough of the fashions.

If you wore your hair up with your outfit in the ’90s, chances are your hair tie was big, ruffled and matched your outfit. Scrunchies were the go-to hair accessory back then. Although they aren’t as widely used today, some fashionistas still sport the snazzy hair accessory. As a two for one, if you don’t wear the scrunchie in your hair, there are no rules that state that you can’t wear it as a bracelet.

Last summer, chokers made their way back onto the necks of young people everywhere. What changed? Why did they make their way back? It was a slight stylistic adjustment.  Everyone was getting pretty tired of the plastic tattoo choker. In 2015, chokers came back with a bolder, heavier look.  Now, regardless of your style or taste you can find a choker to match your outfit. Hang up that plastic tattoo choker and pick up a velvet or bejeweled one. Even if you only have one choker, it will work well with anything in your closet, regardless of how dressy or casual.

In the ’90s, it was common to see bare midriffs everywhere. Why? Crop tops were major. Another midriff baring top that was major — tube tops! You can’t deny that you always wanted one, and if you did have one, you probably tried to wear it every chance you got. Now that you don’t have to ask mom and dad for permission to wear tube tops, knock yourself out! If you weren’t sure what you were going to pair your choker with, the tube top is your answer.

If you’ve always wanted to channel Kate Moss in a slip dress, now is your time. The slip dress is no longer reserved for evening-only events. Go on and layer it over t-shirts or pants, wear it long or short, with sneakers or with boots. The style possibilities are endless. The best part of rocking a slip dress this season is it’s perfect for the brutal heat we’re experiencing.

A pair of jeans in the ’90s was high-waisted, featured a ton of rips and frays and usually had wide-legs. Jeans with frayed hems were a staple for the ’90s grunge scene. Bloggers and celebrities have shown us that even if grunge isn’t our style, we can still pull off these denim trends with a great pair or summer sandals or sneakers.

The mom jean is the most sacred of all things high-waisted. If the weather makes you think twice about wearing jeans but you love the “mom” cut, don’t sweat it because mom shorts are totally a thing. Pair them with your new tube top or that off the shoulder top you bought last season.

There’s a great deal of ’90s trends we wish we could forget and hope never come back. We’re happy to see the best of the best make their way onto the fashion scene and onto our Instagram feeds. When you try these ’90s trends, don’t forgot your ’90s attitude!

Photo by Gabriella Tam

Much to Karl Lagerfeld’s dismay, his theory that wearing sweatpants is a sign of defeat has been proven wrong. Believe it or not, it is now considered trendy and fashionable to wear anything you would wear in the privacy of your own home—sweatpants, slip dresses, robes, silk pajama sets—in public!

So the next time you roll out of bed completely late for class, don’t sweat it! You don’t have to waste time picking out an outfit, because chances are, you’re already wearing it. The careless and effortless nature of this trend makes it perfectly doable for all of you who are worn out at this point in the school term.

The loungewear-to-daywear trend is not so much about laziness as it is about comfort. You aren’t literally wearing your lazy clothes outside: the idea is to wear nice loungewear inspired clothing, not the old clothes you throw on when you’re cleaning your room. Another key element in pulling off this trend is how you style the rest of the outfit, including hair and makeup.

Silk is the best option for a sexy loungewear-to-daywear look. Brands like Balenciaga, Celine and Calvin Klein Collections have showcased this ’90s trends in their spring/summer 2016 shows. The number one source of inspiration for this look is definitely Rihanna. She’s pulled off this look numerous times, accessorizing with sneakers, a baseball hat, denim jacket, sunglasses, and more. The easiest way to rock a slip dress is under a duster and with a pair of sneakers or slip ons.

Pajama sets have been, in all their oversized glory, styled with minimal accessories and sneakers, of course, for functionality. With the first couple of buttons undone and messy bed hair, the look is complete. Wearing the top completely unbuttoned with a crop top or silk camisole underneath is also a way to go.

Sweatpants are now available in so many different styles that you can take your outfit in any direction imaginable. Rihanna and Kylie Jenner have proven a matching sweatsuit can be a great outfit as they have both been spotted in the same Vetements sweatshirt and matching sweatpants from the brand’s spring summer 2016 ready-to-wear collection.

If you’re not familiar with the athleisure trend, it’s the reason why celebrities are going shopping and running errands in workout clothes. Think back to Alexander Wang’s collaboration with H&M, or to Beyonce’s new Ivy Park clothing line in collaboration with Topshop. Essentially, they’re workout clothes that are too cute to sweat in.

The loungewear-to-daywear trend is an example of how bizarre fashion trends can get, but then again, who would turn down the chance to wear pajamas to class and still be fashionable?

The post Style Guide: Loungewear as outerwear appeared first on The Triangle.

Photo courtesy 190.arch

As we transition into the spring season, there’s no doubt that the weather will leave you confused about what to wear. Judging by the winter we’ve had, we should expect the unexpected and always be prepared. Over spring break, gather these killer pieces to add to your wardrobe. What better time than to try different trends and to take risks than the spring?

