In my two-and-a-half years at this fine institution, I have grown to accept the looks of confusion that are bestowed upon me every day.

I like to tell myself that people just can’t stop staring because I’m ridiculously good looking and they’re questioning why a Victoria’s Secret model is wandering around campus, but I reluctantly stop and face the reality that they’re only looking at my “bizarre” sartorial choices.

Sorry I’m not wearing Nike shorts and a t-shirt that’s twelve sizes too big for me and yes, these leggings are indeed leather.

But at last, I have conquered you all! Sort of. Not really at all.

Upon introducing the (current) trend of all trends to our campus, the sneaker wedge, my daily stare downs have been cut by at least 30%. Official statistics are still being confirmed, but this observation is giving me all the more reason to join Paris, London, and New York and push this trend allll the way through fall.

People went crazy when Isabel Marant debuted the sneaker wedge in her Spring 2012 collection at Paris Fashion Week. Her original designs are currently selling for over $1000 on Ebay.

Throw a white tank, a pair of skinnies, and these babies on and you get that “I-woke-up-five-minutes-ago-and-I-just-threw-this-together” look. You’re cute, casual, a little badass (dude, you’re wearing high-tops) and you gain three inches without anybody knowing.

There are a ton of knock-offs so have no fear—you can get your fashion fix without going out and dropping a grand on a pair of designer shoes.

Here’s how to wear them.

 Miranda                                                    Kate

Joan                                                           Gisele

Here’s how to put them on your Christmas List. 

Suede Wedge Sneakers ($299) by Ash, asos.com.

And here’s how to go get them right now.

 Faux Leather High-Top Sneaker ($29.99) by Xhilaration, target.com.

Image Sources: www.asos.com, www.target.com, http://news.instyle.com/2012/05/17/wedge-sneakers-kate-bosworth-beyonce-photos/

The weather has finally been cooling down, as hints of orange and fiery red leaves float throughout the sky. The quick transition into the chilly season has left us clueless about what to wear. It’s not quite time for winter coats, but something needs to provide us fashionistas with warmth.

Scarves must be the answer! This staple accessory never goes out of style, slightly changing with each change in weather. Last season introduced infinity scarves, proving to be both easy and trendy. Just two quick wraps around your head and -- BAM -- warmth and style.

My first infinity scarf purchase was last winter at Loft. I love how chunky it is, and as a neutral color, it is flexible to be worn with every outfit. Now I am on the search for a scarf with print as shown above.

If you like more iconic fashion, that of Audrey Hepburn, there are tons of silky, classic styles. These add a simple addition to an already chic outfit, even if it’s just tied around the handle of your purse! No matter what kind of scarves you like, I highly recommend digging them out of your closet or going on a shopping spree for some. Tis' the season!

Image Source: http://www.asos.com

I remember the first time I laid my eyes on an Elie Saab creation. I was scouring Style.com looking for something new and was immediately dragged into a fairytale full of Swarovski crystals, lace, and chiffon. His creations are that of every little girls dream - the perfect princess dress. When fashion week rolled around, I watched all the marvelous new collections via computer screen, all the while secretly counting down the minutes until I could see what Elie Saab had in store. As usual, he didn’t disappoint. His Spring 2013 Ready-to-Wear collection was jaw dropping.  He had his signature red carpet gowns, as well as gorgeous separates in a multitude of bold colors and beautiful prints.  Without fault, his aesthetic is always feminine, strong, and classic. 

Here are a few of my favorite pieces.

Dramatic silhouettes, bold colors, and lace were seen through out his Spring 2013 collection.

He knows how to make a woman look sexy and sophisticated by showing just the right about of skin.

His playful prints are the quintessential spring accessory pairing neon’s with bold black geometric lines.

 Elie Saab still managed to include classic separates and tailored suites in his collection for the more mature woman.

As well as his signature fairytale dress designed for a modern day Disney princess, Elie Saab is the master of producing a collection that includes every aspect of a woman’s personality.  From the sophisticated professional, the playful socialite, and the envy of any red carpet, his Spring 2013 collection is impeccable.

