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! 

Fashion in Chapel Hill: Skinny Jeans

So as the weather is getting a little chillier, I am seeing many more girls wearing jeans. There are of course the regular flare jeans that are the most popular, but I am also seeing  a lot of skinny jeans. And the girls wearing skinny jeans are always look so stylish. While regular jeans can be worn both casually with a plain t-shirt or dressed up with heels, I feel like skinny jeans always look like they are a little more dressed up and look great with flats or heels. It is something that only a few people can pull off. If you are bigger on bottom half of your body compared to your top half, skinny jeans might not be the best look. I have seen so many skinny celebrities and models pull the skinny jeans off so well, but more and more I am seeing girls at Chapel Hill making them look so good.

So what do skinny jeans go well with? I have seen baby doll tops and blouses that look so adorable with them. I have also seen just a plain t-shirt with skinny jeans. I feel like a very petite body is required to pull off a look like that. Most skinny jeans are dark and not distressed at all. This might be a reason that the skinny jeans look a lot more formal than regular jeans too. Because the jeans are more than casual, the top accompanying the bottom should also be on the same level of formal attire.

It is not only the to that accompanies the skinny jeans. There are also the shoes. I have seen a lot of skinny jean outfits, but one that I would never like to see again is skinny jeans and Clarks Wallabees. Why mix preppy and skinny jeans? That just does not work. Flats, heels and flip-flops look so cute with skinny jeans. I especially love the skinny jeans with pumps combination. It just looks so cute!

I feel like every time I see someone wearing skinny jeans, I also see them with the perfect jewelry. This is something I am so jealous of. I wish I could style jewelry with my outfits, but I am so bad at it! Maybe it is because skinny jean wearers are the ones who know how to dress themselves and know what they are talking about, when it comes to fashion.

The people that wear skinny jeans also seem to always look so well and put together. They always have a certain way they carry themselves. They seem very confident with their shoulders up high. This confidence and mannerism makes the clothes look that much better, because the girl’s wearing them feel as if they look good. This is something that every girl should have. Exuding confidence will make you look so much better to others, and something that I have heard guys are very attracted to. Now don’t go around thinking you are the shit, but being confident in your skin and your amazing clothes is a good thing.

So this skinny jean phenomena…. What is the name of the style in which you wear skinny jeans? It is definitely a pop culture that was started by the celebrities in L.A. but it has now caught up with so many girls around the world. How do you guys feel about it? Let me know (:

Fashion in Chapel Hill: Carolina Pride

When you walk through a high school, there are many students, especially boys, who wear college apparel. Whether it is their parent’s school or their personal dream school, there is much of it.  I didn’t expect to see all the college apparel in college as well! Because everyone goes here, I didn’t think they would have of the clothes. In high school, we were so concerned about someone having the same outfit as us, or even just a shirt, but in college, I see so many of the navy blue shirts with light blue letters of “CAROLINA” and there’s not a concern in the world if someone else has the same shirt!

            It is mostly t-shirts I see as Carolina apparel. It is something that can be worn anytime. It can be paired with sweatpants or running shorts for a leisurely, sporty look, or a pair of jeans for just an everyday, casual outfit. There are also so many different shirts to choose from. While the most popular is definitely the original “CAROLINA” shirt, which comes in navy blue, white and Tar Heel blue, there are a lot of new designs. There are a lot of shirts against our biggest rival, the Duke Blue Devils. Some T-shirt stores have a whole section dedicated to hateful Duke shirts.

            So people have to buy their piles of Carolina shirts from somewhere! There are so many shops on Franklin Street that have a huge supply of all these shirts. They are so over priced though. The options are the best, but if you want just a plain Carolina shirt, your best bet is a Wal-Mart near the Chapel Hill area. They have so much plain Carolina items for so much cheaper than the stores on Franklin. Though Wal-Mart is so cheap compared to the Franklin Street stores, they are still ridiculously popular. I guess it’s the location. Because it is so close to campus students find it really reliable and if a fan forgets a shirt, it’s just a 10-minute walk to Franklin to buy a t-shirt from the famous Johnny T-shirt or the Tar Heel Bookstore.

            Along with T-Shirts, there are also sweatpants and shorts that say Carolina on them. I don’t really see the use in these.  Why pay triple for a pair of sweatpants you can get at target just because they say Carolina Tar Heels on them? And the shorts are the same way. For me, I find it useless to buy something that you can get so much cheaper just without the name of your college on it. The sweatshirts are really useful though. Just like the shirts they could make an outfit sporty or just the right amount of casual. It is so warm to just sink into your sheets with a hoodie on and go to bed.

