Taking inspiration and hand-me-downs from her mother, Izzy Storm creates a unique style.

Name: Izzy storm

Year: Junior

Major: Art History

Hometown: San Francisco / Cleveland Ohio

Fashion inspiration: “I take a lot from musical artist Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and from my mom.”

How would you describe your style: “It’s a lot of my mom’s hand-me-downs. It’s really whatever I feel like putting on in the first ten minutes after I wake up.”

Recent purchase you love: An anatomical muscle bathing suit.

Trends you like right now: “I can’t really say that I keep up with trends. I don’t really know what is going on in the fashion world.”

Trends you hate right now: “Crocs are something I will always and forever hate. They are the worst.”

Favorite place to shop: H&M and Buffalo Exchange, “I really like being able to find things second hand.”

How would you define Eugene style: Eclectic, “You kind of get everything around here; everyone has their pods of people. Everything is accepted and that is really cool.

Every Memorial Day weekend, thousands make their way to central Washington to take in beautiful views and amazing live music at Sasquatch Music Festival. But, as many fervent festival-goers know, the three days are as much about the music as they are about the unique culture and fashion that goes along with it.

Sasquatch has a unique laid-back culture where festival-goers rock the outfits that they couldn’t normally pull off in an everyday setting and embrace their inner hippie. The beauty of this festival: Anything goes.

According to sophomore Kelsey Curtis, Sasquatch has a different culture from other festivals, such as Coachella.

“Coachella is a lot more high fashion I would say, whereas Sasquatch is less about brands and more laid-back,” Curtis said.

The effortless Pacific Northwest vibe of Sasquatch requires little thought: Flowy hippie pants, over-sized flannels and vintage kimonos — to name a few.

But the low-key style doesn’t mean that festival outfits aren’t planned months in advanced. Curtis shops for Sasquatch year round.

“If I see something in December that seems fitting for Sasquatch, I’ll buy it,” Curtis said.

Senior Linnea Haas uses Sasquatch as a chance to go all out and embrace the chance to wear things out of the ordinary.

“I like to wear really crazy things that I wouldn’t wear in normal life,” Haas said. “I want it to be unique and something I wouldn’t wear to dollar beers.”

The easy-going style is largely due to the fact that everyone camps for three days, and showering is frowned upon.

“You don’t have a hotel to really get ready in,” Haas said.

There are no rules when it comes to planning your outfits, as long as it’s functional. Functionality and comfort are key.

“Have fun with your outfits, like wear a flowy dress that is fun to twirl in,” Haas said.

Curtis and Haas have been collecting clothing items throughout the year in an effort to pull together awesome outfits for Sasquatch. Sasquatch this year is forecasted to be a bit hotter than usual, so plan accordingly, though weather in the Pacific Northwest tends to be very unpredictable.

The days are hot, but the nights get cold, which is why festival-goers highly suggest lots of layers. For those who may just be starting to pull some Sasquatch outfits together, here are a few ideas to get you started:

✒ Layers: It may be hot during the day, but the nights get cold.

✒ Lace

✒ Beads

✒ Floral prints

✒ Crazy pants: think patterns and colors

Sasquatch is right around the corner. So, when you begin packing your bag, remember to take this opportunity to rock the clothes you wouldn’t normally wear and embrace the laid-back judgement-free environment of one of the biggest national music festivals.

As summer approaches, your Uggs, leggings and sweater combos just aren’t going to cut it anymore.

As people start breaking out their fashionable spring clothing, you may start feeling the need to update your wardrobe with the latest styles. These buying and selling apps will help you find new clothes without breaking the bank — you may even make a few bucks.

Vinted

Digging through a closet full of clothes and still finding nothing to wear is a perpetual problem for many.

But that problem may be solved (sort of) with Vinted, a clothing app that allows you to buy, sell and trade your used clothing giving users the opportunity to add to their wardrobe without breaking the bank.

Vinted is essentially a mobile marketplace where users, or “Vinties,” can buy, sell or trade with each other. You can search via product, making it easy to find what you want. Think eBay, but for women’s clothes only.

The app is pretty easy to use. You upload a photo, add a description of the item and set the price at whatever you want to sell it for.

Similar to traditional thrift shops, Vinted also deducts 19 percent that is charged to the seller. When selling an item there is an instant calculator showing you exactly how much you will get to keep so you can set your price accordingly.

