My second New U article: Fashion on a Budget

Apologies for the lack of original posts. I'd just like to share the second fashion article (fourth article overall) that I've written for New University:

As college students, when we think about money, we think about how we spend ludicrous amounts on gasoline, how we wish we hadn’t made so many Starbucks runs and how buying textbooks tends to leave gaping holes in our wallets. Accumulating costs throughout the quarter leaves us more worried about being in debt than about the next It bag or pair of Nikes we’re going to buy.

Basically, fashion is not something most of us can spend too much on. Some of us are willing to sacrifice our savings for style, but for those who would rather be more frugal with fashion, here are some tips.

The first thing that one should keep in mind is what to splurge on versus what to save on. For girls, bags are splurge-worthy because they can last season after season and have the power to add polish to any outfit. Guys tend to spend their cash on multiple pairs of shoes and an array of dress shirts. Many people, guys or girls, insist that the price of designer jeans can be worth the perfect fit. But what can one do if they want to dress to impress without spending too much? Don’t get your skinny jeans in a twist: It’s very possible to save some money when shopping for the pricier items of your wardrobe.

One way to save is to subscribe to the mailing lists of your favorite stores. What you may think is spam could actually be great savings. Not only will a store e-mail about new items, but the store (which could be anything from Barneys to American Apparel) can also mail promotional codes for “private” sales, deals on shipping and even discounts just for signing up for their newsletters.

Although extra e-mails can be annoying, it’s worth it to save some cash with a few clicks. Another online shopping tip is to Google promotional codes or coupon codes for wherever you’re ordering from. Sites like Retail Me Not and Coupon Cabin offer codes for savings on tons of sites.

Now that you know how to save on regular-priced fashion, where can you find clothing that’s inexpensive to begin with? Start by looking where you would normally be hunting for DVDs and toiletries: Target. The megastore has a surprisingly good selection, including their GO International line, which carries designs by different designers that change every few months. Currently, Rogan for Target’s eco-friendly women’s wear line is in stock. Look to places like Target for affordable basics and swimwear.

Searching for another opportunity to find some inexpensive and trendy fashion that’s even closer to campus? Look no further than UC Irvine’s upcoming Sample Sale, organized by Associated Students of UCI. On Tuesday, May 20, come to the Student Center’s Emerald Bay and Doheny rooms to find tons of merchandise at factory prices. Approximate prices for some of the clothing include hats and T-shirts for $10 and shorts, backpacks and sweaters for $20 to $25. The brands include BB Dakota, Rocawear, Kallusive, The Other Duck, Stussy, Rad, Undefeated, USDA Clothing and more.

Now that you know how to fill up your closet for less, spread the knowledge and use those extra pennies to fill up your gas tank. Happy shopping!

My first fashion article for the New U!

I've written a few articles for UC Irvine's newspaper, New University. This article, called "From the Runway to Ring Mall" was published this week. Ring Mall is the name of the fake street (shaped like a ring) that goes around campus. Also, Fashion Island is the nearby mall in Newport Beach. Enjoy!

From the Runway to Ring Mall
BY LOUISE LAO
The sun is shining and the breeze is balmy—spring has definitely arrived. Some days, the heat is sweltering enough to drive a girl into the ubiquitous shorts and flip-flops uniform. What can you do to get out of a hot-weather fashion rut, especially on a college student’s budget? Here are a few spring and summer trends to take from the runways to Ring Mall.

IN RAINBOWS

In this spring’s shows, ROY G. BIV ruled the runways. Color was bold, bright and unapologetic. Designers did not shy away from color, and neither should you. To interpret this trend in a subtle way, try taking one item of clothing and wearing it in an unexpected color. Buy jeans in a striking lemon yellow, or for those who take baby steps, a pale blue. Accenting neutrals with brights, like the chartreuse miniskirt or the lipstick red jacket paired with pale colors at 3.1 Philip Lim, is quite a brilliant move. More ways to add punch to an everyday outfit are to layer with a bright cardigan or wrap oneself in a scarf in an eye-catching color—why not both? Spring is no time to be shy. Even Ralph Lauren, which is known for its classic designs and color palette, sent models sashaying down the catwalk in vibrant, saturated hues in the label’s 40th anniversary show. From Easter-egg pastels to Day-Glo neons, fashion went full spectrum.

AROUND THE WORLD

Many designers took inspiration from global cultures in their collections, from Christian Lacroix’s outlandish feathers and prints to Proenza Schouler’s more subdued palette. African motifs and Asian ikat patterns were prevalent on this season’s runways. Fortunately, for those on a budget, this trend can easily translate into an accessory, like a scarf or piece of jewelry, to update a basic outfit.

Another global-inspired trend of the moment is the gladiator sandal. Although the shoes have appeared in past seasons, they are everywhere this spring. If you want to keep the style a bit more subdued (in other words, if you want to avoid looking like you’re about to fight Russell Crowe) try the style in black or silver with just a few straps. With these global looks, you can dress like you’ve traveled the world, even if the most exotic place you’ve been lately is Fashion Island.

ART STAR

Vivid colors, expressionistic and aggressive brushstrokes—does this sound like a critique from a studio art class? Actually, we’re talking about dresses from Chloé and Dolce & Gabbana, among others. This season, many pieces appear to be streaked with paint and covered in a myriad of intense hues. Art and fashion unite more than ever this spring. In addition to fashion inspired by the abstract expressionism movement, designers have been inspired by illustration.