All pictures from http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2013RTW-ESAAB/, http://www.luxq.com/2012/08/05/elie-saab/

We all know how it goes: you’re in college and you’re broke. Obviously we had heard of these miseries before, but it wasn’t until we arrived to college that we learned first hand how quickly our pockets empty. Every year we tell ourselves to save a little more, but this goal can seem quite far away at times. Especially October. Especially around Halloween. There is so much pressure around this time of year to have the best, cutest, most creative, or scariest costume. Last Halloween, we all swore to ourselves that we would save up enough money for this year’s costume, because “THIS is the year for the best costume.” Right?

Well, you’re in luck my friend. This year will be that year, thanks to Garnet&Black’s DIY Halloween Costume Guide by Betsy Pippen. We have costume ideas for groups, couples, solo-riders, and even those last-minute procrastinators.  And of course, it is always within budget.

**Special thanks to Katie Higgins, Jordan Ferrugia, Claire Brehm, Megan Kunkel, Emily Gooding, Carrie Schelhaas, McKenzie Tate, and Grant Harris for modeling in my silliest of silly costumes.

GROUP COSTUMES:

1. Teletubbies

Materials Needed:

• Four headbands
• Various colored pipe cleaners
• Tape or glue
• (Extra: Red, Green, Yellow, and Purple dresses)

Step 1: Dipsy

(A)        (B)

Take a headband and wrap one end of the light green pipe cleaner a few times around it so that it is secure (A). If the pipe cleaner slides around on the headband, you can fasten it with glue or tape. Bend the pipe cleaner in half and tie the free end around the headband (B). You can adjust the thickness by twisting more green pipe cleaners around the one fastened to the headband. You have now finished Dipsy’s symbol!

 Step 2: La La

(A)        (B)

 (C)       (D)

(E)

Just as you did with Dipsy’s headband, wrap one end of the yellow pipe cleaner around the headband (A). Use tape or glue (if needed) to add support. Facing the front of the headband, slide your fingers up the yellow pipe cleaner until you are about one third of the way up. At that point, bend the top of the pipe cleaner back down towards the headband (B). Once it reaches the headband, bend it back upward, so that the pipe cleaner is now divided into a short piece and a long piece. Use tape or glue to fasten the pipe cleaner in place (C). Wrap more yellow pipe cleaners around the existing ones to make the symbol thicker and more visible (D). You have now finished La La’s symbol! 

Step 3: Tinky Winky

(A)          (B)

 (C)

First, wrap one end of a purple (or dark blue) pipe cleaner around the headband a few times. Bring the pipe cleaner about an inch directly above where it is fastened.  Then, angle the pipe cleaner about 45 degrees to the West (from the North). Go about two or two and a half inches up diagonally, and then make the pipe cleaner a sharp bend to where it goes straight across, as if you were creating a triangle (A).

It is likely that the pipe cleaner will not make the full triangle, so you must add more pipe cleaners to finish the symbol. Keep adding more until the triangle is completed and the thickness is to your liking (B). You have now finished Tinky Winky’s symbol!

Step 4: Po

(A)  (B)

Fasten one end of a red pipe cleaner around the headband. With another red pipe cleaner, create a circle (A). Fasten these two pieces together (leaving about an inch of room between the circle and the headband), twisting the pipe cleaners to adjust the thickness (B). You have now finished Po’s symbol!

 Step 5: The Clothes

 All you have left to do now is match the according symbols to some cute clothes! These girls decided to dress up in dresses and robes to match to their symbols.

2. Scrabble Letters

Materials Needed:

• Light Brown Construction Paper
• Scissors
• Black Marker
• String or Tape

Step 1: Cut it Out, Trace it Out

Cut 1/3 of the light brown construction paper off. You will be using the bigger piece. Trace the letters you want to use with a pencil first if you would like, then use a black marker to fill them in. To find out the value of that letter from a scrabble board, you can visit http://homepages.shu.ac.uk/~acsdry/quizes/scrabble.htm .

Step 3: The Clothes

All that is left to do now is add some cute all black outfits so that the letters really stand out. Top this costume off with nerd-glasses and you’ll be cuter than ever!

3. Pretty Little Liars

The only things needed for this costume are cute black outfits and dirt. Get three other girls together (to make it even more realistic, pair the girls up to the cast member that looks most like them). For a twist, you can even have somewhere where a mask around and place sticky notes all around the party, with sly little notes signed “A.”

