Have a wonderful holiday!

Fashion for Philanthropy's regular blog posts will be on break until next semester!
If you have any stories you would like to share and post on our blog over the break, e-mail us!

Best,

    FFP

Couture for the College Girl: December Dazzlers

Noelle Tomulich is a sophomore at Fordham University where she majors in political science and psychology. This is the native New Jerseyan's second year working for the Fashion For Philanthropy blog and she is beyond excited to help her friends find stylish, catwalk-inspired steals at affordable, college-friendly prices. If only there was a financial aid application for a college girl's wardrobe! 

The Ram Runway: Rocker Chic

Delaney, one of the coolest girls on campus at Rose Hill, was the epitome of rocker chic this week. Personally, rocker-inspired style is my favorite, and I tend to incorporate these looks into my own style everyday. Tough leather jackers, crazy embellishments, edgy shoes, wild makeup, funky prints, eccentric hair styles and black, black, black! are just a few of the ways people can exhibit rocker looks. I love anything black, not only because it matches everything, but because it adds a sense of toughness.

To master the rocker chic look perfectly, take cues from Delaney. Not only did she put together an amazing outfit, but she presented it with such ease and personality that made the look completely unique. Her black and white printed leggings from H&M were subdued with all black accompaniments. Very biker black leather booties from Rainbow along with a to die for black tee with sheer draping in the back topped off the outfit. Keeping her warm, was a classic black leather jacket and black fringed bag, also both from H&M. A rosary chain necklace with a dangling cross from Aldo and stud shaped earrings from Sweden were just the right amount of shine to add to her outfit.

Her best accessory though; the most unique and daring hairstyle I have seen on campus all year. Not only is wearing an outfit like this fearless, crowning it off with a rare one-of-kind hair style such as this makes the whole ensemble even that more unique. I would love to see more of this fearlessness out and about on campus, as I feel it really makes individuals stand out among the crowd. Maybe that can be a New’s Year resolution: take more chances, in life and fashion, but always stay true to yourself. :)

Alex Casolaro is currently a sophomore at Fordham University and is a Communications and Media Studies major. Alex is completely enticed with the fashion world and living in New York City has only inspired her more to pursue a career in the fashion industry. She is greatly influenced by photographing and documenting street style and keeping tabs on the happenings of the fashion industry locally and globally. Check out some of her posts at fordhamffp.blogspot.com.

Couture for the College Girl: Holiday Wrapping

Sara Jansson is a junior at Fordham University, majoring in English. Originally from Princeton, New Jersey, Sara finds inspiration in the fashions and fast-paced lifestyle of New York City. She is a featured blogger for Fashion for Philanthropy.

The Ram Runway: Escaping that F**** E**** Stress

Be warned! In the following lines I will use the most disgusting, inappropriate, and disliked two words of all time. I am sorry in advance if I offend anyone…but it has to be talked about. That’s right. I am going to talk about FINAL EXAMS.

It’s that time of year where everyone is feeling down, stressed, and anxious. Studying takes up all of our time and leaves us little room in our busy schedules for relaxation. We switch from subject to subject, changing up the ways in how we study. We write two or more papers, and if we are lucky, we only have to suffer through one final paper. The research papers are the worst: ten pages of information you drag out of texts and online sources, all to be turned in the next day. Hey, didn’t the professor just assign that paper yesterday at the end of class?

I don’t know about you, but studying makes me hungry. Well, let’s face it, I live for food, but nothing compares to how much I binge during exams. And it’s not even a healthy binge! I crave University Pizza, Chevy’s, PF Changs, Cheesecake Factory, Cheeburger Cheeburger, Panera (Fordham please take notes) but it’s too cold outside to travel. So, I opt for my giant stock of M&M’s and little cases of microwavable rice that my mom sent me in a care package. I consider my healthy snack to be an over-sweetened strawberry milkshake from the Grill.

Stress causes emotional eating, and emotional eating makes us feel like we’re doing something and helps to get rid of the anxiety we feel about our upcoming tests. But there is a healthier alternative to emotional eating that relieves anxiety and stress even better.

Thanks to my roommate’s helpful motivation (she goes to the gym almost every day!), I started to go to the gym about three times a week. As professors continue to pile on work that adds more stress to the already stressful college student's life, all you need is a simple 30 minute work out on any machine (I chose the elliptical and treadmills) to lower your stress level! Not only does going to the gym make you feel great on the outside, but you get to feel empowered on the inside! The weight of tests and homework and papers was lifted with every step you pushed through at the gym.

