Fashions in Chapel Hill: Pea Coats

It is almost winter in the state of North Carolina. And what is the first thing people do when the weather changes dramatically?  Pull out their pea coats of course! Pea coats are very popular in the north because of their ability to be fashionable but also be very warm. Pea coats have not been very popular in high school, or at least mine, but in a college with such fashionable and pretty girls, it seems to be a real fashion trend. There are several different types of pea coats and different patterns and colors.

            Pea coats vary by length. Up north, there are many long coats because of the weather, but down here in North Carolina I don’t see many coats over knee length or even right below the butt. The shape of the coat is very structured. They are often paired with jeans, but can also be worn with dress pants. Boots are the perfect shoes to accompany the winter coat. Heels are perfect with dress pants a pea coat. I have lately seen a lot of heeled boots accompanying a winter coat. Because of the elongation of the legs, it is very appealing to many women.

            There are many different colors of pea coats. There are the solid black, red and white, which seem to be the most popular. They are the most classic and wearable because they suit every outfit. Whether it be jeans or a dress, what doesn’t go with colors like black, red or white? The white is usually a little off-white/cream color. Though I feel that white is the cutest and most stylist color it is the least convenient. It is so easy to get dirty and pea coats are usually dry clean only because of the fabrics they are made out of. Because of this, black and red are popular colors but pattered pea coats are becoming a new trend as well.

            I have seen many pea coats this season with a black and white pattern. It is a variation on the chessboard pattern, but seems to be a very popular alternate to solid color coats. This makes the pea coat the central piece of the outfit. It does limit the clothes you wear under it to solid colors, but who needs to wear something really extravagant with a coat like that! I have also seen very bright colored pea coats. Though these coats are solid colors, their brightness makes them stand out making them the focal point of the outfit. When doing this you have to make sure the length is appropriate and your body is flattered in the right way. When wearing a bright colored pea coat, make sure it stops right above the butt. Why? Well with such a bright color, we don’t want it too look too tacky or over take you. With a patterned pea coat, it is okay to go longer, but remember not to let the pattern or the coat swallow you. One main thing with a structured jacket is making sure it hugs just the right curves but making sure you don’t bust out of it. Fit is one of the most important things with a pea coat. It can make or break the coat on you, so before you buy one for yourself, make sure it fits and flatters your best attributes.

Fashions in Chapel Hill: Tights

As the season gets colder, there has to be other options than just jeans to keep a girl warm. To be able to wear dresses and skirts during the winter, we are provided with TIGHTS!

Tights are everywhere on campus! The gym, just walking on Franklin and at cocktails, you name it, someone is where them there. They are so comfortable and with all different colors available they can go with any outfit. Also the fact that their popularity has put them in almost all clothing stores helps in their accessibility.

There are different lengths and different cuts of tights. The tights that comes mid calf length can have a regular cut, lace on the end or sometimes they have other design on the bottom. These I have often seen this length of tights paired with casual dresses or skirts. I have also seen this length of tights paired with a long shirt or sweatshirt. Though the long shirt can be a going out outfit, the sweatshirt and tights is a variation on the sweatpants with sweatshirt modified to make it a little less manly. And the comfort level: equally as soft and stretchy as sweats.

There are also the longer tights. There are ones to the ankle. I have often seen these paired with work out clothes. Because of their comfort and stretchiness they are often worn under running shorts to make the winter weather more bearable for those who want to jog outside.

Another pair of tights that I have found very useful for outfits that use the footless tights are tights with hooks around the foot. This prevents the tights from sliding up. These tights can also be used for skirts and dresses if the footwear used are boots. The hook on the bottom prevents the turning if the tights when walking like the calf tights do if accompanied by boots.

The last type of tights that I have seen is commonly known as stockings. They cover the entire bottom half of your body, from waist to toes. Stockings are most commonly paired with more formal dresses and skirts. They are also worn with heels. Though the fabric used for tights are usually cotton, stockings are used with spandex or even thinner material because they rare not worn alone. There are also shorter tights that do use spandex material.