4. Party Animal

Don’t have time for “DIY?” Don’t worry; I’ve got you covered. All that is needed for this costume is a quick trip to the store to get a party hat and some party favors. Slap on some cute animal print outfits and those party hats, and you are ready to party like an animal!

BONUS: Beanie Baby (AS SEEN IN: Garnet&Black: Fall 2012 Issue by Michelle Phan)

• Situation: You want to be a specific animal for Halloween, but don’t want to look like all the other girls at the party.
• Solution: Keep those animal-print outfit’s on. All you need to do now is cut out a TY  beanie baby tag! For instructions, see the Garnet&Black: Fall 2012 Issue.

RIDIN’ SOLO COSTUMES: Unisex

1. Masquerade/Mardi-Gras

Did you know that Party City sells blank, plastic masks for under a dollar? Me neither. If you have one of these lying around and are in a huge hurry, all that is needed are a few markers and some creativity begging to be let out! The theme of my mask was “Mardi Gras in Less Than Two Minutes.”

2. Cereal Killer

Easy, but fun! All that is required for this costume is one or more cereal boxes (small or large), a few plastic knives, and “blood” (red lip gloss, lipstick, or red marker). Put on a black tee and shorts, tape the knives to your outfit, draw some dripping blood all over your body (or mouth), and carry around a roughed-up cereal box. Now you’re a “cereal” killer!

I hope that one of these costumes stuck out to you. If not, do not worry! You are still not hopeless. For more DIY Halloween Costumes, check out either the Garnet&Black: Fall 2012 Issue, or you can find some more hilarious costumes at http://bargainbriana.com/50-diy-halloween-costume-ideas/. Oh, and have a happy Halloween!

Images Source: Betsy Pippen

Cover Image Source: http://www.wired.com/design/2012/10/8-printable-halloween-diys/

This fashion season consisted several 'up-and-coming' designers, but there was one who stood out to me.  Known for his effervescent pink hair, Chris Benz is quickly making his way through the fashion circuit.  I was introduced to Mr. Benz last year at Teen Vogue Fashion University where I learned of his beginnings with J. Crew, which is my current employer.

“You should get involved in anything fashion related if it is what you are passionate about,”  Benz advises no matter how miniscule your role may be, it can always lead to something down the road.  The Seattle native launched his first line in 2007,  leading to features in several magazines such as Vogue and Elle.

This season, there were several shows lacking any kind of story behind them; I did not find this to be true of Chris Benz.  His collection was fresh yet dark.  His chosen model successfully portrayed his depiction of the show: Zombie Apocalypse. Mysterious with her pale skin and long black hair, the model added to his designs and made for a more interesting show.  In short, I would describe his collection as a combination between the movies Now and Then and The Virgin Suicides.

His bright, geometric patterned skirts and floral jackets featured throughout the collection brought one person to mind; Teeny.  Teeny was the most fortunate out of all the girls in Now and Then.  Her country-club defined parents spent a majority of nights attending cocktail parties, which led to her snooping in her mother’s closet.  Throughout the movie, she is seen wearing a mix of styles of her own and her mother's, which combines both youthful-floral along with mature geometrical designs.  On the opposite spectrum comes the darker witch-like designs featured by Benz.  Wiladene, the diner waitress convinced to be a witch by the town, fits these designs perfectly. Along with the eery long-draping, black-lace gown, Benz adds a panel of light florals to complete the look.  He puts his twist on each individual design, allowing others to create his or her own stories.

Several variations of white lace pieces are also featured amongst the black.  The light and playfulness of the white lace brings innocence to the collection, like The Virgin Suicides.  In this movie, Lux (played by Kirsten Dunst) and her 4 sisters are the innocence of the town.  In my opinion, Benz provides a collection with an outfit to represent each of the Lisbon sisters and their similar personalities.

Chris Benz transforms his pieces throughout the collection by portraying vivid colors and patterns to tell a story.  Though he had his own theme, it was fun to picture two of my favorite movies mashed into one within his Spring 2013 Ready-to-Wear Collection.

Image Source: http://www.style.com/fashionshows/designerdirectory/CBENZ/seasons/