Make going to the gym fun! Give going to the gym a purpose and show off cute workout clothes. Yes, trust me, they exist. Working out is easy to do in style since so many different brands are offered through shoes, clothing, and accessories. My personal favorites are Nike clothes. I am a runner, and they have so many fun shirts and shorts that are easy and cute to work out in. For shoes, I always stick with Aasics, since I have been running with their shoes since high school. These brands are easy to find at any department store. Sports Authority offers many different types of workout clothes. One of my favorites is a shirtdesigned with a fun or cool phrase. These phrases make me feel great and strong when heading off to the gym. Then, find a pair of bottoms to match!

It’s easy to mix and match and make going to the gym stylish and fun. Annalise Greco, a sophomore at Rose Hill, goes to the gym decked out in Under Armour spandex pants and a zip up jacket. Her black and white ensemble gives her a clean and put together work out look that is accentuated by her shoes. Though her shoes are black and white Nikes, the pink inner lining peeks through to add just the right about of color to her black and white palette. Greco is ready to take on the gym looking chic on the outside and feeling great within! Go get ‘em, girl!

Take a break from studying and stressing and put on something that inspires you. Take a more effective break time and go to the gym to show yourself off. With the weight off your shoulders, you’ve made more space to relax and actually focus on one thing at a time. You’ll feel better and more awake, along with being more motivated. You’ve made it this far already- push through this last week and look forward to that month long break waiting up ahead!

Briana Rotello is a sophomore at Fordham Campus, Rose Hill. She grew up in Rockville, Maryland and attended Wootton High School. She had always pictured herself living in New York City, and after she found Fordham University, she was able to put her dreams into action.

She picked Fordham University for both its academic integrity, strong focus on writing, and its location. She is planning on majoring in Communications. Briana aspires to be a fashion journalist after college and appreciates all the learning opportunities offered to her in the great city of New York. She is ecstatic to experience more of the fashion world, and to learn more about the art of writing.

The Ram Runway: Red Hot Leather

There comes times, when we need to break away from the norm and take a spontaneous chance at something. Whether it be something big like moving across the country, or as little as tasting a new food, trying new things and putting your own spin on life is a great thing to do. But, when it comes to fashion, it is a wonderful thing to do! There are so many classic styles of clothes out there: the tan trench, the LBD, the black pump, the blue jean, and the black leather jacket. Why stick to the classics all the time though? Experimenting with new styles and colors is the thing to do, considering there are so many options available to make a once “classic” style unique!

The perfect example. Daphne, a sophomore at Rose Hill, likes to put on her own personal twist when it comes to clothes. She knows she needs a great leather jacket in her wardrobe, but does she choose a typical black one? No. She goes on a limb and finds an amazing red one from Zara. Not only is it the most perfect deep blood-red shade, but the soft leather contrasting with the hard metal motorcycle style is stunning. And, the quilted arms and back just add to the uniqueness. This is how to do it. You may think a red leather jacket? What will I wear it with? Daphne does not find it hard to match her jacket with practically everything in her closet, everything that would also match a typical black one. And best of all, it makes a statement.

Along with her fabulous coat though, Daphne pairs all of her classic pieces. She wears a white-lace oversized cropped tank, blue Seven for All Mankindjeans and classic black Frye boots. An eye-catching gold-woven necklace from Anthropologie sits beautifully on her neck and her black Marc Jacobs bag ties everything together wonderfully.

Don’t ever be afraid to go beyond the ordinary and try something new, especially when it comes to fashion. It’s the only time you can make mistakes that will have no negative impact on you and you’d be surprised at how easily the unique “unclassic” pieces will work with what you already have!

Alex Casolaro is currently a sophomore at Fordham University and is a Communications and Media Studies major. Alex is completely enticed with the fashion world and living in New York City has only inspired her more to pursue a career in the fashion industry. She is greatly influenced by photographing and documenting street style and keeping tabs on the happenings of the fashion industry locally and globally. Check out some of her posts at fordhamffp.blogspot.com. 

Intern Diaries: The Photo Shoot

This past Wednesday I got the opportunity to sit in on a photo shoot! The garments that were shown in Company X’s Spring 2012 Fashion Week show, along with some other items, needed to be photographed for the website and for in-house purposes. The photographer’s camera was hooked up to my laptop, so every time he shot a picture it would appear on my screen. Needless to say my eyes were glued to my laptop through the entirety of the five-hour shoot. My job was to name all of the looks in the correct format. It was also my responsibility to keep track of all of the garments and accessories, and to document which ones had been photographed. I had to do this because Company X’s show room is always supposed to be perfectly organized; employees need to know where the garments are at all times in case a client comes in spur-of-the-moment to see the lines.

Throughout the day, other interns and myself were helping the model so that the day went smoothly. We had to make sure she had the correct garment and accessories on, and that her hair and makeup was in tact. We were working side-by-side with the main stylist to see how she wanted the clothing to be photographed for the website. Assisting in this photo shoot was an interesting experience because it gave me an inside look into the styling side of the fashion industry. I am a sales intern so it is always fun to see what is going on in other departments.

