Eye candy galore.

Belts, wedges, sandals, ornate rings, statement jewelry, bright clutches, flowy silk scarves -the little room to the side was a treasure chest for fashionistas. Marissa, Anne, Michelle, and I had ventured to Pitaya and Zeizos and picked out looks prior to the photo shoot. Everything we chose reflected our theme, Bohemian Chic. We had the models' sizes and pictures and kept that in mind as well. However, the best part was seeing if we got it right -matching the right looks with the right models.

The important thing about an editorial shoot is not only having a vision and carrying that out, but also the learning process -this was my first shoot. It was exhausting, but an amazing experience. It was managing, styling, assisting, and chauffeuring all at once. Styleta gives college students the opportunity to be entrepreneurs by establishing and running Styleta campuses at different colleges. What it also does is give students a chance to express themselves and learn, by doing, what throwing a fashion show or executing an editorial shoot may be like. As one of the Creative Directors at WashU, I was able to do that. I am too excited for the next shoot!

April 9th, 2011.
It was a great editorial shoot. A 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. shoot on an over 80 degrees humid day, our models, photographer and Styleta staff did an excellent job.

These are sneak peaks of what is to come -taken by the amateur photographer that I am! Wait until you see the real photos by James -they are absolutely amazing.

Some tips to remember for future shoots, in addition to Yifan’s advice

1. Be aware when the St Louis marathon is occurring and if the path to our location is shut down because of that. Thankfully after an hour it reopened.
2. Bring lots and lots of water and snacks, especially when shooting outside
3. Foundation is essential. A mineral based foundation is idea.
4. Tools : safety pins, tape, and scissors. You never know what you might need
5. An inventory person. Relationships with boutiques that kindly lend us clothes are crucial, and it’s up to us to maintain that trust for future endeavors.
6. Make sure there is enough time to finish the looks -you never know how much preparation time you will need.
7. Have fun :)

It was a great experience.

I'd like to thank our photographer James Harrang, models Tina Zhou, Julie Devinsky, and Andrea Adams, the stores from which we borrowed clothes, Pitaya and Zeizos, and the WashU Styleta Team: Marissa Pomerance,  Anne Chen, Jentien Pan, and Kelsea Anderson. It was truly a team effort.

Stay tuned for a Behind the Scenes Post!

On April 4 we paired with IU’s TOMS shoes club to promote “One Day Without Shoes.” We did three walks throughout the day. The walk included people from TOMS shoes as well and our Styleta models who were dressed in Styleta clothes. The walks started at the art building and preceded around the campus and ended back at the art museum. It was a 15-20 minute walk. The models held signs promoting both TOMS and Styleta and all the people on the walk had writing on their feet. This event drew a lot of attention and got the word out about to great organizations.

Spring is in the air, my friends! There is no longer an excuse to pull out those wretched UGG boots or sleeping bag inspired parkas. We can now go smell the flowers and frolic without wearing five layers or having to take our toboggan to class.

Spring always feels like a fresh start after a long and dreary winter. If you need to go out and buy a couple new additions to your wardrobe for the upcoming months, you might want to take any of the following spring trends into consideration.

Nautical.
Nautical attire is no longer just for sailors. This season stores are embracing a navy and white color pallet, anchor accessories, and thick horizontal stripes. I adore this trend and think that it can be super-chic if done correctly.

Think a pair of white shorts paired with a navy blazer and gold flats. Veer away from cheap materials or gimmicky patterns to avoid looking like you're going to a costume party.

Embrace the bright.
Sometimes it becomes easy to get stuck in a strict fashion routine. Our closets can easily become a sea of black, navy, and browns, unintentionally. I'm a big believer in sticking to neutral items and adding smaller pieces to make an outfit pop. Wearing a head-to-toe neon ensemble can be borderline nauseating, but adding pops of color will make you stand out in a crowd. A colorful handbag or stacks of bright bangles will help give life to any outfit. Color clashingis also a big trend this season. Being matchy-matchy gives off the impression that you're intimidated by fashion, rather than exploring new and unexpected combinations.

If you're wearing all solid colors, don't be afraid to mix it up a bit. Try a purple dress with a green neckace and flats.

Prints.
Say goodbye to the hipster/lumberjack plaid that was all the rage for the past few seasons. Tribal, floral, and horizontal stripes are now the way to go.

