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!

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!

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!

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!

Interning at Styleta has been an amazing experience, I have had the chance to work hands on the Founder and CEO, Yifan Zhang, since day one and each day is different and fun. In December I helped out at the AMEX Fabulous Fashion for a Cause event where I got to setup a super cute event hosted by Styleta and American Express. February I started working on the Student Designer Challenge. I have learned so much through working setting up the SDC, from contacting schools and large corporations to finding students to participate it has been a great experience.  Though I am leaving I can’t wait to keep tabs (and vote!) on the SDC as it progresses over the summer.

I also had a chance to read through many fashion blogs looking for fun and funky fashion tips, pictures and articles to post to the Styleta twitter. My most recent favorite? The fragrance Lady Gaga is creating…that’s some pretty crazy stuff!

The biggest thing I learned through interning at Styleta was how one could have an awesome job working in and around fashion while impacting society in a positive way! This was something new to me and I can’t wait to take what I have learned with me to college and beyond. Goodbye Styleta I'll miss you!

Xoxo

Maddi

We see them as we flip through the pages of Vogue. We watch them in action via internet as they walk the runway. We see them on billboards, catalogues, online boutiques, and even reality shows. Models: the ones who showcase designs and in some way represent the designer; but how often do we disregard the individual models and focus in on the fashion? I wonder, when I view an ad or campaign, do I notice the fashion or model or the set? Perhaps somewhere in between –after all, every element comes together to portray the creative vision.

I had the chance to interview Simona Stoyanova, Bulgarian model who left school in pursuit of her modeling career. Her enthusiasm, passion, and incessant motivation shine through her responses, and even more so through her gorgeous portfolio. Simona reveals an insider perspective in the busy world of fashion modeling.

1. What is your background and how did you become a fashion model?

I was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. I grew up there and was a student at the American College of Sofia when I decided to go to modeling classes. They were organized by Ivet Fashion, my Bulgarian agency, and that's where I got noticed and started working with them. After that there was a contest, similar to Elite Model Look, but in Bulgaria, organized by Ivet Fashion. A lot of international scouts came to be part of the jury and that's when they scouted me and I started to travel. I won the contest, by the way. :-D

2. What made you decide to enroll in modeling school?

I was continuously being told that I could be a model and that I should try to go to an agency, so I thought... why not? I was 16. I didn't start traveling until my last year in high school, though, when I was 17 and a half.

3. Was it hard for you to choose modeling over school?

Yes, it was hard. Especially because the American College of Sofia is considered one of the best schools in Bulgaria and it's really hard to get in. That's why my decision to quit and become a private student was very hard and I received a lot of doubtful concerns and skeptical comments. But my family was always extremely supportive, as well as my close friends, which made the decision a bit easier. Also, back home you don't see very often people, who don't go to University, like I chose to do. But this decision was not so hard because I had already seen the world and had become so much more independent. Modeling is an amazing school, and I feel/felt that I have so much more to learn and to take from it before going to University, as well as take advantage of the amazing career opportunity, that I am confident with my decision to postpone studies for the moment. I can not say with certainty what I will want next year, but for now I am focused on my career. :)

4. Favorite designer?

I don't have a favorite designer, but I love Karl Lagerfeld (Chanel), Diane von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana, Alber Elbaz (Lanvin), Elie Saab, Balmain..... and many more

5. What designers have you modeled for?

To have modeled for... It's a bit broad, but I have worked for D&G, Dolce & Gabbana, Iceberg, Viktor&Rolf, Dsquared2, Valentino, Gucci etc.

6. Photoshoots or runways?

They are very different. Shootings are longer and not as stressful, but more tiring.. at least for me. However, in the end you have this amazing feeling inside you.. a feeling of achievement and success.. You feel like you've spent your day creating beauty. Runway is all about speed. You get your hair and make-up done quickly, you make rehearsal, you spend 10-20sec on the runway, you change quickly.. it's a lot of stress, but as soon as you get out on the runway you forget about it and you listen to the music, you enjoy the lights on you and the movement of the clothes and you just walk. There is quite an adrenaline rush.. which feels great! It's more risky and scary not to mess up or fall, whereas on the photo-shoot there is no such risk. I love both. When I've been having a lot of shoots I miss doing a show; when I've been doing a lot of shows I wish to have a shoot... :)

7. 3 fashion tips (anything!)

Be confident! Don't be afraid to express your personal style! Smile! And the world will smile back at you ;)

* All photos provided by Simona

We love how bohemian chic is filtering into the trend scene again. Zeizo and Pitaya on the St. Louis Loop have kindly offered us clothes to feature in our shoot, and we're keeping that free-spirited theme in mind! We're thinking floral prints, long, flowing skirts, boho maxis, exotic fabrics, and colorful tops that remind us of the breath-taking works of the likes of Emanuel Ungaro (Spring 2009), Anna Sui (Spring 2010), and Marni (Spring 2010).

TopShop's Swedish Summer look book captures our shoot's concept. We're also loving the looks of Sasha Pivovarova, the new face for Free People's Spring 2011 catalogue.

We'll be shooting in Forest Park, and we're excited about taking our shoot's location off-campus - the trees are just beginning to flower and the warm weather tomorrow promises wonderful, natural backdrops.

source: http://viranlly.tumblr.com/page/2

We're hoping to have finished photos up and ready approximately two weeks after the shoot.

Here's to breaking out our spring wardrobes and embracing the new season!

Components of her outfit:
Shirt: Boutique
Jacket: Guess
Boots: Steve Madden (Nordstrom)
Scarf: Boutique
Necklace: Cactus Flower (boutique)
Bag: Dooney & Bourke
Sunglasses: RayBan

About her personal style: Elaine says her personal style depends on her mood and the weather of course. But overall, it's casual, but fun. She also loves patterns!

Where she likes to shop: She loves to shop at boutiques near campus, such as B Boutique and Cactus Flower, as well as Francesca's in Indianapolis. Other than boutiques, she also loves Nordstrom (who doesn't?) and Von Maur.

I love these classic riding style boots. Although spring is supposedly here, the weather at IU has been bipolar so we haven't quite put our boots away yet.

Elaine loves patterns, which I can see from her combination of a striped shirt and patterned scarf. Her leather jacket adds that bit of edge to the outfit as well.

I love this roomy D&G bag! It's perfect for carrying books around campus and the neutral colors make it easy to pair with any outfit.

Elaine purchased this simple necklace from a local boutique here in Bloomington, but I've also seen this exact necklace at Rudy's Roundup in Wicker Park of Chicago. This necklace is not only cute, but also symbolizes her sorority, Delta Gamma.

We are going to try to make this campus fashion section a regular weekly post, so look for more campus fashion posts and look out for us on campus!

Campus Director Jentien Pan, Creative Director Anne Chen also serving as a model, and Director of Logistics Michelle Turgeon.

What a variety! From tops from Forever21 to coats from Banana Republic, we photographed shirts, jeans, belts, jackets, and dresses. Get excited for the influx of new merchandise!

Here are a few of my favorites: an azure flow-y halter dress perfect for lounging on the beach, this lovely pair of olive green oxford heels that "[she] can wear and walk around in all day", as Alice, our model, describes, and a pure white, classic trench from Banana Republic.

Just sneak peaks :)

With warmer temperatures comes the need for an updated wardrobe.