A prime example lies in the fairy illustrations printed throughout Prada’s collection. Are you artistically inclined? Grab a fabric pen or even some acrylic paint (because it’s permanent, it works as fabric paint) and make some fairy figures (or anything you’d like!) of your own. If you’re more on the crafty side, a bottle of Rit dye is your friend as designers were also inspired by the look of watercolors. Dip-dyeing a shirt, skirt, scarf or even a dress will create the much-desired ombré effect. Tie-dye shirts and scarves are also fresh ways to bring the artistic trend to everyday wear.

Now that you are familiar with some of the trends of spring and summer, make them your own. Don’t fear color, pattern or personalization. As Coco Chanel once said, “Fashion is made to become unfashionable,” so embrace changing trends as different outlets for self-expression. Have a stylish spring!

The new basics

Everyone knows the basic kinds of shoes a girl (or guy) can have: Converse, Vans (slip-ons or sneakers), flat boots, and--if you're in California like me--Rainbow flip-flips. I own all of these, but I've been trying to step things up a notch. Presenting Louise's new basics! All should be available online right now, in fact--on a college kid's budget. Lucky you.

First come my silver flats form Urban Outfitters. I love these for the color: they're not an obvious, Tin Man silver, but more of a muted pewter. They make even the most casual outfit a little more interesting (see my last post for what usually constitutes for my casual days). The only problem I had with them was that I dented the slightly pointed toes, but that can probably be avoided by people who aren't as klutzy as me (i.e., most people).

Pair #2 would be my fringed sandals, also from Urban. I saw these and fell in love/hate at first site. For some reason, I am extremely drawn to things that look "weird", including this sandal that appears to be the love child of one of Kate Moss's (or Serena van der Woodsen's, if you really want to go there) Minnetonka boots and a gladiator sandal. I always found sandals boring, so the only way, for me, to make them more interesting without doing the actual gladiator sandal thing (I haven't seen any that aren't too strappy for me... I'm picky) is having swingy fringe. Kind of like the bangs I wish I had. Or a mop. Or one of those things that slaps against your car in a car wash.

Finally, my platform heels from Old Navy. I got multiple compliments on these shoes and I've received interesting comments upon telling people they're from Old Navy. If you've been reading fashion blogs in the past month or two, you've probably already seen the wedges that ON came out with in three colors; however, I already have similar wedges, so I stuck with the heels. I love, love, love, platform heels because everyone is in awe over how high they are--little do many people know, the front platform decreases the angle that your foot is from the ground, meaning you feel less pain than you would in the average stilettos. The higher, the better. Also, I love how these work with brown or black outfits (although they also come in an ivory color). Even more good news: they're on sale.

Unrelated to shoes...

I have proof (from my phone) that SoCal has consumed my soul:

It's my new piercing! I heart Outer Limits in Costa Mesa.

Walking from Outer Limits to South Coast Plaza:

THE UNIFORM

I'm going to start off with something that isn't related to fashion for a change. Actually, Karen O has everything to do with fashion because she--and Christian Joy, who designs her and Klaxons's stage outfits--basically rules all. I drew this during one of my classes a few weeks ago so it was pretty quickly done. I'm not really a "fan art" kind of person, but I saw a picture online and just had to draw it:

A shot of my sketchbook. These are the times when I need a scanner!

Back to the clothes...

This is actually more of an inside joke between my boyfriend and I, but I decided to share it with you lovely readers... you may either find it funny, repulsive, or neither (which means you're a hipster too. Just kidding!). How to dress like the hipster ghost that lives in my dorm room:

1) American Apparel hoodie

2) American Apparel v-neck

3) Dark skinny jeans

4) Vans or some other type of dark sneaker

5) Wayfarer-esque sunnies

Wear with an Alex + Chloe necklace for full effect.

Yes, all of these articles of clothing belong to me, but no, I never wear them all together... unless I'm doing it ironically. But wait--attempting to convince someone that you are not a hipster by ironically wearing hipster clothing (all at once) makes one even more of a hipster, yes? Oh, the confusion! The befuddlement! The bafflement of my sweatshop-free vestments! I must discuss this on my blog! *Whips out the Macbook*

(I'm scaring myself at this point... at least that's a good sign.)

Now if I could only find these in a store...

I have found the latest bag of my dreams: the Foley + Corinna City Clutch ($444):

The size is absolutely perfect because I am relatively Olsen-sized, and, unlike said twins, do not enjoy schlepping around totes that cause people to speculate if I'm harboring a stowaway sister. The bag can be folded in half (hence its classification as a clutch, although to me, the unfolded version seems like adequate-sized handbaggery), which doesn't actually look as appealing as the folded version of the larger yet equally priced Mid City Tote. 

Folded City Clutch in Fuschia:

Folded Mid City Tote:

As you can see, the handle reaches a bit lower on this larger tote, making it a wee bit more attractive than the clutch version when it's folded. Unfolded, though, I'd still choose the clutch. Here's the Mid City Tote:

  

The slightly-more-wallet-friendly Glazed Mini City Tote ($413) would be more to my liking because of its smaller size; however, the shopbop.com exclusive tote only comes in this yellow color, shown here. That's a shame, because shine + black + smallness = perfection to me.