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?

Shopping in San Luis Obispo

As a college student, sometimes getting around to shop for clothes can be challenging, especially without a car. However, San Luis Obispo has a fantastic public transit system that makes it easy to get from the downtown area to the Madonna Plaza. Three great stores to check out include Bella B and Charles Shoes in downtown, and Forever 21 over by Madonna.

Take a trip through these three friendly San Luis Obispo clothing stores by visiting my interactive map below.

Bella B is a quaint boutique shop located in downtown San Luis Obispo. They have a variety of clothing at affordable prices, but still give shoppers the unique boutique experience. Amy Tan, a frequent shopper at the boutique, says Bella B is a “super cute little boutique! The sales always keep me coming back for more, and the staff is always so friendly and helpful.”

The next store is something more unconventional than the shops I’ve written about previously – a men’s shoe store. Charles Shoes is the perfect store for the dapper college student, or well-dressed businessman. While the prices are not within the traditional definition of a “college budget,” it’s the perfect place to pick up a new pair of leather oxfords or Clarks suede desert boots. Daniel Potts, a freshman at Cal Poly and Charles Shoes fan says “it’s one of my favorite stores downtown because it’s not like the others. It’s definitely a more upscale shop, but their prices are solid and they also carry things like weird printed socks.”

Forever 21 is a shopper on a budget’s dream, and the one we have here in San Luis Obispo is ecstasy. It was previously a Macy’s, so it’s the size of a department store – much bigger than traditional Forever 21 stores. Like many others, they also feature a men’s section. Moses Howard, a customer at Forever 21, says “I really like the men’s section because there aren’t a lot of stores where you can find men’s clothes with prices that are this cheap. I just bought a pair of black leather combat boots for less than $40. It’s almost unheard of to get a pair of shoes that cheap.”

If you’re ever in the San Luis Obispo area and are in the mood to shop (and let’s be real, who isn’t ever in the mood to shop?), I encourage you to check these stores out or find your own equivalent shops near you.

The Well-Dressed Men of San Luis Obispo

In SLO, it’s hard to find a guy that doesn’t dress in the traditional muscle tank top workout attire. However, there’s a very small population of men that do enjoy dressing up and standing out.

I interviewed three men who truly encompass what it means to have style; Steven Pardo was the first guy I met who’s look was truly unique. His style looks as if it has heavy European influences, but he also “loves vintage sportswear and health goth influences”; if you’d like to find something similar, check out Topman.

Steven in a “typical” outfit of his – leather oxfords, corduroy jeans, a thrifted polo, windbreaker-style jacket and vintage deadstock sunglasses.

He then pointed me towards his roommate, Peter Jensch, who says his style is remnant of an “80’s cool dad.” His favorite places to shop are either thrift stores like Goodwill, or “hype beast” stores like Huf. I asked each of the boys to pose “naturally,” and Peter gave me this:

Peter in a band tee, dark wash jeans, athletic-type shoes, and a thrifted map print button-up shirt.

I asked them to talk about their styles and to explain it with their voices rather than visually, which can be difficult at times. However, they did a great job. Take a gander at this audio story in which Steven and Peter talk about their styles (while also trying not to sound too full of themselves).

The last man I interviewed was Urban Outfitters Sales Associate Ajay Jassal, men’s fashion expert. I chose to go to Urban Outfitters to find a professional’s opinion because Urban Outfitters encourages their employees to experiment and find their own unique sense of style; they also have a wide variety of men’s styles, so it’s easy for all types of guys to find something they like. He mentioned that he doesn’t necessarily think the guys at Cal Poly and in the San Luis Obispo area “really have a firm grasp on an individual sense of style,” but working at Urban Outfitters has helped him find his own.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this look into the minds of well-dressed guys, and possibly even found some inspiration to heighten your own sense of style, or maybe even a boyfriend/friend’s sense of style as well.

