Goodbye, College Dress Relief

Unfortunately, this blog will soon meet it’s sweet demise. I’ve decided not to continue this blog after my experience as a Journalism 285 student comes to an end. This is mainly due to the fact that I’m already the mommy to my other blog in which I show off my sponsored clothing, at Lavender Hair and What I Wear.

This has been an extremely challenging, yet rewarding experience. I struggled to meet deadlines and create quality products, but I loved the experience of making them. The interview process was probably my favorite part, and I did a lot of quality networking (mainly with my homegirl at Retrofit).

I had 158 total page views (thanks mom…), and my friends and family from home felt like they were connecting to me in a new, creative way because they got to see the work I was doing in my classes which I thought was neat.

My absolute favorite post was the video blog, because I made some genuine friends through the process. Steven and Peter are such funny, sweet guys and working with them was an absolute pleasure.

I also really enjoyed the 4 Thrift Shops of San Luis Obispo. I was able to sit down and talk with the owner of my favorite vintage shop, Retrofit, and she now knows me by name and hugs me every time I walk in! That particular piece really made me realize how nice everyone in San Luis Obispo is, and definitely made me fall in love with the city even further.

This quarter of college has been my most challenging yet, but I thank the readers that have been with me through this entire experience.

Have a wonderful Christmas season, and a happy new year!

xx

Emily

It’s Finally Here!

The much-anticipated men’s fashion video is finally here, as well as another appearance by Steven Pardo and Peter Jensch. As hard as it was to get these two creative apartment-mates to sit still, once I did the results were priceless.

For this video, I asked them each to put two outfits together to showcase their individual senses of style, and they were all so different from each other.

Steven Pardo, who you’ll see first in the video, had a tough time deciding on his two outfits, so I gave him some events to pretend to dress for. Peter Jensch, however, immediately knew what he was going to wear after I asked for his two outfits of choice.

When I questioned his indecisiveness, Pardo said:

“It’s so difficult to showcase your entire sense of style in just two outfits. The outfit I wear one day can be completely different from the day before, so this is quite the challenge.”

Although the boys both dress impeccably well, what I found particularly interesting is just how different they are – even down to their bedroom decor. Steven Pardo’s room screams “minimalist.” With plain white walls and furniture along with futuristic-type lamps, it’s simple, sleek, and professional.

Peter Jensch, however, is the complete opposite. His room is busy – nothing matches, but everything works together to complete one creative, cohesive space. There are band and movie posters, flags and tapestries, records, and paper lantern lights; it shows his personality and creativity in a much bolder way. After a quick comment on the busyness of his room decor, Jensch said,

“I love the way my room is decorated because it definitely shows who I am as a person…it’s the same with my style. It’s busy, it’s funky, it’s creative. I’m not a quiet person. I like to make people laugh and make people happy. I definitely think my personality is reflected in everything I do, decorating skills and style included.”

I called up an old acquaintance of mine to input his expert opinion, which I’ll tell you more about later.

So, without further ado, enjoy the video.

One of the most interesting aspects of this video was being able to finally use an old business acquaintance for his vast amounts of knowledge in the fashion field. Cristian Mercado graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising with a degree in Textile Design, and is now a manager at a boutique near his Los Angeles apartment.

When I sat down to talk with him in his studio workspace, he gave some insight on how fashion should be “less about impressing people, and more about expressing yourself. Because when you express yourself, you end up creating something magical.”

In his own poetic way, Mercado told me that being yourself is what’s most important.

I had a lot of fun delving further into men’s fashion as well as expanding my horizons past the San Luis Obispo area.

Urban On(point!)

The term “there’s an APP for that!” has become a coined saying as cell phone applications have become increasingly popular. In the fashion world, there are many applications that can make it easier to shop around at a particular retailer, or search for coupons while you’re out; my favorite of these is Urban Outfitters’ Urban On.

The 5 Reasons Why You Should Download Urban On

1. It keeps you up-to-date on what’s happening

Urban Outfitters always has new products and discounts coming in and out of their store. With the Urban On app, you’re able to get notifications directly on your cell phone that keep you knowledgeable about everything Urban Outfitters

2. Users can complete challenges to earn badges

One of the best (and most satisfying) parts of Urban On is the fact that you can earn points and rewards towards future purchases. There are different ‘badges’ to earn after completing various challenges (i.e. checking yourself in to an Urban Outfitters store), and these badges can earn you rewards like $5 off your next in-store purchase, or 15% off your total purchase. These are small, simple things that really add up!

3. Use the Urban On radio to find new music

Urban On also has a “Radio” section, in which you can listen to what new tracks the Urban Outfitters clan has been digging lately. It’s free, and you can skip songs if you don’t care for them. This is a great tool to find new, interesting music that wouldn’t find otherwise by using an app like Spotify.

4. Use the Urban On app to get access to special sales

Urban On sometimes offers an extra 5-15% off for their members on top of sales they already have going on. This year, two days before Black Friday, Urban On members were able to get 30% off their entire purchase, whereas everyone else only got 20% off. These added perks make it rewarding to have the app downloaded, and it’s extremely simple to redeem rewards – just hand your cell to a cashier and they’ll scan you in.

5. Shop straight from your cell phone

Last, but certainly not least, the most obvious perk to the Urban On app is being able to shop straight from your cell phone. It’s very easy to navigate and filter your searches to find exactly what you need. This well designed app has so many features that make it easy, fun, and rewarding to use.

So, if you haven’t already, I urge you to download Urban On. If you’re already an Urban Outfitters customer, this will only enhance your experience. Plus, who doesn’t love sales?

Welcome

Here at Dress Relief, you’ll soon find posts showcasing unique individuals with inspiring fashion tastes, and links to duplicate or similar looking items so you can get the look yourself.

While in college, many students opt to wearing workout pants, t-shirts, and Nikes to class, but others find fashion as another form of expression. Through interviews and capturing video, photos, and audio clips, we’ll delve into the world of fashion along with how people find their “fashion inspirations” through art, music, and culture.

It will be similar to College Fashion and Byrdie, but I’ll pull inspiration from and focus on fashionable college students, rather than those in pop culture.

Some past students’ websites that I particularly like and want to emulate (to a degree) include Beauty Tips and Tricks by Kat, Cal Poly Cat Program, which have list-like posts and bold headlines, along with Cheap Chic & Healthy which features an easy-to-read, minimalist look.

I chose the topic of fashion because it’s something that I’m very passionate about and is a vital part of my personal expression; I run a secondary blog of my own looks on my Blogspot which I started in lieu of getting a sponsorship with the clothing company Oasap.

A photo from the most recent post on my Blogspot, featuring items from Topshop, Asos, and Oasap.