            All this Carolina apparel is great to see at a football game, but when I first got to Chapel Hill, it was a lot of swallow. Now I have adjusted to seeing so much Carolina apparel, and have become one that wears it a lot. I wonder if every college is like this..?  

Revision 4: Fashion in Chapel Hill: Party Clothes

A Starry Thursday night at Chapel Hill… and what is the fashion? None other than “Party Clothes!” As one of the biggest party nights of the week, frat court and various apartments are packed with people. Here at Carolina, we see a lot of the clothes made to go out and have fun.

            To start off I will cover the “sluttier” and cheaper outfits shown here during the weekend. When I walk through the fraternities, it just seems like a lot of the girls got their clothes from Charlotte Russe or Wet Seal. While these clothes are sometimes cute, they look very cheap. The fabric is horrible quality, and usually too short and too low cut. Some of the dresses are so short, that it barely covers the girl’s butts. On top of the skimpy dresses, there are some girls who decide to pump up their breast all the way to their neck. It’s like girls enjoy the fact that they might be mistaken for a prostitute. They do ridiculous things to maximize their cleavage for the night so that they will get into frats and get hit on by drunken boys. A little bit more class, please?

            Though most of the outfits do look like they have been picked out from cheap stores, there are also the more conservative and high-class outfits. Though they are nothing like the Polo Ralph Lauren and Lacoste sported during the day, I have seen some dresses from places like Nordstroms and shirts from Bebe. Banana Republic also seems like a popular place to get a shirt for a night out. The shirts that I have seen out have been many baby doll style and jeweled. There are also a lot of pearl colors and shiny fabrics used for the shirts. The shirts are usually paired with jeans or a pair of shorts with a cute pair of heels.

            One outfit that seems to be a necessity for all girls, for a night out, is a black dress. Fashion magazines always advise a girl to have a “little black dress,” and it is no exception when the girl arrives to Chapel Hill. It is something cute and simple that will go with any pair of heels or even flats. It can make you look dressed up and classes as quick as lightening.  There are also very many variations of the little black dress. There are so many different styles, just with length. I have seen from strapless to tank tops to quarter sleeves for the dress. I have also seen the black dress as something that comes down to girl’s knees, and also in the “sluttier” form, which cuts right below the girl’s butt.

            The styles around Carolina are so numerous, but party clothes are definitely something that has become very popular through the party scene. And even within the party scene there are different kinds of styles: slutty and sluttier. Check back next week to keep up with what fashions are popular here at Chapel Hill.

 

Revision 3: Fashion in Chapel Hill: Country Club Attire

Though the Running Shorts Phenomenon is pretty big here at Chapel Hill, there is another style taking over the population of this school: Country Club Attire. From Polo Ralph Lauren to Burberry, “preppy” clothes are being worn all over this campus.

 

There are many boys that choose to wear button down shirts, khaki shorts and Sperry’s. This seems to be THE staple outfit for all fraternity boys. But past their fashions, many of the other boys are also sporting Polo Ralph Lauren, Martha’s Vineyard and J. Crew.  Living by frat court, I have seen so many of these brands paired with Sperry’s or Rainbows with a pair of sunglasses held on by Croackie (the straps that go on either side of your sunglasses to assure the sunglasses with stay on your neck). The sunglasses are usually Ray-Bans or some other expensive brand, but lately the new in style sunglasses seem to be aviators.

 

Aviators seem to also be common among girls. They are also held on by Croakies.  Among girls, there is more of a variation among the type of sunglasses but a very common brand I have seen throughout campus is Chanel. Though their clothes are not the “preppy” style, they seem to carry sunglasses that appeal to the “country club” type people.

 

The girls also wear a lot of clothing from Polo Ralph Lauren, Martha’s Vineyard and J. Crew. J. Crew is actually the brand I see the most around campus. From their bright colored bottoms to their cute shirts, walking down Franklin Street is like ads from their catalog.

 

Along with Rainbows and Sperry’s I’ve seen a lot of the girls wearing flip-flops with a metallic color. Some are bedazzled with jewels and some are with metallic accents, but these fashionable thongs have become the new shoes to wear (for girls, they have essentially replaced Rainbows, for the season).

 

And we can’t forget about belts. Just a plain belt is usually what ties together the preppy clean-cut style together. I love that a tucked in button down with shorts looks so clean and proper, and you don’t even have to try that hard to look as cute as you do in the preppy outfit.