The app has a messaging feature allowing for an easy way to connect buyer to seller. This is a key feature because it ensures that the buyer can have all questions answered before buying or trading.

There are a few downfalls to this app: One is the cost of shipping which is based on weight and location. The buyer is the one charged for the shipping and if one wishes to trade, that has to be worked out between the duo. The other downfall is that only women’s clothing is posted — sorry guys!

Vinted now has 3 million members and 14 million listings. The reviews and feedback from this app have been mostly positive, so if you are looking for ways to revamp your spring wardrobe on a budget, Vinted is worth checking out.

Poshmark

Poshmark is another app that lets you buy, sell and trade clothing while connecting with others online. This app works in a similar manner and allows you to upload photos of items you are looking to sell.

However, with Poshmark you can customize your online closet with different photo filters. This part of the app seems like a downfall to me because the user buying the product won’t be able to see its true color.

Once you have created your own closet you can share your closet with friends by connecting your social networks.

One cool feature of this app that sets it apart from Vinted is that when you create a profile it has you select your size and preferences in order to filter the items that are best for you. You can also select virtual closets to follow on your feed.

You can also attend “Posh Parties” which are virtual buying and selling parties.

Like Vinted, Poshmark also deducts 20 percent from your selling price so you have to take that into consideration when selling your item.

Tradesy

If you’re looking for more bang for your buck, Tradesy is another online app that is worth checking out. It is the same type of app as Vinted and Poshmark. Tradesy only deducts 9 percent from your selling price.

Armed with 40 dollars of St. Vincent de Paul’s clothing, ten local Eugene designers will create upscale styles in St. Vincent de Paul’s Metamorphose fashion show this Sunday, May 4.

Designers will combine their selected clothing from St. Vincent de Paul with their creative eye to create styles in three categories: “Evening wear,” “Ready to Wear” and “Designer’s Choice.” Eighty percent of the materials the designers use must come from St. Vincent de Paul stores.

Mitra Chester, a designer herself, is the brain behind this fashion challenge. She is also the force behind the DIY section at St. Vincent de Paul location on Division Avenue in Eugene.

Knowing that there was so much talent within the Eugene community and knowing what designers can create out of something that already exists served as the inspiration behind the creation of the fashion show.

“The fashion show has reciprocal benefits. In this show we can promote these designers within the community as well as show the community what upcycling is and the work that St. Vincent de Paul is doing,” said Chester. Up-cycling is the process of creating something new out of something that already exists.

According to Rebecca Larson, PR and development coordinator for St. Vincent de Paul, proceeds from the Metamorphose fashion show will serve as a business incubator for Eugene’s emerging fashion industry and its local designers.

Marie Slatton-Valle, a local Eugene designer, has recently become a “master recycler,” through Lane County’s “Master Recycler Program,” which trains individuals to become experts on recycling and waste. This program has served as an inspiration for her participation in the fashion show.

“For me, as a designer, it’s important to me to find ways to reduce waste while making things,” said Slatton-Valle.

Slatton-Valle describes her designs as being fantasy-based, and for the “Designer’s Choice” portion of the show, she has created an avant-garde collection.

The transformed clothing will be showcased on the runway at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at 6:30 p.m. Designers will be judged and winners will be selected by the audience, as well as by a panel of judges. The show’s music will be provided by Mood Area 52 and there will be finger foods and beverages available.

Tickets are available in advance for 15 dollars and will be sold at the door for 20 dollars. The first 20 guests to arrive will win earrings from Chester’s new line created from recycled final records.

“I am just really excited about everything. When you work so hard on a project, and everyone plays an important role, it’s exciting to see how the crowd will respond,” said Chester.

Though this is the first year for Metamorphose, Chester expects the show to be a success and hopes it will become an annual event.

Racism and inequality were evident in Troy Douglass’ childhood. Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood in Lake Oswego, Ore., Douglass felt he stood out like a sore thumb because of his Filipino-American heritage.

“I was very aware of racism and classism taking place, and it has always interested me,” Douglass said.

His interest in cultural issues serves as the mission for his growing clothing brand: Cultural Blends. Creating the company was Douglass’ way of making his mark on the world.

Douglass came up with the idea to start this clothing brand as a college student.

“I needed a job, but didn’t want to work for anyone else,” Douglass said.