When the photo shoot ended I had to make sure that the photographer and model were fed. Ordering and unpacking lunch or picking up coffee orders is a standard intern responsibility at Company X. It is very important to make sure that the photographer and model are well fed and taken care of, because they are working for your company and you want to retain a good relationship with them for the future.

Couture for the College Girl: Choker Chic

Noelle Tomulich is a sophomore at Fordham University where she majors in political science and psychology. This is the native New Jerseyan's second year working for the Fashion For Philanthropy blog and she is beyond excited to help her friends find stylish, catwalk-inspired steals at affordable, college-friendly prices. If only there was a financial aid application for a college girl's wardrobe! 

The Ram Runway: I Dream of Fashion

Fashion is seen everywhere out on the streets. The day time allows for stylists to show their original outfits for work, school or touring (we do live in the Big Apple, of course), while the night time brings the sparkly dresses and tall heels that keep a girl going even after her feet are sore. But what about what we wear at home, when all we want to do is be snuggled up in our beds taking a break from homework and watching our favorite movies or our favorite books?

I love fashion, but there is nothing better than the feeling of slipping into comfortable attire after a long day of work at school or a long day of walking around the city. For me, PINK by Victoria’s Secret offers my favorite variety of sweats that are both comfortable and stylish to walk around the dorms in (and to make that impulsive trip to the grill). PINK offers styles from form fitting yoga pants to roomy boyfriend bottoms and most of these bottoms also come with jackets and sweaters to match! The sets come in all colors and all fabrics. PINK has added to their collection a velour sweat suit too, which comes in multiple colors and rhinestones.

These PINK sets, however, can be a bit pricey, depending on the styles you like. Comfort and style doesn’t always have to be found at such an expense. Macy’s offers many different options for comfort at low prices, and most of them come in sets that vary in the type of fabric used to create the product. If you are going for warmth, fleece is the best! The soft fabric not only makes it dreamy, but the thickness of the fabric will let you withstand the blistering cold New York winters.

If you are willing to spend the money, a splurge well spent would be on Juicy Couture. Known for the original velour track suits, they offer many styles of comfort that will be both fashionable and comfortable. My favorite style they offer are the velour suits (but only because I am obsessed with matching), but they also provide women with the option to buy non velour suits. From comfortable shorts to dresses to long pants, a fashionista has the ability to truly style it up until the sun rises.

Karen Hill, a student at Fordham University Rose Hill, relaxes comfortably in a matching set of pajamas and a Juicy Couture sweat jacket. Her purple army printed bottom matches her purple top. The top cutely reads “FATIGUED”, which I thought was perfect for college, especially with finals being just around the corner. She pairs the ensemble with a black jacket, since the top is a matching tank top. The jacket adds not only warmth, but additional fashion to her outfit. She also adds a pair of fuzzy white slippers. Having slippers is a great way to stroll the dorm halls with ease and comfort, along with keeping your feet nice and warm throughout the winter days and nights.

It’s okay to slip out of your day time fashionista clothes and put on something that makes you feel comfortable and relaxed. Just know you can relax in style too! Having a great pair of comfortable clothes to wear is a great investment, and will let you feel great and comfy. The same goes for pajamas! You can be just as fashionable going to sleep as you are walking out of the dorm in the morning, or getting off the ram van in the afternoon. Like my mom always told me: wear cute pajamas to sleep, because you never know who you will meet in your dreams!

Briana Rotello is a sophomore at Fordham Campus, Rose Hill. She grew up in Rockville, Maryland and attended Wootton High School. She had always pictured herself living in New York City, and after she found Fordham University, she was able to put her dreams into action.

She picked Fordham University for both its academic integrity, strong focus on writing, and its location. She is planning on majoring in Communications. Briana aspires to be a fashion journalist after college and appreciates all the learning opportunities offered to her in the great city of New York. She is ecstatic to experience more of the fashion world, and to learn more about the art of writing.

The Ram Runway: Hats are Always a Hit

Hats come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns and are the kind of accessory that takes the right person to pull off. Sometimes hats aren’t meant for all, but it is not hard to find a style that is perfect for you. From fedoras and caps to knits and fur, there is bound to be a fit that looks good on anyone. Hats are great to have on hand for rainy or bad hair days, but are the best when used to top off a great outfit.

Leah, a sophomore at Rose Hill used her black studded bucket hat to do just that. A sleek dark colored ensemble was beautifully accessorized with a gold leaf necklace and an Urban Outfitters hat. Her jeans, in a dark green hue, were an awesome upgrade from basic black and a staple for the fall season, along with any colored jean. Her black knit sweater, although basic, was played up wonderfully by her fun accessories, and the matching gold in the necklace and hat studs was an unexpected touch. Finally, her suede BCBG black booties with a wooden wedge served as a great fall boot that could be worn with anything.