The most popular color of tights is definitely black. I have seen a lot different colors around as tights become more popular. White is something I have seen a lot with stockings. With tights dark colors such as brown and dark grey are popular colors accompanying black. I have seen pastels and bright colors on the racks of some stores such as Urban Outfitter. I also saw a girl wearing bright blue tights. I think the colors of tights and stockings should be black white and neutrals, because when it gets to bright colors its starts over taking the outfit. Also the type of person wearing tights should make sure that the tights are flattering to their figure. The color also matters. Black seems to be the best color to slim legs and gray usually expands the width of legs when they are a little bigger.

Hopefully these tips help to pick the right tights for you!

Fashions in Chapel Hill: Halloween Report

October 31st. This is probably the most anticipated holiday by the Triangle area college students. Franklin Street was not as packed as the past events, but it was still filled with a variety of different costumes. Something I noticed that was different between the outfits on Franklin and back at home had to be the level of… sluttiness. I didn’t there were so many outfits that could be so scandalous. Although a lot of girls were very underdressed, there were also many original and funny outfits out there.

The outfit I saw the most roaming the streets of Franklin HAD to be Sarah Palin. The high waisted pencil skirt with a blouse and a pair of glasses as the final touch seems to be the easiest and most conservative for all the girls that I saw. It didn’t really matter what the other girls were, as long as they were wearing… nothing. I saw many girls with their boobs up to their chin and their butts hanging out of the bottom of their skirts. I guess there is no other time than college to not be judged too harshly for wearing scandalous things for Halloween.

I believe it were the guy’s fashions that were more interesting than the girl’s during this holiday. I saw so many John McCain and Barrack Obama out on the streets! Politics became sort of like a theme for this Halloween. Along with the presidential candidates costumes there were also many Joe the Plummer costume walking down the street.

Another favorite male costume was the Joker from Batman. There were some that looked so much like the Joker it was scary! The men’s costume are always so much more original because you see less men going out and buying costumes, so they end up making their own. It was always so much fun to see what they have come up with, granted the limited amount of things in their rooms.

The two most creative costumes, I saw, go to the ping-pong table and the 4 people being Tetris blocks. The ping-pong table had a board on his back and every couple of minutes he will bend over so the board, which looked like a ping-pong table, would be parallel to the ground. This allowed for two people to play ping-pong for a while, on the middle of Franklin! There are four different pieces to Tetris. For Halloween four guys decided to be the unique four blocked shapes. They would bounce around and then come back together to form a rectangle!

Halloween use to be a holiday where we dress up as anything we wanted to be, or better yet, any costume our parents would want to by for us. As we grow up, we decided making our own decisions on the costumes we wanted to pick and now that we are in college, I don’t think we want our parents to see what we were dressed as. These are our last years to really get into the Halloween spirit, so why not make the most of it, on Franklin Street!

Fashion in Chapel HIll: Boots

There are so many boots on this campus! As the weather changed, the college campus was infested with all different types of boots! There are different types of boots that fit different styles. The most common boots I have seen are the UGG brand fur boots and the flat suede boots.

Every boot must fit the style that it is trying to portray. One boot that I have seen work in so many different styles is UGGs. A pair of UGGs can make any outfit. These boots are ridiculously expensive. I guess it is because they are from Australia, but I have heard the shoes are so comfortable and warm. They come in many different colors. Though I personally do not really understand the use of pastel colored UGGs because they would get so dirty but the chestnut color seems to be the one most worn. I have seen them worn the most with dark skinny jeans. I have also seen the boots with a season favorite, tights. They make every outfit look warmer and cuter.

Because these UGGs are so popular there are many “fakes.” Many imitation boots are made because of the huge demand but high price. The fakes are a nice investment if brand names are not a big thing for you. Also, they are many that look exactly like UGGs but just do not say the name on them. One big different that the money affects on the quality of the real UGGs is its comfort. I guess comfort is one thing that can be bought with money.

