This week marks the kick-off for the launch events of Columbia Style Week (this year, June 5^-9) and, needless to say, I am super stoked. To make sure this year’s event week starts off with a bang, they’ve decided to host a few mini-events to build anticipation, and boy did it work. Last Saturday,

they held an event called Posh and Panache hosted at M² in the Vista. This is probably the cutest store to ever hit Columbia. Clarissa started her store in her very own apartment in New Jersey, and then opened her first brick-n-mortar store in Atlanta. Since there hasn’t ever been anything else like it in Columbia, her local family advised her to open a store here. Selling everything from printed tunics to True Religion jeans, there’s something for everyone’s price point. Here are a couple greatly styled pictures from the night.

 

 

 

 

Above, the back says it all. Below is me with the owner and, again, go check her store out in the Vista. Let’s be honest, you are guaranteed to find something that could always have a place in your closet.

 

Excited is an understatement to describe how I feel about the start of my favorite season: FALL! But this season, erase EVERYTHING you thought you knew about Fall fashion –well not everything, but a good bit– because summer has treaded into Fall territory. Give your wardrobe a slight shift with this season’s must-haves!

 

Hitting below the belt

Punch up your pants with highlighter-worthy hues, it’s time we let our bottoms have some fun. Whether they are cropped, flared or tapered, bright bottoms are in for Fall! Pair with neutral tones such as beige, white and black to keep the look balanced.

 

 

Shady Business

There are a few vivid shades that are stealing the show: jade green, mustard yellow and rust orange are the ‘A’ listers this season. These colors may seem intimidating at first, but purchasing accessories in these hues are a safe way to try the trend. For those daring to look for statement pieces, think: dresses, sweaters and even sexy pumps!

 

Getting Spotted

What better way to be ‘spotted’ this season than by rocking the most popular trend (in my opinion)…polka dots! Designers from Stella McCartney to Marc Jacobs lined– or should I say dotted– their fall/winter 2011 runways with this fun yet very chic trend! Look for a scarf or cute cardigan for an inexpensive way to rock the dots!

While most people count down the days until things like football season, Christmas or their birthday, there is a select group of us that spend our time watching the clock tick toward a much more important event: Fall Fashion Week.

 

The first thing that gets my fashionable engines revving is the thought of Fashion’s Night Out, happening this coming Thursday. The event is hosted by The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) which supports American designers promoting their artistic visions. FNO hosts a huge celebration before the start of the week’s fashion shows where you can stroll down the streets of New York and venture into stores where they have unbelievable discounts and giveaways galore. Can you say jealous?

 

Sept. 9 starts Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week and the anticipation is killing me. Well okay, not literally but I will admit that it is the only time I bring my large and in-charge laptop to class so that I can watch a live stream of most of the shows. What I am most excited to see is what the heck is going to happen with the fashion world in the spring/summer next year, considering that it is still 100+ degrees outside here in Columbia. 

 

When it comes down to it, let’s be honest, I’m a starving college student who wears A LOT of Nike athletic shorts. A girl can dream, though, and I hope you get inspired for the Spring season to come, because I definitely do not believe the world is coming to an end in 2012. By the way, if you want to be a slacker in class during the month of September like moi, you can check out nowfashion.com; they live stream photos from all the fashion shows. 

So, I just got back from Charleston Fashion Week. And by just got back, I mean I got back when it ended… three weeks ago. I’ve been rather busy, what with my senior thesis being due, like, now, and all, so I haven’t had time to muse much on my time spent in The Holy City, or as I like to call it, Chucktown, The Holy Quasi-City Filled with Luxury Vehicles, See-and-be-Seen Restaurants and Successful Young Professionals with Hot Wives and Cute Kids.

"5 Spring Trends I Have to Have": CollegeCandy

The music industry’s influence is flooding fashion once again as performing artists shed their street clothes and keep the after-hours party attire chugging all day. The Beatles’ suits and Madonna’s bra-tops rocked the boat back in the day, but these are now common wardrobe essentials. So what’s next?

“I love Hitler!”

“People like you would be dead today.”

“Your mothers, your forefathers would be *$#%ing gassed and *$#%ing dead.”

It happened to be those choice words that secured John Galliano’s release from his position as Creative Director of world-renowned fashion house Christian Dior on Tuesday, March 1, 2011. The fiasco has thrown the industry in a justifiable frenzy as questions compound upon themselves. Why? Was this the first time? What will happen to the Galliano label? And most importantly to some, who’s next?

Who doesn’t love the fall issues of our beloved fashion magazines? Only problem is, many of these spreads focus on select areas that have more defined seasons. In the South we have times of the year I like to call, “fashion limbo.” Fashion limbo occurs when the next season has arrived in the fashion-sense, but the weather behaves otherwise. Some days you’ve got that perfect fall weather, while others throw us back to the sweltering summer months. This rollercoaster of temperatures is no reason for our style to suffer. Because of our dilemma, one must get a little creative. Here is my advice for those thirsting for fall fashion.
 
1. LAYER! The mornings have been getting chillier. Be prepared, and stylish. Take along a sweater or jacket, it isn’t much more to carry and haven’t you been waiting to pull out that cashmere sweater or tweed blazer? I know I have.

2. It’s Time. You’re rainbows, flip-flops, and (gasp) Jack Rogers’ sandals are ready for hibernation. Don’t worry; you’ll see them again next spring. They have been waiting for a break, anyway. And, major gain here, BOOTS. Ugg, Frye, high-rise, low-rise, heeled, flat and everything in between. If some of you are thinking, “but, my feet get hot,” balance your outfit. If it is a little warmer one day, pair your boots with a skirt instead of pants. Simple.

3. Fabric. Leather, corduroy, tweed and cashmere are your best friends for the next 6 months. This means leather satchels, corduroy pants, tweed tailored jackets and heavenly cashmere sweaters will fill your daily life. I know. I love it, too.

This is just a portion of all that makes up fall fashion. Remember to stay original. Put your own twist on the season’s best looks. Have fun with it.