Transferring from a small school in the heart of the concrete jungle, to a huge school filled with palm trees and beach cruisers can cause quite the culture shock. As a newbie to the west coast, I am not used to the heightened temperatures and shorter hemlines that comes along with living in Arizona. Don’t get me wrong- I am loving every minute of collegiate life here, but the question that comes to my mind is: How on earth do I mix my east coast style with my west coast life?
I am sure I am not the only gal in the some 40,000 girls here that call the east coast home, or just so happen to love layered clothing, combat boots, and minimal makeup. So for those of us who feel where I am coming from, here are seven tips on how to accommodate your style to both coasts.
1) Layering- New York is all about the layers: piling on as many articles of clothing and creating an outfit that just so happens to look hip and comfy. This means the big sweaters over the long maxi skirts, and the fur vests on top of those sweaters. Though, if we haven’t noticed, its on average 98 degrees here, so layering is not as doable as one would like, however; we can still feed our love of layering through moderation and the right fabrics.
A sheer kimono over a crop top with high-waisted jean shorts, or a knitted vest over a t-shirt and jeans both create the allusion of a layered look without the sacrifice of 16 pounds of your own sweat in this heat.
(Photo Courtesy of www.pinterest.com)
Key- fabrics that allow ventilation.
2) Combat boots or Doc Martins- I firmly believe that every girl needs a pair of combat boots, no matter the coast. In NY, combats or docs are worn anywhere and everywhere, and can go with just about any outfit. Who says it has to be different here because of the temperature? No one! Combats can look cute worn with summer clothes too: try them with jean shorts, skirts, or even maxi dresses if you are feeling daring. It adds an edge to even the plainest outfits, and mixes your west coast clothing with east coast shoes.
(Photo courtesy of www.obaz.com)
3) The Natural Look- On the east coast, the motto for make-up is usually, “minimal is more.” Though on the west coast there are more smoky eyes, daring lips, and flawless skin. While adjusting your make-up to the type of outing you’re attending is key, here is how to mix both coasts for an everyday look.
Use a foundation that is more natural than powder, one that is really effective is BB cream: a tinted moisturizer that not only blends with your skin color, but covers blemishes and has SPF 15 (which is so important for us “Sun Devils,” ha!). You can find BB cream at all of your local drugstores in a variety of brands. When applying blush go for a light shade, you want to look sun-kissed rather than burnt. Lastly, use a lip color that is a couple of shades darker than your natural lip. Using these tips for your make-up makes you mix the au-naturel look of the east with the bombshell look of the west.
(Photo courtesy of www.becomegorgeous.com)
4) Scarves- Thick scarves are something us on the east have in abundance, without them we feel like our outfits are simply naked. Once again, it’s hot on the west side, so those thick, knitted scarves aren’t really doable. However, a fashionable statement scarf is. Usually a sheer or cotton scarf will work in this weather. Pick one that is a bright color or a cute pattern and pair it with any outfit to provide a cute and affordable accessory.
(Photo courtesy of www.thedarlingdetail.com)
5) Costume Jewelry- New York ladies love to wear a classic outfit, such as a little black dress or a pantsuit, and spice it up with a big, colorful necklace, or chunky bangles. My west coast girls, on the other hand, are a little more refined with their jewelry choices. There is nothing wrong with adding a pop of color to your plain shirt or dress with some statement jewelry. Though proceed with caution and don’t overdo it, less is really more in this case. If you wear a huge necklace, wear simple rings and bracelets, and vice versa. No one wants to look like they are playing dress up by rummaging through their grandma’s jewelry box.
(Photo courtesy of www.groupdealz.com)
6) Natural Hair- New Yorkers usually do not do much to their hair, they get out of bed and put a few curls in here and there, or throw it in a messy bun and that’s that. In Arizona though, hair is everything. From the ombres, to the curls, to the silky straight, there are just some fabulous heads of hair here. If you are feeling the pressure to keep up with the west coast phenomenon that is great hair, find a happy medium. An easy way to get nice waves without the full out curl is a tossled beach look. You can get beach spray at all your local drugstores, or even make your own via pinterest. This look will allow you the same carefree feel of the east coast but give off the glamour of the west.
(Photo courtesy of www.bloom.com)
7) No Matter the Coast, Do You! –In the wise words of Dr. Suess, “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” East Coast or West Coast, look the way that makes you feel the most comfortable and confident, because THAT is true style.