 

Something else taking over the preppy fashions? Long shorts. No, not the Bermuda shorts that we first encountered a few years back, but shorts with a 3-inch inseam. There have been so many short shorts among the teen population, but it seems that the preppy fashion has led to the popularity of longer shorts. These are also something that has been publicized much by the fabulous store, J. Crew. These shorts come in many different colors, both bright and neutral, and they can be seen on so many of the girls here at Carolina along with out on the country club golf course.

 

I realized that the country club attire is only a day outfit. I never see anyone wearing such things at night. In the evening, the outfits are replaced by “party clothes.” Could this be another fashion taking over UNC? You’ll find out next time on Fashions in Chapel Hill.

 

Revision 2: Imitation

S here. It is the second episode of the long awaited sixth season of One Tree Hill. After Gossip Girl, it is most definitely second in line for my favorite trashy teen dramas.

 

Though, I love the immense amounts of drama, something about this episode did not capture my attention like the past 5 seasons. Maybe it is because the couple I always wanted to see together finally got engaged, but it just seems like there’s not much to look forward to. OR maybe it was too dramatic and sappy for my taste. Either way, there was still that something that kept me watching it.

 

Because of Brooke Davis’s fashion line Hoes Over Bros, we get to see great fashions.  Her outfits were, like always, fabulous, but this season, a little more casual. She pulled off a shirt and shorts so well, but made it a little dressier than a regular t-shirt and jeans kind of outfit. Nathan Scott looked great as usual, in just gym shorts. With a body like his, no way he needs to put a shirt on. All the characters look so great, through all the drama, but what else would we expect from a TV show filled beautiful people and a vast amount of drama?

 

So the last episode left off with Brooke getting attacked, Lucas and Peyton getting engaged, and Nathan making a comeback (in basketball). This episode followed Lucas and Peyton in their romance. They headed back home to tell all of their loved ones the good news! Though it was what she had always wanted, Peyton has an especially hard time leaving her best friend and roommate, Brooke. But thinking of the change as a new beginning rather than leaving the past made her more confident of her decision.

 

Brooke is bruised all over her body and her face. Her store has been completely trashed. And she told no one that she was attacked except her ex boyfriend’s mom. Brooke then has asked Deb, Nathan’s mom, to help her keep this a secret, but also to help her learn how to shoot a gun. WOW. Who would have ever thought cheerleader turned fashion designer, Brooke Davis, would turn into a potential murder?

 

Then there is always Nathan. He FINALLY understands how important his family is. If it were him a year ago, he would had done anything to make a comeback if it cost him his life, but now, knowing that he should slow down to maintain good health and be there for his family. He is cute, athletic, and caring? He is a perfect guy, isn’t he? Lucky Hayley Scott.

 

To think, all this happened and it is only the second episode of a whole season. We can wait for so many more drama filled nights, considering Gossip Girl AND One Tree Hill are both on the same day! So it’s a great way to take a two hour study break and catch both shows (:

 

So will Brooke actually kill someone? Will Nathan really be successful in his comeback? And will Peyton and Lucas really be together forever? Let me know what you think! Until next time,

 

You know you love me,

 

S. (Gabriella) 

Revision 1: Fashion in Chapel Hill: Running Shorts

The first day of college: I got all dressed up and tried to make myself look presentable for a university setting, but what is the first thing I hear about my outfit? "You look like a freshman." I didn’t realize what the comment meant until I walked outside and everywhere I turned...  BAM! There was someone with running shorts. 

 

Maybe it is the immense amount of homework or the laid back environment of the university setting that induce the “bum” and sporty attire. Whatever it is, it has turned on its charm in Chapel Hill. As I walked down to class this morning, I could count a 1:1 ratio between girls who were dressed and girls in running shorts. And this afternoon, coming back from classes, I saw more girls in running shorts that were WALKING to class compared to the girls running. 

 

The Running shorts are usually paired with a pair of sneakers and a loose shirt, but more recently I have been seeing them worn with rainbows. Also, as we approach the colder season, I see a lot of Carolina hoodies and long sleep shirts being paired with the shorts.

 

I personally love my running shorts. It’s so loose and thin. They are great on rainy days, because they dry so much faster than regular cotton clothing. In my old days, Soffee brand cotton shorts were the most desired among girls. The cheerleading shorts were tight and very short. They were comfy and I remember wearing them all the time. Though they are still prevalent, I feel like running shorts have definitely taken their place at Chapel Hill.

 

I had to ask my friends how they felt about running shorts and the amount of running shorts worn on this campus. Everyone I have talked to thinks that there is a ridiculous amount of girls who wear them, but they admitted that they were one of them. Every one of them said, “They are so comfy!” I guess a lot of college girls think alike!

