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New York Fashion Week: Breaking it Down For The Average College Girl

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Caitlin O'Connell Student Contributor, Temple University
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Jennifer Nguyen Student Contributor, Temple University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Temple chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

It’s that time of the year where fashion lovers stalk their Twitter accounts, blogs and news sites to keep up with the latest fashion shows happening in New York City. If you’re like me, you spend your day anxiously awaiting your favorite designer’s shows to begin and start obsessing over their new lines. 

Fall New York Fashion Week is akin to Christmas in September. Fashion lovers like me wait all season long to see what new styles and trends the fashion world has in store. Instead of having wrapped presents under our tree, we get models wrapped in glamorous designs and wearable clothes for the everyday woman. 

Fashion Week can become super overwhelming for those of us that try to keep up with what’s hot and wrack our brains for ways to fit it all into our wardrobe. I’m here to give you some tips on how to keep up with all the Fashion Week buzz and how to incorporate your favorite looks into your everyday wardrobe. 

First and foremost, my number one tip: don’t over think it! It’s easy to get caught up in the fabulousness of the designs and obsess over the haute couture pieces and think to yourself: how is that something I can wear everyday? Well obviously you won’t be strutting around campus in one of Elie Saab’s haute couture designs (although that would be pretty amazing), but the trick here is to look for the ready-made clothes that are simple and from which you can get inspiration.

If you’re having trouble finding those types of collections and pieces, Style.com is great way to search through it all. They track and cover every show from each designer and categorize them to make it easy to find just what you are looking for! Searching the ready-to-wear categories is a great starting point. I recommend looking through each collection and finding your favorites! Remember: Not everyone’s style is the same, so finding your style and what you love is key.

Finding inspiration in designs is entirely your own perspective. Although I could write about all my favorite designers and pieces, I want to focus on finding the inspiration to create your own style. Inspiration in design can come down to something as simple as a white blouse paired with an elaborate or simple skirt. The trick to this is to find one piece within an outfit or one part within a design and roll with it. You don’t have to copy the design or outfit exactly, but look for clothes that emulate those designs in their own way. 

Finding clothes that fit your style is important!  Being comfortable and feeling good about what you are wearing is crucial.  Be confident in your style. Just because some trends are popular, does not always mean it’s right for you.  Exploring new styles is always fun but remember to be comfortable and confident in what you wear.

Pay attention the the trends on the runway and then find ways to incorporate them into your own wardrobe. Trends that everyone seems to be talking about are fringe and bold color. You can make your own judgment on what you think is trendy and keep those things in mind while you’re shopping.

 

If you tend to stay within the neutrals range of the color spectrum, a great way to add a little pop of color to your wardrobe is with accessories. Since bright colors are a trend this season, add a bright bag or shoe to your wardrobe in order to incorporate color without being over-the-top. Even a vibrant, red lipstick can be the perfect touch to a simple outfit.

I know what else you’re thinking: How can I afford to be one of those trendy girls when I’m a broke college student?  Believe it or not there are tons of stores where you can find similar runway looks for an affordable price. You don’t have to be rocking the labels to look good! Explore and discover places in Philadelphia that fit your style for an affordable price. With such a unique array of thrift stores and small boutiques such as Buffalo Exchange, Philly AIDS Thrift or Second Mile Center, no runway style should be difficult to replicate.

One last tip: Have fun with it! Fashion is about self-expression and everyone has their own way of expressing themselves through their personal styles. Don’t stress over how to find trendy clothes from the runway. Inspiration is everywhere and finding your style can come from unexpected places. Your style is all your own and it’s important to have fun and enjoy what you wear.

 

My name is Caitlin O’Connell and I am currently a Journalism student at Temple University in Philadelphia. I am student with a passion for fashion and love for writing. My ultimate goal is to combine the two and live my dream of being a fashion writer! I love all things about fashion and the fashion world, I love reading about it, seeing it, and living it!

My other passions in life are traveling, art, and yoga, I am a total yogi! Yoga is definitely my escape from this crazy world and a perfect way to keep myself and my life balanced and healthy! Ultimately this world has so much to give and there is so much to see and explore and I hope to combine all of my passions and travel the world see it all! I see my future involving traveling and writing about fashion and art and exploring and experiencing all parts of the world!
Jennifer Nguyen is a senior journalism student at Temple. She has been a part of Her Campus Temple since its formation in 2010 and being a part of HCTU has been one of the best things she has ever done. She aspires to be a magazine writer in New York after graduation. Jennifer is passionate about learning more about the world around her and hopes to travel the world one day. As a journalist, she strives to share the stories of people whose voices need to be heard. In her spare time, she loves reading French literature, learning languages and watching Bravo reality TV shows.