Another type of boot that I have seen a lot this season is the flat suede boots. These boots are also accompanied with tights and skinny jeans. I really like the fact that these boots are fashionable. Along with providing more comfort than heels, they make an outfit look dressier, and more high fashion. The UGG boots provide more of a casual look. UGGs can be worn with sweatpants, but that is one thing that flat suede boots could never do.  I have seen the suede boots in many different forms. There are different shapes and cuts to the boots that differ with every designer and every style the designer puts out, compared to the standard UGG boots. The price range for these boots are around $60-160. There are also flat leather boots. These are a little bit more expensive.

Some of the boots that are not as popular but still seen around campus are cowboy boots and leather heeled boots. Because heels are so uncomfortable and being a student at Chapel Hill requires so much walking, leather heeled boots, that are so common in other professions, are less prevalent. Cowboy boots are also not as prevalent, but there are a handful that I have seen around parties. I have seen many girls wear cute dresses with a pair of cowboy boots. Skinny jeans also go well with these boots. I think because we are in an area where there are less cows and farming there are less girls wearing such footwear.

There are so many different types of boots, but Carolina seems to be dominated by UGGs and flat suede boots.

Fashions in Chapel Hill: Northface, Columbia and Mountain Hardwear

Coming back from fall break, it’s like a whole new season. Seems like there was not much of a fall this year. It went from a t-shirt and shorts to jeans, boots and a jacket. Speaking of jackets, can we please talk about all name brand jackets that we see EVERYWHERE on campus? It seems like three brands dominate the scene: Northface, Columbia and Mountain Hardwear.

Northfaces are own by so many people! I swear at least one out of four people are wearing them when I walk to class! They are by far the most popular but why? I own a Northface jacket but I have found it not to be as great as everyone made it out to be. I spent about $100 on the type I got, and it is nice to wear but I mean it was definitely not worth what it was. There are many different types of Northfaces as well. There are just raincoats to full on ski apparel. Most of them are expensive but it seems to be really popular. I think it is more the idea of having a Northface that gets people to buy them rather than the utility of it.

Mountain Hardwear is a brand that was not very popular in my old school but now that I’ve come to college I see so much more of it. And it seems so comfortable! The type of jackets that I see are very similar to the Denali style of Northfaces, but the fleece on the jacket is different. It looks a lot softer and fluffier. The people that wore it at my old school were the ones that did ski a lot, but now seeing it more commonly at this campus, I want one because of the comfort level. These jackets are about $140 for a standard fleece jacket that is so popular among this campus. Both Northfaces and Mountain Hardwear can easily be paired with jeans or sweatpants and look very cute. These jackets are also very nice because North Carolina does not get all that cold, so instead of investing in a huge jacket, a fleece jacket might be all you need to save yourself from the chills.

Northfaces and Mountain Hardwear are both very popular brands, but also very expensive. They are not really what we would call an affordable price. So there are many other fleece jackets out there! Columbia is a brand that comes out with cheaper but none the less, very functional fleece jackets. They are just as good as Northfaces but they don’t have the brand label. Some people really care about that stuff, but I mean if you like the idea of playing half the price of a Northface, Columbia is a very good option. Also Nike has been coming out with a lot of fleece ski apparel that is also significantly cheaper than Northfaces and Mountain Hardwear. If you visit Dick’s Sporting Goods, they offer many different cheaper alternatives to the popular Northface and Mountain Hardwear in their ski corner during the winter.

Keep these tips in mind the next time you are looking for a jacket, and remember to stay warm during these crazy cold days.

 

Fashion in Chapel Hill: Sundresses

            One fashion that is slowly leaving the Chapel Hill scene is sundresses. This widely popular style has dominated over the last few months, but as the weather gets colder and the precipitation increases, there are fewer and fewer sun dresses on the street. Lets take this time to reminisce the immense popularity of sundresses and all their different styles.