 

College is more about studying than what you wear. Every one that comes to Carolina is the kind of student in high school that didn’t have to work too hard to get their good grades, but now that the college workload has kicked in its hard to balance time. The first thing that is sacrificed is the getting ready and dressing up time. It’s a direct relationship! As the amount of homework increases, the amount of running shorts increase! And that seems to be just the case here at Carolina…But hey, though homework might not be the best thing in the whole wide world… running shorts are great! Or at least it was good enough to talk a whole page about them (:  

Fashion in Chapel Hill: Party Clothes

A Starry Thursday night at Chapel Hill… and what is the fashion? None other than “Party Clothes!” As one of the biggest party nights of the week, frat court and various apartments are filled with people. There are so many aspects of party clothes that are cover by the girls here at Carolina.

            To start off I will cover the “sluttier” and cheaper outfits shown here during the weekend. When I walk through the fraternities, it just seems like a lot of the girls got their clothes from Charlotte Russe or Wet Seal. While these clothes are sometimes cute, they look very cheap. The fabric is horrible quality, and usually too short and too low cut. Some of the dresses are so short, that it barely covers the girl’s butts. On top of the skimpy dresses, there are some girls who decide to pump up their breast all the way to their neck. They do ridiculous things to maximize their cleavage for the night so that they will get into frats and get hit on by drunken boys. A little bit more class, please?

            Though most of the outfits do look like they have been picked out from cheap stores, there are also the more conservative and high-class outfits. Though they are nothing like the Polo Ralph Lauren and Lacoste sported during the day, I have seen some dresses from places like Nordstroms and shirts from Bebe. Banana Republic also seems like a popular place to get a shirt for a night out. The shirts that I have seen out have been many baby doll style and jeweled. There are also a lot of pearl colors and shiny fabrics used in these shirts. The  shirts are usually paired with jeans or a pair of shorts with a cute pair of heels.

            One outfit that seems to be a necessity for all girls, for a night out, is a black dress. Fashion magazines always advise a girl to have a “little black dress,” and it is no exception when the girl arrives to Chapel Hill. It is something cute and simple that will go with any pair of heels or even flats. It can make you look dressed up and classes as quick as lightening.  There are also very many variations of the little black dress. There are so many different styles, just with length. I have seen from strapless to tank tops to quarter sleeves for the dress. I have also seen the black dress as something that comes down to girl’s knees, and also in the “sluttier” form, which cuts right below the girl’s butt.

            The styles around Carolina are so numerous, but party clothes are definitely something that has become very popular, through the party scene. And even within the party scene the styles are numerous. Check back next week to keep up with what fashions are popular here at Chapel Hill. 

Fashion in Chapel Hill: Country Club Attire

Though the Running Shorts Phenomenon is pretty big here at Chapel Hill, there is another style taking over the population of this school: Country Club Attire. From polo to Burberry, “preppy” clothes are being worn all over this campus.

 

There are many boys that choose to wear button down shirts, khaki shorts and Sperry’s. This seems to be THE staple outfit for all fraternity boys. But past their fashions, many of the other boys are also sporting Polo Ralph Lauren, Martha’s Vineyard and J. Crew.  Living by frat court, I have seen so many of these brands paired with Sperry’s or Rainbows with a pair of sunglasses held on by Croackie (the straps that go on either side of your sunglasses to assure the sunglasses with stay on your neck). The sunglasses are usually Ray-Bans or some other expensive brand, but lately the new in style sunglasses seem to be aviators. 

 

Aviators seem to also be common among girls. They are also held on by Croakies.  Among girls, there is more of a variation among the type of sunglasses but a very common brand I have seen throughout campus is Chanel. Though their clothes are not the “preppy” style, they seem to carry sunglasses that appeal to the “country club” type people.

 

The girls also wear a lot of clothing from Polo Ralph Lauren, Martha’s Vineyard and J. Crew. J. Crew is actually the brand I see the most around campus. From their bright colored bottoms to their cute shirts,walking down Franklin Street is like ads from their catalog.

 

Along with Rainbows and Sperry’s I’ve seen a lot of the girls wearing flip-flops with a metallic color. Some are bedazzled with jewels and some are with metallic accents, but these fashionable thongs have become the new shoes to wear (for girls, they have essentially replaced Rainbows, for the season).