If you feel brave, break the rule that your mother taught you back in elementary school and mix prints for a bold look. But, for those of us who aren't as adventurous, try to include one pattern per outfit!

So here's to being able to wear bare legs outside without being prone to hypothermia. Take some time to enjoy the new weather!

Over the past several years, sustainable clothing has been hugely popular. Even major retail companies, such as H&M, have been putting out sustainable clothing lines. Former Urban Outfitters and Free People designer, Lizz Wasserman, has actually created a brand that is entirely sustainable. From using organic fabrics and low impact dyes to even powering the car with recycled waste veggie oil, Popomomo, has now become a popular eco-friendly fashion brand. You might be wondering... "Popomomo"? What does that even mean? I had the chance to interview Lizz Wasserman to ask her about the meaning behind Popomomo and other questions about herself and her brand.

How did you get into fashion?
I was always into design, but fashion has a um... silly reputation. In college, I found myself torn between sociology, art, and clothing design. After college, I decided to give myself a year to see what fashion was all about, and I got a job at Urban Outfitters/Free People in an administrative design job. And then one of the knit junior designers quit and I kind of talked my way into the job. I learned everything on the job there. It was a really awesome and creative place to start.

Who or what inspires you on a daily basis?
Contemporary art, culture, fiction, history. The New York Times on a Sunday is fodder for a million collections. The last collection was inspired by the 70s writers, Eve Babitz and Patti Smith. The next one is...top secret... but has a Milwaukee tie-in for the first time!

I see you are from Milwaukee and graduated from University of Wisconsin. It feels that it's hard to get into the fashion industry being from the Midwest because of the lack of resources. What advice do you have for Midwesterners who want to get involved in the industry?
I don't know if that's the case. I have good friends that are successful in design from the Midwest. You have to want it and be smart about it. It's like with everything... you have to hit the ground running, and yeah, you probably have to run faster because if you go to school in the Midwest, you aren't getting the same experiences. However, that's not a bad thing. Growing up and going to school in the Midwest allows you to make up your own mind about most things and not just blindly follow trends. You have to love design, want design, and be willing to admit you don't know anything and are willing to do anything to learn everything.

Popomomo stands for post-postmodern movement. What does that exactly mean?
Post modernism and post-postmodernism were ideas/paradigms that I was interested in during college, where I studied sociology. To cliff notes it: post modernism is the period after the black/white/right/wrong period of time and the time where position was relative. I think you have to take a stand that not every position is okay. I think you can have certain aspects of right and wrong in design (and in sustainability).

What is the ideal Popomomo girl like?
The ideal Popomomo girl is the girl that likes Popomomo! It's a quirky, creative, open-minded, confident girl.

What inspired you to create Popomomo? And what inspired you to create an eco-friendly brand?
When I left Free People, I went to a design job in NYC and I was designing things that were being sold in units of 100,000. And it was kind of gross being at that scale and not as creative as promised. I started Popomomo to give myself creative freedom and show that sustainable design was possible.

How do you feel about the sustainable fashion industry right now?
It's still hard, but it's getting better. I think when I started, there were major fabric limitations, but they're lessening. A problem now, I think, is that sustainable isn't "cool" and we are supposed to downplay that fact that every decision that goes into Popomomo is purposeful. I've never thought that these decisions were cool or uncool. They are things that every company needs to consider.

Where do you see the future of eco-friendly fashion going?
It needs to be more mainstream, meaning all lines need to be sustainable. And it needs to be way less mainstream, as in if people ask me if I make yoga clothes (because I'm a sustainable designer), I want to scream.

Where do you like to shop and what brands do you like to wear?
I mostly wear Popomomo and vintage. I also make experiments that wear until they either make it to the line or to the giveaway pile. I don't buy new leather unless it's sustainable and I would never buy fur. Even with vintage, I buy pieces that are quality and made of quality materials. I also love, respect, and wear my friends' lines: Margarita Saplala dresses, Lauren Manoogian jewelry, Cri de Couer shoes, Collina Strada bags, Blood is the new Black tees. I always try to convince my friends that if they quit their H&M or Forever21 habits, they can buy an up-and-coming designer piece every month or so. Totally worth it. And have you ever looked in a closet of all Forever21 stuff? Looks like total crap after six weeks.

I browsed through Popomomo and saw a lot of clothes that are super cute! I encourage everyone to check it out at boutiques across the nation or online at popomomo.com. Big thanks to Lizz for taking the time to answer the  questions!