Hats can and do serve many functions, such as protection and warmth, but their most important function I believe, is that of crowning off a great look. Hats have become more and more wearable in everyday life due to the immense variety of styles available. Hats are seen on the runway, in the streets, and everywhere in between and are one accessory that can be worn by all!

Alex Casolaro is currently a sophomore at Fordham University and is a Communications and Media Studies major. Alex is completely enticed with the fashion world and living in New York City has only inspired her more to pursue a career in the fashion industry. She is greatly influenced by photographing and documenting street style and keeping tabs on the happenings of the fashion industry locally and globally. Check out some of her posts at fordhamffp.blogspot.com. 

Featured: Discounts & Disappointments - A Bad Black Friday

After enjoying the usual family Thanksgiving meal at my Godmother’s house in upstate New York, my sister pulled out a box full of Black Friday sales and specials. I reacted by asking her for the cleverly marketed blacked out Macy’s flyer. Ad after ad, I came to the conclusion that I would be foolish to not go Black Friday shopping for the first time. So my sister and I planned out where and when we would shop. We went back down to Long Island, and being the typical college night owls, we set out for Kohl’s at 11:30 P.M. There was a massive queue of people that I was not expecting to be there. Yes, I said queue. I say queue because everyone was standing in an orderly single file line across the front of the building. I was expecting a massive conglomeration of angry shoppers banging on the glass doors waiting for their blowout deals. Being the sly fox that I am, I slipped in as soon as the doors opened at midnight. I perused through the Men’s section and was terribly upset. When the only piece of clothing that I even slightly considered buying was from the Marc Anthony line, I quickly plugged my earphones back in and left Kohl’s with 8 pairs of black dress socks. That was not the outcome I had in mind.

Marc Anthony Dress Socks - Kohls

Next we were off to the Roosevelt Field Mall. Expecting no parking spots, my sister almost parked at our cousins’ house, which is a 10 minute walk away. That distance is something we would like to avoid if we had our hands full of Black Friday deals. Everyone was going to Macy’s. My sister decided not to bring the Macy’s coupons or our mom’s Macy’s card. That is when the lessons of the business school came to my mind. I realized if I went to Macy’s, I would spend amounts that I would regret. So we didn’t go to Macy’s and walked through the mall separately finding our favorite stores and looking for those great deals. I went to Express and was immediately suffering from claustrophobia. I left empty handed, because I was not about to spend about $200 on another suit. I ended up in H&M, where I was sweating more than I do when I go to the sauna and steam room after my gym workouts. I threw some elbows to get out of there and went to Guess. Guess had this sophisticated gray pea coat, something I’ve wanted for a while. It had the most awkward hood ever, and it was probably just me making the coat look great. I glanced at amazing watches there too, and glanced at their even more amazing prices before walking out. I walked in front of the high end designer name stores and thought to myself, “Nah, I rather eat on Arthur Avenue all week.” I found myself in the food court when I had the most outrageous craving for some chicken, and decided to go to Ranch 1 for the second time in my life. I waited on line for 5 minutes and waited 10 minutes for my order. That was the second and last purchase of my Black Friday shopping experience.

Nothing is trendier then chicken accessorized with bacon.

I’m not sure whether I am too much like Mr. Krabs or if I’m just not a good Black Friday shopper. I usually gravitate towards the clearance section anyways, and you won’t find me shopping without my coupons. I hear they have great prices on Fordham Road too. I got home at 3:00 A.M. and tweeted “What a fail! All i bought were socks... #Black Friday” It was the best I could think of being so mentally, physically, and financially distraught.

My sister bought a few things, but said she would do better the next morning because the sales go on until noon. We both slept until 11:00 and awoke to our dad screaming at us “WAKE UP!” upwards of a dozen times. We threw in the towel. We studied the advertisements for a few hours and failed. Reminds me of midterms....

--Robert Abballe (GSB '14)

Featured: All Hung Up

Melissa Luster is currently a freshman at Fordham University at Rose Hill, and has recently expressed her interest in drawing and sketching fashionable clothing. Most of her sketches are simple, and include trendy shirts and dresses found on their hangers. She finds most of her inspiration from Tumblr; collecting a variety of images that captivate her interest and provide her with new drawing ideas. 

Couture for the College Girl: Not So Basic Black

Sara Jansson is a junior at Fordham University, majoring in English. Originally from Princeton, New Jersey, Sara finds inspiration in the fashions and fast-paced lifestyle of New York City. She is a featured blogger for Fashion for Philanthropy.