And from there, the company took off.

With Cultural Blends, Douglass works to craft unique clothing items to reduce racism in the local community.

His street wear designs are targeted primarily at young adults ages 16 to 24. The company sells shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts and hats, and is looking to expand its items even further.

Its most popular clothing design is a graphic that shows a combination of the Washington, Oregon and California license plates, with the text: “West Coast Best Coast” on the plates. The design’s goal is to create a sense of West Coast unity, reinforcing the company’s ultimate mission to support a sense of community on this side of the country.

Douglass, along with senior Sam Hassan and senior CJ Huntzinger are working to grow the company and give back to the community at the same time.

The team gives back to the community by donating 15 percent of certain proceeds to two organizations: the Oregon Food Bank and Raphael House, which is a domestic violence agency. The company hopes to be able to donate to other organizations as well.

“I wanted to create an impactful message that would create a positive influence not only on a business level, but on a personal level,” Douglass said.

The growing brand is something that excites Hassan, a partner of the company. Hassan spends sleepless nights working to expand the company and advertise, primarily through social media networking.

“That has been the biggest challenge — getting the word out there,” Hassan said.

Aside from spreading the word about their company, the team is also looking to expand where they sell their items. Though the company currently only sells products online, they plan on selling their clothing at the upcoming ASUO Street Faire and are looking to reach out to retailers in the near future.

Huntzinger, who recently joined the team, thinks that the company has a niche market that resonates with the entire West Coast.

“I am excited to be a part of this company. I think it is a great opportunity,” Huntzinger said.

As these young entrepreneurs continue to expand their business and make their dream a reality, keep an eye out for more of their hip clothing items around campus.

This year, Earth Day is on Tuesday, April 22, and if you are looking for a way to celebrate and also do a bit of cheap shopping, attending Buffalo Exchange’s annual Earth Day, Dollar Day Sale is for you. The sale is Saturday, April 19. Buffalo Exchange stores across the country are marking down select merchandise to a dollar. Yes, a dollar!

But this sale isn’t just about cheap finds — it’s also about protecting the environment. All the money raised from the sale (only the items marked down to a dollar) will go to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, which is one of the nations leading outdoor, living museums. Buffalo Exchange and the museum are partnering to raise awareness about pollination conservation. The 2014 Dollar Day Sale draws specific attention to the preservation of plant pollinators through the Museum’s Pollination Hotspots program.

The Annual Earth Day, Dollar Day Sale began in 1997 and has continued to grow. Every year, a different organization is chosen to donate the money to.

“The sale has been very successful in the past, and brings a lot of value to these important organizations,” Kurtis Durfey, Buffalo Exchange’s marketing director, said.

Last year, the company as a whole was able to raise $43,000 which they donated to the Humane Society of the United States. Since starting this annual sale, Buffalo Exchange has raised $424,000 nationwide, which has been donated to different organizations across the country. The Eugene Buffalo Exchange, located at 131 E 5th Ave., opened in August 1999 and began its first Dollar Day Sale in 2000.

According to Durfey, every year the sale grows and the company gets more continued interest from customers and the community — so Durfey expects this year to be another success story.

“Last year was a great sale for us, we had more people line up than we have in the past. People get really excited,” Janelle Derven, Eugene store manager, said.

But be ready for a crowd and a bit of craziness — Derven said that the crowds grow every year, and people get pretty excited about the event. She suggests getting to the store early because customers typically line up outside the store before opening to ensure that they get the best pick. Shoppers will be limited to 10 items and all must be paid for in cash.

The sale runs from 10 a.m. until the items are gone.

“Almost all the sale items are gone by 2 p.m.,” Derven said.

Buffalo Exchange prides itself on supporting sustainable living, and environmental considerations are a big part of what sets Buffalo Exchange apart from other stores. The company is a leader in used fashion, and continues to work to encourage a more sustainable world — the Dollar Day Sale is one of the efforts to do so.

In a city full of hipsters, hippies and college students on a budget it’s only fitting that Eugene has some of the best thrift shops around.

Ranging from basic thrift shops like Goodwill and St. Vincent DePaul to more upscale vintage shops like Deluxe Fashion Shop and The Redoux Parlour, we have the low down on which stores are worth your time and what you might expect to find.

Many of the thrift shops around town also offer the chance to sell your clothing in exchange for store credit.