First, switch out your fall/winter beanie for a dad hat. Like mom jeans, they have become popular for everyone who is not a lame dad or mom. The people of The Shade Room coined the term “dad hat” for hats that your dad probably would have worn in the 80s and 90s, with logos or slogans on them. Not to be confused with flat brims, snapbacks or fitted hats, dad hats have a brim that is slightly curved. One thing’s for sure, the solution to all your bad hair day problems will be solved with this simple accessory. You can rock them casually with jeans, a hoodie, crewneck or graphic tee. You can also dress them up a little with a simple dress or two-piece ensemble. If you need any more reasons to rock a dad hat, Rihanna, Drake, President Obama and even North West all rock dad hats.

Second, overalls have the potential to be your new best friend this spring season. You can experiment with different styles for a desired look. A tailored pair of denim overalls is basically a pair of skinny jeans. A loose fit can be rolled at the ankles and paired with sneakers for a more relaxed look, and an oversized pair will easily help you achieve a 90s vibe. Crepe overalls are a dressier alternative to denim, but they do not take away from the overall look. If the weather turns summer-like very early on, overall shorts are another option.

Third, pinafores are in the company of overalls, but with a slightly more girly touch. They are a cross between overalls and a dress, making them perfect for the ladies who do not want to commit 100 percent to either. Another bonus is that you could pair them with just about anything! Try a light turtleneck or long sleeve shirt for chillier days or a crop top for the really hot days. Pair with ankle boots, sneakers, slip-ons, sandals, anything! Again, you can choose from a range of styles like denim, suede and corduroy.

In the early to mid 2000s, you probably owned a pair of gaucho pants and you probably wore them everywhere. Luckily, they disappeared for the vital time of your life that was high school. Now, they’re back and better than ever. Relive a major part of your young-adulthood with a pair of culottes. They’re much cooler than those gaucho pants, but they’re just as comfortable and a lot more stylish. This style of pant ends below the knee, but above the ankle, and features wide legs. Grab a high-waisted pair and throw on a crop top and ankle boots, or try a patterned, two-piece set. Be sure to add platform or heeled sandals if you don’t want the culottes to rob you of a couple inches.

Experimenting with jeans is a great way to spice up a rather plain outfit. Say goodbye to pockets embellished with rhinestones, and say hello to jeans with an embroidered touch. Everything from phrases to food or flowers and other objects can make a statement if embellished on your jeans. Obviously, a little goes a long way, and so long as you don’t overdo it, you’ll pull off an interestingly cool outfit. Patchwork denim is another way to add flare to your jeans. This reoccurring trend features contrasting patches of denim placed throughout a single pair of jeans.

Next, switch out the heeled mules for a completely flat pair of mules. They may be intimidating at first, but it is possible to pull them off. Flat mules are the closest chance you’ll get to wear bedroom slippers in public without actually doing so.

Last, if you don’t own a pair of flat-forms yet, you’re seriously missing out. Flat-forms in the form of slip-ons, laceups, sandals and sneakers can be paired with just about anything from jeans to dresses. They’re the go-to choice for added height without the discomfort of hearing heels.

Trends are always reoccurring as they carry over into the seasons. It doesn’t matter what trend you choose to try or what season you choose to rock it; the end goal is always to pull off an amazing outfit.

The post Spring style risks appeared first on The Triangle.

Photo Courtesy of Joeri Van Veen

Thanks to the dropping temperatures and the snow in the upcoming weather forecast, it’s finally beginning to feel like wintertime. The best way to enjoy this brutal but long-awaited weather is to be prepared by dressing appropriately. Be prepared to bundle up in many layers and to wrap yourself in the thickest scarf you own. However you chose to attack the weather, your shoes may be the most important piece to consider.

Unless you are a professional ice skater, looking graceful while sliding across ice is basically impossible. Designers have finally caught on to the advantages of lug sole boots and have blessed us all with pairs that do not look like you can only wear them to do utility work. The style of sole can now be seen at the bottom of everything from ankle boots, like the Nine West Ursula boots priced at $99, to thigh highs, like the Sam Edelman Remi pair for $133, both on sale at Nordstrom. They also come in extremely exaggerated styles and also toned down styles that are more concealed. Either style can assure that you won’t have to walk one mile per hour to avoid slipping on ice.

As much as you might hate to admit it, UGG Boots get the job done. The trick to not letting a pair of UGG boots ruin your outfit is to stay away from the classic styles the retailer offers. Take a second look at the styles that are not seen as often. For example, the Thomsen boot looks nothing like the structureless classic UGG boots you are used to seeing, and are waterproof as well. Another option is the Adirondack, as it will undoubtedly keep you safe and warm if there ever happens to be a more than just a couple inches of snow. They are both very pricey at above $200, but you’re sure to get your money’s worth if you decide to purchase a pair.

If you don’t already own at least one pair of rain boots, now is a great time to make that purchase. When the snow begins to melt, you will definitely want a trusted pair to keep the moisture out and to avoid ruining your other shoes. Hunter boots are a classic that you can always rely on. An alternative can be J. Crew’s Chelsea rain boots, priced at $68 originally, but currently on sale for 30 percent off.

The bottom line is that the boots most appropriate for the bad weather usually aren’t the most attractive or the cheapest. However, the investment is worth keeping your feet warm in Philadelphia’s harshest months.

The post Style Guide: Winter Boots appeared first on The Triangle.