Back-to-School Trends

"Summer is coming to an end and a new school year is upon us. In the next few weeks students will be returning to campus to see friends, catch up on summer gossip, and, presumably, to learn. After months of living in swimsuits, shorts, crop tops, and sandals, school-appropriate attire might seem completely foreign. Making the transition from a laid-back summer style to a style perfect for the classroom will take some getting used to, but shopping for a back-to-school wardrobe is super easy (and fun) as long as you know what to look for. Work these trends into your new wardrobe and you’ll return to school ready to take on those boring professors and late night study sessions in style..."

I contribute regularly to Glam Chix, and for my first post this month, I decided to write about all of the major back-to-school trends (the paragraph above is just an excerpt from the post). School is about to start and finding the perfect back-to-school wardrobe is usually at the top of my list (or it was, you know, back when I was in school...). Check out my post to see all the must-have trends for this season. I included lots of cute items for each trend with links to where you can buy them. To anyone headed back to school soon: have fun!

 

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House of Style

image: mtv.com

Is it possible to have nostalgia for a time when you weren’t around? As many of you know, MTV is revamping the late 80’s/early 90’s show, House of Style. Before the new series premieres, MTV put up tons of amazing video clips from the original series on the MTV style blog. After writing up an article about the revival for my Examiner column, I found myself delving into the 150+ clip archive from the show. From the moment I hit play on the first clip (Salt n’ Peppa trying on amazing 90’s fashions in the premiere episode) I was entranced.

Okay, so technically I was around while this show was on television, but being a newborn/baby/toddler during its hey day means I definitely missed out on it. Just as I get nostalgia for the 60’s and 70’s (I so badly wish I had been around for Woodstock and the amazing concerts put on by classic rock bands), I began to feel that pang of nostalgia for this show. The 90’s is the internet’s and fashion world’s decade of choice at the moment, and those clips have brought me fully onboard. Sure, I’ve been a fan of the 90’s for a while now—all my life, really, since I am a 90’s child—,but now I’m finding myself with a real interest in the fashion world of the 90’s, rather than just the pop culture of that time.

The House of Style video archives, deemed the “House of Style Collection”, is a great place to start my journey into the fashion world of the 1990’s. I watched quite a few videos, and I wish more footage was available. MTV is showing a documentary about the show on Tuesday (August 7), so perhaps there will be even more fashion to drool over that we can’t watch on the MTV blog.

Just to give you an idea of the 90s-goodness included in the video archive, here are some of my favorite videos. (Videos after the break)

Quick Review: Resort 2013

3.1 Phillip Lim

I LOVE Phillip Lim. Even when the clothes aren’t my style, I just love to stare at the beauty and craftsmanship in Lim’s designs. There is something about his clothes that make them both playful and sophisticated; perfect for the over-worked twenty-somethings trying to make it in this world that tells us we can’t. Also, leather overalls.

Christopher Kane

I believe the world will burn before I come across a Christopher Kane collection that I don’t like, and it’s usually his resort collections that have me on my knees begging for more (last year’s rainbow feast and the galaxy prints the year before that, for example). The delicate pleats and delectable hues in this collection appease my eyes, and I never tire of seeing the utilitarian-buckle belts adorning such feminine pieces. While this collection didn’t excite me the way the previously-mentioned collections did, it is just as beautiful and interesting as any Christopher Kane collection.

Juicy Couture

Juciy Couture produced a really freakin’ cute collection! Most of us think of velour track suits when we think of Juicy Couture, but the brand is really starting to move past that. While their girl is still young, slightly preppy, and quite fond of the color pink, a little bit of downtown edge has been mixed in to spice things up. The styling of this collection is phenomenal. My favorite look is the pink gown with lace overlay paired with a beanie—genius! 

Just Cavalli

I am still trying to come up with the best way to describe this collection. Psychedelic surfer chic cool? Neon tomboy goddess on Holiday? Well, however you or I describe it, it is perfection. I love the bright, psychedelic prints and neon, embellished baseball caps. Somehow it all just works.

Markus Lupfer

After going through all of the resort collections and writing reviews of a bunch of them, I’ve basically succumbed to just squealing at the sight of collections I love and saying things like “awesome,” “amazing,” and “GIVE ME NOW!”. Those were all said while looking at Markus Lupfer’s collection. Lilac metallic, collared dresses, leather pleated mini skirts, and glittery tops…I should write something insightful but I’m still squealing.

Peter Pilotto

The way prints, patterns, colors, and textures are mixed in Peter Pilotto’s clothes fascinates me. Each piece is like its own wearable collage. As a big fan of mixing anything and everything that catches my eye, regardless of whether or not it “matches,” I am naturally drawn to Peter Pilotto’s designs. To own even one garment would be a dream, and I will continue to follow this brand as long as it is around.

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