First on the list is Kitsh-22, located at 1022 Willamette St. This store is a bit more specialized than your average thrift shop, offering a mix of contemporary and vintage styles.

“We look for vintage pieces that are coming back into trend. Right now that’s ’90s and floral prints, basically the things everyone was wearing when I was in high school,” employee Rebecca Welton said.

Kitsh-22 is also a great store to check out if your looking for festival outfits for the upcoming term.

Next on the list is The Redoux Parlour, located on 780 Blair Blvd. The Redoux Parlour is a thrift shop, but also carries the work of 50 local designers. This shop is a bit different from your average thrift shop in that the store also offers sewing classes, alterations and repairs, as well as the chance to sell back your gently used clothes, according to their website.

Deluxe Fashion Shop, found at 1331 Willamette St. is another thrift shop worth checking out. Deluxe Fashion Shop has been around for many years, but was recently sold to Custom Cranium and will see some changes over the next few months. This thrift shop will begin a transformation in order to focus more closely on higher end vintage items and costuming, while becoming more of a boutique.

“We are going to be working less with the common items. Eugene is so saturated with thrift shops. There’s just way too much, so we are moving toward more of a boutique of local designers and costumers,” Deluxe Fashion Shop owner Travis Anderson said.

Lastly, if you are looking for basics at a great cost don’t forget to check out Goodwill and St Vincent DePaul. These are your go-to stores if you are looking for jeans to turn in to the perfect cutoffs, or any purchases you need to make for a themed party without breaking the bank. These stores, however, may take a bit longer to sift through seeing as there are loads and loads of items.

Keeping up on the latest trends, the biggest sales and your favorite brands was a lot of work until now. OptHub is a utility app allowing you to shop the latest fashions without clogging your inbox with brand emails.

This app is essentially a shopper’s paradise where you can “opt” in to any brand, store, sports team and anything else you are interested in and receive updates.

OptHub was started by UO freshman Andrew Timlin in 2012 while he was still in high school. He started this app as a way for consumers to connect with brands without having to share their personal email.

“While working at Lacoste I found out that people don’t like to give away their personal email, so I thought, let’s create an app called OptHub where you no longer have to subscribe to brand emails or download brand apps,” Timlin said.

Since then OptHub has grown into a lifestyle app combining all brand content into one visual browser with the ability to opt in to whichever brand, company or team you want to receive information from. OptHub has taken a fragmented market and brought it together.

The app also allows for an easier online shopping and browsing experience, which makes it easy to compare items from different stores in one place.

“It just simplifies the online shopping process and just browsing,” freshman Aran Schwoebel said. “I keep up on the brands that I am interested in, and I look for coupons and sales that different brands have.”

Timlin has spent his freshman year juggling 70 plus hours of developing this app, school and somehow maintaining a social life.

“We are very busy. We just sleep less. You don’t need that much sleep. We can sleep when we are rich. I’ll sleep on my yacht … just kidding,” Director of Media and Marketing Thomas Tullis said.

These driven freshmen are dedicated to their work and are already being rewarded.

“We have a couple thousand users now and got our first round of financing,” Timlin said.

The most rewarding thing so far for Timlin has been seeing how the users like OptHub and how it actually helps people simplify their lives.

Timlin was inspired by a quote from Leonardo Da Vinci: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” That is, he says, the ultimate goal behind OptHub.

For now the app continues to grow and Timlin is focused on building a strong team to help the growth of the app excel.

OptHub will soon be introduced another feature that allows you to put in all of your check out information into the settings of OptHub and it will save it. The idea behind doing this is to make shopping on OptHub simple.

“Shoppers will have the ability to one click shop from every brand,” Tullis said.

If you are looking for a simplistic way to stay up-to-date on the latest fashions, OptHub is worth checking out.

“In one year OptHub will be the new big thing. I guarantee that,” Timlin said.

A group of people sitting in the corner dressed in black, leather, big hair and a good amount of studs jam along to the song titled “Mandatory Abortion for Tweakers.” The musician, BrAiN-aKE & tHe fAmiLy MuLLet, who played at Black Forest last Friday night, describes his music on his Facebook page as “Good ‘ol fashioned gas huffin mullet rawk!!!”

