Tuesday 10 September 2013

Style Sins EVERY Student must avoid!

Students Tips on how to prevent being a style sinner....

Now Summertime is nearly over, university dawns upon us for another year of endless papers, messy notes, and sleepless nights!

But the first question on every female student's mind?
 What should I wear?
How should I look at Freshers Week? The AU Ball? Lectures? Lessons?!

Unfortunately I am not a style guru, HOWEVER being a student myself who has experienced the same dilemmas I will forewearn you of some of the key fashion laws you must abide by to prevent any style sins! SO! I will provide a fashion commandment on a weekly basis; a little rule to prevent a magnitude of style sins to sweep across the streets!

Style Sin Number 1 ladies :Thou shall not look deliberately scruffy and unkempt! 

Although  fashion trends are becoming more wild and abstract , I am utterly perplexed by the new fashion trend hitting the uni scene like the plague: the 'Scruffy Student' look. Meeting to the expectations of its name, students would deliberately step out onto the streets with a jumbled  assortment of  of clothing to appear fashionably edge, but instead would look like a jumble Sale found in Camden Market. Being a student myself, I can understand why students may become less conscientious on the way they project themselves at university, being lumbered with colossal amounts of work, and never-ending readings to do. But does this really excuse a lack of passion for fashion?


Passion? Yes. Fashion? Kinda. Style? HELL NO! 



Fashion can be brought, but style is free. Its a unique feature manifesting inside all of us, a by-product of our personality and interests. It is once you find this inate fashion eye inside you that you will discover your inner Jode Look! Despite the tight budget and even tighter work deadlines we face, it is never excusable to step onto the streets looking like Courtney Loves double act. 



This is not a moment to be preaching Drake's "YOLO" excuses ladies. 


University is the perfect opportunity for you to explore life and find yourself, both in a philosophical and fashionable sense. But looking like unkempt (and well...dirty!) has never written in anyone's destiny, and it never will be.



I'm a firm supporter and believer in expressing your individuality, and being comfortable with your look, but there is always an exception to the rule, and this is definitely one of those special exceptions. Yes, comfort is a vital factor when constructing an outfit for the day, but that doesn't suddenly make it excusable for you to look like a Jeremy Kyle cast-off in public. A long day of studying and lectures on a Monday Morning may feel like you've done ten rounds with Mike Tyson, but it doesn't mean everyone else has to know - or in this case see for their very eyes - your personal perils. 



The general message: being a 'Scruff' will not benefit you in anyway! So save those creased up tees and trackies for indoors, and more importantly save yourself from being a fashion offendee! Replace these garments with simple,yet versatile fashion pieces, that can be adapted and be worn in a multiple of ways.  Here are some of the key pieces you can adapt and wear numerous times that both tick the comfort and stylish boxes. Talk about two for one! Now that's a bargain a girl can't resist!



-The Simple White Tee; a fail-safe garment, you can never go wrong, whatever the season!

-A good pair of jeans; note the word "good" - you need a pair that fit good accordingly to your personal body shape! Shake what yo' mama gave you and invest in a simple tailored pair of jeans; I guarantee it will remain a key piece in your wardrobe for years.
-Leather Jacket; your trustee friend, whatever the weather!
-Leather look leggings: an upgrade from the legging sensation that will immediately update your outfit!
-A simple LBD; can be worn both day and night, with the right accessories!


Being a student doesn't make it acceptable to dismiss the fundamentals of fashion!




Tuesday 3 September 2013

LOVE IT OR HATE IT: Bringing Bunches Back?

From the catwalk to fashion-forward celebrities, there has been a resurgence of double buns parading around Showbiz Land, which is ironically baffling some people. The fashion scene has brought back anything and everything 90's from crop tops and harem pants, to dungarees so it does not surprise me in the slightest they're bringing bunches back too!

BUT!.....Is the fashion scene bringing "sexy back" with the latest beauty throwback? Or should we bin the buns before havoc creates?!

Not for the faint-hearted, a look rocked by the fliest fashionistas in town!
I do love me a good ole' throwback, but the hair buns are just like Marmite; you either love'em or hate'em. Despite it being nostalgically remembered for it being worn on the heads of little girls in the school playground who dreams to become a Disney Princess, for us women the buns can only be championed by the bold, confident fashionistas. Think edgy, think cool. On paper this hair'do seems harmless, but in reality it is literally a fashion statement in itself, that can make or break YOUR personal look. YOUR Jode Look. 




I know I am not the edgiest girl around, but I love experimenting with looks, and finding my own true Jode Look. Like my Mum says, you won't know until you've tried it! I'm judging these beauty throwback based on 3 categories:  METHOD (was it a look easy to recreate?), WEARABILITY (is it versatile or one dimensional?) , and DURABILITY (is it long-lasting?). 

METHOD: 7/10 . It was easy to do; divide your hair PRECISELY into a middle parting from the front to the back of the head. (I'm stressing the word precise: you don't want to strut your stuff down he streets with a wonky hair do!) I personally needed a second opinion to ensure that the middle parting was exact. Then you section the hair into two hair buns that are equally positioned and equal in size. Fortunately for myself, the second step was easier; I initially tried and tested which angle would suit my oval face most, and when found, it was much easier that I thought to ensure the buns were equal in dimension and size..but I do think my symmetric face did help me big time with this step! 

WEARABILITY: 5/10. It is Marmite; you either love it or hate it! Some of my friends thought I was a Minnie Mouse lookalike, whilst others found it a cool fashion statement. So mixed reactions. To say it has the versatility factor however, depends on your personal look. I personally think it is; it can revolutionize a simple tee and jeans outfit into a cool fashion statement. I even rocked this look with a maxi dress in this instance (find outfit details below!) But, for evening occasions its a no-go for me! There's a time and a place for this do, I wish someone informed Miley on the memo!


DURABILITY: 9/10. Hair spray goes a hell of a long way! From windy days, to muggy days (which I experienced when I rocked this look), it's a secure hair'do for sure!

THE FINAL LOOK!
Maxi Dress: ASDA George
Bag: some random Oxford St store!
Shoes: Converses