 

Something else taking over the preppy fashions? Long shorts. No, not the Bermuda shorts that we first encountered a few years back, but shorts with a 3-inch inseam. There have been so many short shorts among the teen population, but it seems that the preppy fashion has led to the popularity of longer shorts. These are also something that has been publicized much by the fabulous store, J. Crew. These shorts come in many different colors, both bright and neutral, and they can be seen on so many of the girls here at Carolina along with out on the country club golf course.

 

I realized that the country club attire is only a day outfit. I never see anyone wearing such things at night. In the evening, the outfits are replaced by “party clothes.” Could this be another fashion taking over UNC? You’ll find out next time on Fashions in Chapel Hill.

Imitating a Style

S here. It is the second episode of the long away sixth season of One Tree Hill. After Gossip Girl, it is most definitely second in line for my favorite trashy teen dramas.

 

I do love the immense amounts of drama, but something about this episode did not capture my attention like the past 5 seasons. It might be because the couple I always wanted to see together finally got engaged. It just seems like there’s not much to look forward to. OR maybe it was too dramatic and sappy for my taste. Either way, I was drawn to keep watching it.

 

Because of Brooke Davis’s fashion line Hoes Over Bros, we get to see great fashions.  Her outfits were, like always, fabulous, but this season, a little more casual. She pulled off a shirt and shorts so well, but made it a little dressier than a regular t-shirt and jeans kind of outfit. Nathan Scott looked great as usual, in just gym shorts. With a body like his, no way he needs to put a shirt on.

 

So the episode left off with Brooke getting attacked, Lucas and Peyton getting engaged, and Nathan making a comeback (in basketball). This episode followed Lucas and Peyton in their romance. They headed back home to tell all of their loved ones the good news! Though it was what she had always wanted, Peyton has an especially hard time leaving her best friend and roommate, Brooke. But thinking of the change as a new beginning rather than leaving the past made her more confident of her decision.

 

Brooke is bruised all over her body and her face. Her store has been completely trashed. She has asked Deb, Nathan’s mom, to help her keep this a secret, but also to help her learn how to shoot a gun. WOW. Who would have ever thought cheerleader turned fashion designer, Brooke Davis, would turn into a potential murder?

 

Then there is always Nathan. He FINALLY understands how important his family is. If it were him a year ago, he would had done anything to make a comeback if it cost him his life, but now, knowing that he should slow down to maintain good health and be there for his family. He is cute, athletic, and caring? He is a perfect guy, isn’t he? Lucky Hayley Scott.

 

To think, all this happened and it is only the second episode of a whole season. We can wait for so many more drama filled nights, considering Gossip Girl AND One Tree Hill are both on the same day! So it’s a great way to take a two hour study break and catch both shows (:

 

So the show left us wondering: will Brooke actually kill someone? Will Nathan really be successful in his comeback? And will Peyton and Lucas really be together forever? Let me know what you think! Until next time,

 

You know you love me,

 

S.

(Gabriella) 

Fashions in Chapel Hill: Running Shorts

The first day of college: I got all dressed up and tried to make myself look presentable for a university setting, but what is the first thing I hear about my outfit? "You look like a freshman." When I walked out to my class I realized I had forgotten the memo to wear RUNNING SHORTS. Everywhere I turned...  BAM! There was someone with running shorts. 

 

I have heard that many wear very sporty and "bum" clothes when they arrive to college. Maybe it is the immense amount of homework or the ridiculous amounts of freedom we receive with out our parents that causes this, but if it is, I have definitely seen its effects in action. As I walked down to class this morning, I could count a 1:1 ratio between girls who were dressed and girls in running shorts. This afternoon, coming back from classes, I saw more girls in running shorts that were WALKING to class compared to the girls running. 

 

I love my running shorts. It’s so loose and thin. They are great on rainy days, because they dry so much faster than regular cotton clothing. In my old days, Soffee brand cotton shorts were the most desired among girls. The cheerleading shorts were tight and very short. They were comfy and I remember wearing them all the time. I guess running shorts have definitely taken their place. One advantage they do provide is their longer length and free feeling.

 

I had to ask my friends how they felt about running shorts and the amount of running shorts worn on this campus. Everyone I have talked to thinks that there is a ridiculous amount of girls who wear them, but they admitted that they were one of them. Every one of them said, “They are so comfy!” I guess a lot of college girls think alike!

 

College is more about studying than what you wear. You spend loads of time working on homework and studying all that it is hard to find the time to get ready and dress up. From this we can learn not to only judge people by their appearance or the amount of running shorts they wear per week, but all of their other attributes. So moral of the story: don’t judge a book by its cover, and running shorts are THE pop culture fashion at Chapel Hill.