Monday’s Outfit of the Day – Sweet and Simple

Today’s outfit consisted of a pink 1950’s style A-line dress, a thrifted cream-colored wool cardigan with a rose design, and some thrifted brown leather loafers.

If you like the dress, it can be found at Tautmun here on sale for $38.99.

4 Best Thrift Shops in San Luis Obispo

With Macklemore faintly singing “Thrift Shop” in the back of my mind (okay, not really, but still), I spent my Saturday morning scouring SLO for the four best thrift shops in town. I hope you’re inspired to go check out the stores featured here in beautiful San Luis Obispo, or find your own in your city.

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1. Goodwill Warehouse

880 Industrial Way, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

This Goodwill was one of the most interesting ones I’ve been to yet. Unlike usual Goodwill Stores, this one is warehouse-style. It has clothing, records, holiday decorations, and furniture; the clothing is in bins, and although some items have tags on them, you pay by weight. After deciding what you’d like to buy, you bring your purchases up to the cashier where you drop them onto a scale and then pay by the pound.

I bought two sweaters with tags that said $3.99 each, but ended up paying a total of $4.27 for the both of them.

Pros: Cheap, items in bulk, large quantity

Cons: Hard to dig through the clothing bins, very dusty, lots of repeats

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2. Mission Thrift

2640 Broad Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Mission Thrift is one of my favorite thrift shops in SLO. They update the store frequently with the changing seasons/holidays, and have ceramics, books, and furniture in addition to their clothing. The layout of the store is clean and open, unlike some over-crowded thrift stores I’ve stumbled upon, prices are fair, and the selection is clean and vast.

Store Associate Taylor Jordan Inase says, “Mission Thrift definitely feels like a family business. There’s only 5 part-time employees, and our bosses feel more like friends than superiors.”

Mission Thrift is also home to many quirky finds throughout. Inase’s favorite donation since he started working there “would have to be an Indiana Jones kind of satchel that was literally jam packed with condoms. I haven’t laughed that hard since.”

My own personal finds included a pair of high-waisted shorts with little sunflower details ($5), big Disney-type fairy wings for my halloween costume ($5), and two halloween cookie cutters ($0.50/ea) for a total of $11.88.

Pros: Clean, organized, good prices

Cons: Small store, limited clothes selection due to carrying housewares, etc.

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3. Fred and Betty’s

532 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Fred and Betty’s is another one of SLO’s hidden gems. While I was there they were having a sale, and every clothing item was $2 – a thrifter’s dream. They have a large, open floor with racks of clothes organized by gender, style, and size which makes it easy on the shoppers if they’re looking for something in particular. I found Adrian Pearson browsing around the men’s half of the store, and found out he’s been a long time customer.

“Fred and Betty’s is the perfect spot to come when you’ve got a few bucks in your pocket and you’re bored with your current closet,” Pearson said.

Max, my boyfriend (and photographer for the day), left with a button-down from Nordstrom for $2.16.

Pros: Large selection, great prices, good for basics

Cons: Nothing very unique or vintage

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4. Retrofit

956 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Retrofit has been a long time favorite of mine, and was one of the first shops I stepped foot in while touring the Cal Poly campus before getting accepted.

Owner Katie Cobler says her favorite part of owning Retrofit is “going out and finding treasures to bring back to the store.” Although not technically a “thrift” store or even a “consignment” store, Cober says, she prides herself on selling unique, one of a kind vintage apparel that she makes sure stays in pristine condition.

It’s pricier than the other shops I went to, but this weekend they were having a 50% off sale, so it cut costs immensely. I bought an 80’s sequined sweater for $9 (originally $18), and a geometric black and white mod blouse for $6 (originally $12), for a total of $16.80. When I went back to visit Katie to take some photographs and shop around, she gave me a warm welcome (and a nice discount).

Check out the photo slideshow to see my shopping experience at Retrofit:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Photos by Emily Holland and Maxamillion Polo

Pros: Best spot for vintage finds, beautiful/authentic clothing

Cons: Pricier than the other thrift stores, small store with small selection

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.