Make of that what you will, but “mullet rawk” seemed to perfectly describe the universal punk style that was present at the bar. Bullet belts and gauges were seen in abundance.

Black Forest, a venue that has a lot of metal, punk and rock and roll bands, attracts a certain type of person.

“There is a wide variety of people that come out, but I guess I would say more punk rock people. A lot of mohawks and a lot of skulls wearing,” Black Forest employee Nicole Stephens said.

The bar attracts this specific crowd because of the music it plays.

“We definitely attract the crowd interested in that genre of music and that style,” Stephens said.

There is a certain punk subculture that exists around punk rock music, including an array of fashions, expressions and ideologies. That subculture was clearly visible at the bar in the way that people dressed and even the names of the songs that were played. “Censorship is un-American” and “Keep priests away from children” were two of the song titles.

The relationship that exists between music and fashion is inescapably intertwined. For example, the relationship between Vivienne Westwood and the Sex Pistols was key to the development of the punk rock subculture. Westwood is an English fashion designer and is largely accredited for being responsible for the incorporation of punk into the mainstream. The designer helped dress and style the Sex Pistols, a style that was then embraced by many of the band’s followers.

What’s more: Think about The Beatles in the ’60s. While selling albums, The Beatles were also selling trends. Because of their immense popularity, millions of fans embraced their shaggy hair, Edwardian collarless suites and John Lennon’s signature glasses.

Similarly, the punk style music that was being played at Black Forest had a strong correlation to the style of clothing and the trends that people were wearing. Everyone is inspired by different things and for many, music serves as an inspiration for things they do and what they wear.

“The music that I listen to when I wake up in the morning has an effect on what I look like for the rest of the day,” punk rock fan Sarah Robey said. “There is a reason my hair is so big. It’s because I grew up listening to a lot of psychobilly surf rock.”

Similarly Raven Ellingson, who described his style as “Irish punk,” said that music has influenced his life since he was 14.

“Music is what I grab onto whenever I have a question about what is going on,” Ellingson said.

A personalized monthly delivery that allows you to discover new items is redefining retail and online shopping. Birchbox, an online subscription shopping website, offers a unique way for shoppers to test and discover new beauty and lifestyle products without ever having to leave their house.  

Subscription shopping is a growing trend and offers shoppers the ease of having varying products picked out for them and mailed directly to their doorstep. Subscription shopping is appealing in that it allows shoppers to test out new products before making a purchase.

Birchbox was launched in September 2010 in New York and initially only offered female products. It was then extended to include products for men in 2012 with “Birchbox Man,” which ranges from tech accessories to hip socks. A subscription costs $10 a month for women and $20 a month for men.

The company  focuses on selling high-end beauty and facial products. This form of discovery shopping allows subscribers to test out new products without having to commit to a purchase of the full-sized version.

Nicole Duxbury, a UO senior and recent subscriber to Birchbox, likes the idea that she gets to try out many different products each month that were hand picked for her.

“It’s a great way to explore new products without being overwhelmed,” Duxbury said.

In order to receive products that a subscriber will enjoy, subscribers create a profile in which they specify their personal preferences. Then the rest is left up to the employees of Birchbox to pick out samples customized for the subscriber and mail them to his or her house once a month.

The ease of being sent products that are specifically picked out for you is one of the things Duxbury enjoys about Birchbox.

“I have a hard time figuring out which products to try, so I like people just giving me samples. That way, I don’t buy something and not like it,” she said.

If the subscriber is sent a sample that he or she likes, there is the opportunity to purchase the full-sized version of the product from their online store. Shoppers are rewarded for their shopping through Birchbox points, which can be used towards discounts on other products. Subscribers are also given the opportunity to rate the products they were sent.

“I like that you can try different things and then rate them, by rating them you get a discount on other products,” Emily Oapley, a UO senior who has been a subscriber for about 6 months, said.

The success of this subscription-based commerce platform is evident. Birchbox now has roughly 400,000 subscribers, which is double what it was last year, according to CNN and is continuously growing and expanding. Birchbox now has other lifestyle boxes meant for special occasions such as hosting holiday parties or dinner parties.

According to Duxbury, the one downfall is that you are only sent samples.

“Some of the samples they give you are only enough to use once. It’s hard to tell if you like something off one try,” she said.

Overall, Duxbury and Oapley had really positive things to say about Birchbox, and it is clear that many others feel the same.