            So we can start off by most popular style of sundresses I have seen over the summer: the baby doll. The baby doll style can be explained as tight fitting around the chest and flowing out. It is featured as both a v-neck and crew cut. Something about this style makes everyone love it. Maybe it is the fact that it flows away from the body, so all the insecurities are covered. I must say it is a style that looks good on a lot of people. I have seen many baby dolls worn out to brunches and just to a shopping trip, but the style has also been featured in more formal occasions. I have seen a baby doll style at semi-formals and cocktails. It is a favorite for tailgating. It is perfect for the summer because it is short and light but the style has also been transform to fit the fall. I have seen many dresses that are 3-quarter sleeve or long sleeve that has a baby doll style worn with boots.

            Another summer dress style that I have always wished to “pull off” is the long dress. I see so many long dresses in all types: tank top, strapless, halter. I just wish I had the figure to make them look as good as they do on some people. It is more of a boho-chic approach on the summer dress. Because of this, it limits the amount of people that can look good in this style. I have learned, by looking through the streets of Chapel Hill, that tall people pull off this look the best. The long dress sometimes over powers people who are too short. I have also seen various patterns on long dresses. Though there are many patterned short dresses, a long dress gives a different feel. The long dresses also go very well with earthy toned jewelry and other accessories. This again refers to the boho-chic style carried by long dresses.

            The last type of sundresses I will touch on is the wrap dress. These dresses are usually a little more formal, but I have been seeing a lot of wrap dresses. The wrap dresses that I have seen during the past summer are very structured. They are very much used for brunches and also meetings. They are very commonly just neutral colors with more intricate embroidering. The dresses are very cute on many different bodies because it brings the focus to the smallest part of a women’s body: the waist.

            All these different types of sundresses are now leaving to make way for all the new, great fashions of the fall. So bring out all your sweaters and jeans, because it’s time for fall! 

Fashions in Chapel Hill: Rain boots. Wellies. Galoshes

The weather is getting chillier and the precipitation? Definitely increasing. Though I hate walking to class in the rain, (I mean who really does, when their hair is going to get messed up?) I love the fact that I can put on a pair of brightly colored rain boots/wellies/galoshes that make my outfit look so much cuter. All the girls, and even some boys, seem to be investing in nice pair of rain boots. It’s something you only need one pair of and every time it rains, it is so useful. I know I absolutely hate when the bottom of my jeans get wet. And once the bottom gets wet, the water rides up and soon the bottom 6 inches of your jeans are soaked! By putting your jeans in a pair of cute rain boots you can avoid the wetness on the bottom of your pants and look cute, at the same time!

            There are many styles of rain boots. I have seen men wear hideous puke green color rain boots that should never be own again but girls usually wear very cute galoshes. Though I have seen the original yellow rain boots, I am personally a fan of the patterned boots. The patterns range from flowers to animal print. The boots are also brightly colored. The most common color I have encountered has to be pink. The bright pink galoshes are everywhere on campus! But they do add a flare to any outfit.

            There are many stores selling rain boots. The one that inspired me to invest in my first pair of wellies? J. Crew. They seem to always have the cutest designs on their rain boots. They also look so good with standard J. Crew outfits. The rain boots at J. Crew are a little pricey, but you can always opt to make a quick stop to the local target for a cute pair of rain boots for a lot less. A lot of high fashion designers are also creating galoshes. Burberry has made a very cute and classic pair, but they are on the expensive side.

            Jeans and rain boots are a common outfit, but lately I have seen many dresses paired with rain boots. It is something I never expected would go together, but it seems to look incredibly cute and comfortable. I have also seen many girls wear rain boots and running shorts. When it is really pouring hard, that seems to be the best idea. Because of the material running shorts are made out of, it dries so fast. This is a very convenient option for a day in which all you need to do is get to class and back without impressing anyone.

            Looking at the girls who do wear rain boots, it is usually the preppy girls that were last mentioned in my country club attire blog. They seem to always pull out the galoshes when it rains. It is a fashion statement that was manufactured by preppy stores, such as J. Crew so it is obvious why it has become a statement for the preppy crowd. The rain boot phenomenon is spreading all across the campus and adding a bright touch to all rainy days!