Ever heard of College Fashionista? The website for those who are passionate about the latest college styles and trends on campuses around the world? Julie Himmel, this week’s campus celeb, is a writer for the popular website. Julie is junior SMAD major with a Studio Art minor. Not only does Julie have an excellent eye for trends around JMU’s campus, she’s also seen the unique fashion styles across the world! This summer Julie went on a “Birth Right” trip to Israel, followed by a family trip to Morocco. This hipster gives us some of her favorite memories from abroad, what she took away from her travels and her favorite European style looks! For more style tips from Julie, check out the JMU section of College Fashionista!
Her Campus JMU: How was your experience abroad? What was your favorite memory?
Julie Himmel: It was a summer for the books. I did a 10-day organized trip to Israel with groups of students 18-22 years old (mostly Indiana University students from the Chicago area) through a trip called “Birth Right.” It’s an all-inclusive trip for any student with Jewish heritage to explore the entire country and culture of the Israelis. That short trip was definitely a memory I will never forget, and I still stay in touch with the great people I met along the way.
When it was time to board the plane back home to the states, I stayed behind. My cousin is 24 and studies in Israel, so I decided to live with her and experience the real lifestyle. I ended up being there my whole summer. When my two brothers (one in middle school, the other in high school) finished school in June, my parents decided to plan a family vacation to Morocco with a tour guide. So, in the middle of my summer, I flew over to Casablanca to meet them for another 10-day adventure.
Morocco alone was unbelievable! Afterwards, I flew back to Israel for a few more weeks before returning to the states to be with family again. So between Israel, my all day layover in Istanbul, Turkey, and my trip to Morocco, it is almost impossible to choose my favorite memory. I think all in all, I’d have to say just being on my own and living in a foreign country was such an eye-opening experience. It’s one thing to vacation in a place, eat the food, meet the locals, and do the standard daytime hikes and village shopping. But it’s a completely different experience when you live among the natives, meet their childhood friends and families, go to music festivals with a group of Israeli soldiers, and live on your own as if you had been there all your life! Those moments I will never forget, and I would give anything to go back to those perfect days of constant exploration and euphoria.
HCJMU: What was the style like in Middle Eastern countries? Did you bring back any favorite looks to the states?
JH: Israelis are a lot like us; they act like us, have iPhones like us, and party like us. But their style is a bit more European considering the influence of American culture in Israel. The girls there are stunning, and since I lived on a beach, almost all of them were beach bumming in bikinis and big straw hats all day. In the main city, Tel Aviv (equivalent to Miami and South Beach), the fashion was great. I would say it was a mix of Top Shop, island comfort, and Venice Beach… if you can picture that.
I bought a few cut-off jeans while I was there, and when I returned home in the end of the summer, I lived in them! But in regards to bringing looks back with me, not so much. I took this past summer to experience the land, the culture, the beaches and the people. (And most of the time that was done in bathing suits and big tanks due to how HOT it is there.)
HCJMU: Do you have any favorite looks that are inspired by other countries? Where is the next place you want to visit?
JH: I went to Italy a couple years ago, and I will always remember Italian fashion as being one of a kind. I have a lot of vintage pieces from Italy that my mom gave me from when she was my age doing business trips out there. So with those pieces, along with being so inspired by the effortlessly sleek avant-garde way to Italian life, I have since adapted many looks into my own wardrobe. The next place I want to visit? I want to travel the world some day, but what’s next is a mystery. I’ve always been interested in exploring India or possibly Vietnam. The more removed from my comfort zone of the American lifestyle, the better!