Finally the month of September has come to an end and we’ve embarked on our transition to fall starting with the wonderful month of October. People tend spend this particular month waiting for the 31st to come so they can celebrate Halloween. But as much as I love Halloween, it’s not the most important thing to look forward to this month. For those of you who don’t know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Cancer is the most common invasive cancer in females worldwide. It accounts for nearly 20% of all the cancer deaths in the world, including both males and females. The National Cancer Institute reports that each year there are over 230,000 cases of breast cancer in females. Needless to say, this type of cancer is all too prevalent in society and, for many of us, in our lives.
Unfortunately, breast cancer runs in my family and I’ve had family members have to fight against the disease, sometimes losing their battle. And I know that I am not the only one. That is why, we here at Her Campus wanted to talk about how all you collegiettes out there can honor the ones you’ve loved that have encountered this disease.
Breast Cancer Awareness month is an annual campaign to increase awareness and is well known for their pink ribbon logo. But overall, the campaign encourages women, and men, to support the cause by sporting the color pink in some way or another throughout the month of October. So I am here to show you some cute and easy ways to include this color in any and all of your outfits no matter what your style is!
- If you are a girly-girl, I am sure that your closet is just overflowing with shirts and dresses and sweaters all in different shades of pink. If this describes you, then October is your month! But don’t get too excited and deck yourself out. Pick one item of clothing. For example, this hot pink silk shirtdress from Lilly Pulitzer is perfect. It is fashionable and comfortable for you to throw on in the morning and wear all day going in and out of class.
- But maybe you’re not so in love with pink and don’t really own enough of the color to be a part of the Plastics and wear it every Wednesday. That’s okay, too! Show your support in smaller ways by including pink accessories into your outfit. October is the month to start transitioning from summer to fall. One of my favorite transitional pieces is a scarf. Add a pink scarf to any outfit, like this one from J.Crew, to honor all of the women, the ones you know and the ones you don’t, who have experienced breast cancer. Or throw on a piece of jewelry. I love jewelry because you could wear a piece, like this bangle from J.Crew, everyday and it is totally acceptable (not like wearing the same dress or shirt for 31 days straight…)
- Shoes are another great way to show support throughout the month of October. They can also add a great pop of color to an outfit! This trend applies to both men and women – the campaign isn’t just for females! It is so important for men to get involved and show that women aren’t alone in this battle. So for girls, throw on a comfortable pair of pink ballet flats to finish off an outfit and you’re ready to go! Try these adorable flats from Sperry. Now guys, if pink ballet flats aren’t exactly your style, I have noticed that these days you all seem to like to wear some bright and unique socks. Many companies including Nike and Under Armour offer athletic socks in our beloved pink! Don’t believe me boys? Look for yourself. Now you have no excuse to not support! And remember: real men wear pink.
October allows us the time to really think about the effects of Breast Cancer. Here at Wake, we have a Breast Cancer Fashion Show at the end of the month to raise money to fight this disease. But, remember, that is only one night. It’s a great cause but don’t spend the month just waiting to support the amazing people who have fought this disease. Take time this month to reflect about giving strength to the breast cancer survivors, the family members who have lost a member to the disease, and even people who are fighting it now as you read this. Remember you never know what is going on behind someone’s smile. The pink ribbon you tied to your backpack or the pink nail polish you chose might just make their day. From my own experience, when you know someone who is battling breast cancer, or any disease, it’s the little things that matter. Life can be really overwhelming so come out and show some love and support in October for all of the fighters out there.
If you want to find out other ways to get involved and help fight Breast Cancer check out the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s Website at www.NationalBreastCancer.org. Also, keep checking out Her Campus Style Blog for the rest of the month as we feature kids on campus who are supporting the cause by wearing pink!
And now I’ll leave you with some inspirational words from one of the strongest and fiercest women in history, Eleanor Roosevelt: