Lifestyle – Page 2

Spirited + Fashionable | USC GAME DAY IDEAS

Today I’m sharing my favorite game day accessories! Since graduating in 2015, I’ve had to get creative with ways to show my school spirit since my sorority/fraternity homecoming tees and knee-high USC tube socks just weren’t cutting it anymore (haha). I hope that you will find these picks helpful + creative! While these items are USC branded, I know that most of them are also available with branding for other colleges – so make sure to take a a look at the links if you’re interested in finding another school.

CHIC JEWELRY
To say that I am obsessed with these jewelry pieces would be an understatement, guys! They are so perfect for gifting to girls who just got into USC or are preparing to graduate. I wore mine to my graduation ceremony (pictures below) and got tons of compliments on it. While I didn’t initially think that I would have many opportunities to wear these pieces (apart from wearing them on game days), I actually get a ton of wear out of them. I love wearing them to alumni events and while traveling to different places for games.
I received the USC arched full logo necklace for my birthday a few years ago and I found the SC logo interlock necklace while browsing the USC bookstore between classes back in the day. I also wear my SC interlock charm bracelet year-round, it’s around $30! You can find it here in gold and silver.

PINS
I don’t know why, but I LOVE pins! I have been collecting a few over the years from games and special events, but I narrowed it down to my top 2 favorites for this post. I like to switch them up depending on which game I’m going to and what I’m pinning it on. My Rose Bowl Pin was from the 2017 game so I don’t have an exact link, but the SC interlock logo pin + tons of other fun pins (most of them under $10!!) can be found here!

STADIUM-APPROVED CROSSBODY BAGS
As much as I love me a good mini handbag, there’s such a ting at TOO mini. Sadly, the stadium’s new handbag policy has some ridiculously small size requirements for bags that are not transparent. While I know this rule exists for security reasons (yay for security/safety!!), it pretty much rules out bringing in a non-transparent bag because it will be too small to be functional.
Since nearly every single stadium has implemented a clear bag policy, I always make sure to have a stadium-approved bag for game days. I usually take my really cute USC Trojans Clear Handbag from Silver & Gold Boutique because it is the perfect size and fits all of the essentials! I also love taking this larger transparent crossbody satchel because it is a really chic take on your average transparent handbag. I like using the slightly larger satchel for away games since I might be traveling and need to hold a few extra things in my bag. I couldn’t find the exact link to the one that I have in the photo since it is a bit older, but this one is similar. Also, you might be able to find a similar one if you search “transparent crossbody bag” on eBay!

SNEAKERS
The walk from the tailgate to the stadium is often pretty far, so I always make sure to wear comfy sneakers to games. Last season I wore these red SC interlock logo sneakers TO DEATH and they are still in great shape! I picked those up at the bookstore a few years back, but they are also available online.
I just recently received these USC Classic Slip Ons from a brand called Skicks and can’t wait to bring them on my trip to the USC vs. CAL weekender trip next month! Skicks also makes these USC Low Tops that my mom and I plan to share (she’s also a Trojan!). Yes – I know three pairs of USC themed shoes seems excessive, but hopefully these will last for many many seasons to come!

Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave any questions that you may have about sizing, styling, etc. in the comments section.

FIGHT ON! 🙂

Categories: Lifestyle, Style

USC Game Day Fashion with Little Earth Productions

As a recent USC Grad, I take my football game days very seriously! There is no better time to catch up with old friends and enjoy the Southern California sunshine than at a USC football game. In recent years, USC has taken several steps to make sure that game days are fun and safe for everyone, which is why I am writing about Little Earth Productions.

With the implementation of a clear bag policy at the LA Coliseum, all handbags and items entering the stadium have been limited to clear totes, plastic storage bags, and small clutch bags. This is the case with many colleges, starting this season! After hearing about the new policy, the fashion school graduate within me panicked. I had never owned a clear handbag and was fearful that I would end up carrying around my belongings in a plastic gallon bag from the supermarket (YIKES, haha). But, with change comes opportunity – which is why Little Earth Productions has created a stylish line of game day handbags that are stadium-approved and sports fans approved. You can see their whole line of stadium-approved bags here.

As one of the leading licensed manufacturers for sports apparel, Little Earth offers a wide range of fashion accessories and apparel for more than 170 teams. They sell spirited items for all teams in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL as well as more than 60 colleges. Today I’m going to be talking in depth about their line of clear purses that are stadium-approved and fashionable, meaning that you can get through the security line at nearly any sporting event quickly, without sacrificing in the style department!

I used my USC Clear Envelope Purse from Little Earth at the USC game last weekend. I was stopped several times by complete strangers who wanted to know where I got my bag! In addition to being stylishly spirited, the bag proved to be a time saver – I was SO thankful that I got through the security line quickly and easily. I saw some fans struggling to consolidate their belongings in the 82+ degree heat and I was so happy that I had brought a stadium-approved bag. My boyfriend and I somehow managed to sneak away from the USC tailgating commotion and snap a couple photos before the game and I love how they turned out! The day of the game also happened to be my birthday, so it was nice having a purse that I could easily wear to lunch afterwards and still look stylish in. I actually also wore this bag a few weekends ago while watching the USC vs. Alabama game at a restaurant near my house, so I can honestly say that it is stylish both inside and outside of a football stadium!

My Clear Envelope Purse features the iconic interlocking SC logo (it also comes in a Waist Pack and larger Carryall!). The bag is very sturdy and holds quite a bit, as you can see. I am able to fit all of my essentials into the bag and I really appreciate how high-quality the hardware is. Because the turn lock closure is so sturdy, I don’t have to worry about the contents of my bag slipping out while jumping and cheering (hah). Also, perhaps more importantly, I am not worried about someone reaching into my bag without my knowledge.

The chain is the perfect length to be worn as both a crossbody and an over-the-shoulder bag, which I really like. It is very comfortable, even after wearing it for several hours of tailgating and walking quite a bit. Overall, the bag felt light on my shoulder and did not snag my dress at all, making it my new go-to game day bag.

I also wanted to add that you can easily clip a spirited key chain or a purse charm to the chain and “make it your own.” I spontaneously clipped my car keys and red tassel key fob onto the side of the bag and it turned out very cute. Also, the chain strap is detachable, so it can be worn as a clutch as well! I think the purses from Little Earth would make a FANTASTIC gift for anyone that is a USC fan, newly admitted student, or a soon-to-be graduate. In fact, any of the stadium-approved bags on Little Earth’s website would make amazing gifts to any sports fan since they cater to so many teams, colleges, and leagues!

Someone carrying a lot of personal items or an extra sweater/hat might like the Clear Carryall Crossbody Purse. I saw quite a few moms carrying this bag at the game and it fit a ton of stuff, so I would check that bag out if you are someone that likes to travel with a bit more than just the essentials.

I know I’ll be using Little Earth Productions’ clear stadium-approved bags to cheer on many other teams in the future! I might just have to talk my boyfriend into getting Rams tickets with me since I love their LA Rams merchandise, haha! Overall, these bags are fashionable and functional, making them an amazing buy (did I mention that their clear bags are priced between $19.99 – $24.99?!).

I’ll be sporting my bag up in the bay area this weekend for the USC vs. Stanford Weekender game. You can follow along with my trip by visiting my Instagram. While you’re at it, make sure to check out Little Earth Productions’ Instagram // Facebook page for the best in game day apparel + accessories! If you’ll be wearing a bag from Little Earth at the next USC home game, I’d love to do a meet up and take a photograph or two with our bags 🙂

Categories: Lifestyle

FIDM || My Tips + Advice

Life has changed a lot in the past year! I feel like I crammed so much information into my brain while at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). I’ve compared my experience at the University of Southern California with my experience at FIDM and come up with a list of things that I wish I had known before entering a fashion-focused college. Having come straight from USC into fashion school, there were several unique things that stood out to me about FIDM, which you’ll hear about below.

At FIDM, my assignments never felt like “schoolwork.” Instead, they felt like one huge and seemingly never-ending project. There was so much going on at once and the whole experience felt very different than my time at USC (when I lived practically across the street from campus!). I commuted from Orange County to FIDM’s Downtown Los Angeles campus for class 3-4 days a week, which is about an hour-long drive each way. It was super important that I had everything I needed for class, didn’t leave anything until the last minute, found parking quickly, knew exactly where my classrooms were, etc. since I was driving over 100 miles a day and had very little time for “slip-ups.”

Since I know many future FIDM students are going to be in the same boat, here are some of my words of advice and other information that I wish I had heard before attending FIDM. These tips are also helpful for students that are living in campus housing! I hope that you find them useful 🙂 Feel free to email me if you have any other questions.

1. KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING.
Okay, so you’re probably thinking this is the most obvious part of any information regarding FIDM to ever appear on the internet...but many new (and returning!) students struggle with finding the correct building. FIDM’s Los Angeles campus includes 6 buildings, which I wasn’t aware of before beginning my studies at FIDM. If you think you’ll never stray from their eye-catching main building, you might be surprised when you notice a little letter next to the classroom that denotes an entirely separate building in Downtown.

With that being said, some students with certain majors may never even see the other buildings. Some of the buildings (such as the Jewelry Design Studio) may not house any of your classes. As a Merchandise Product Development major, I had the majority of my classes in the main FIDM building, which is super modern looking and takes up nearly an entire city block between Olympic & 9th St and Hope St & Grand Ave (it’s the huge star on this map). If you look at the map, you’ll notice that there are THREE buildings with the word “annex” included in their title, which gets super confusing.

While at FIDM, I had classes in the Hope Street Annex building, which is located on Hope Street, one block up from the main building and right across the street from Philz Coffee (my favorite!). This was my absolute favorite building to have classes in since it houses the fashion design labs and looks very Project Runway-esque. The classrooms on the 5th floor are complete with sewing machines, large work tables, dress forms, irons, and really pretty large windows. Almost every classroom has views of the city (if you follow me on snapchat, this is where most of my FIDM Snapchats were sent from, haha).

The other building that I had classes in is the called The Annex – yeah, I told you this whole “annex” building business was kind of confusing! This building is also referred to as the Standard Oil Building as it is a registered historical monument in Los Angeles, which is pretty cool. This is the building that I always make sure to point out to my friends/family while driving through Downtown because it is just so charming from the outside! The inside of the building looks a lot like FIDM’s main campus building (it has been renovated and is very modern) and it is complete with huge work tables, dozens of computers + printers, and some really quirky lounge chairs with desks that you can do homework in. This is probably the location you’ll recognize from all of FIDM’s marketing materials!

2. COME PREPARED.
Some students do not know that they will be receiving a ton of supplies and come unprepared. Lucky, FIDM does a great job of passing out everyone’s supplies on the first day of classes. You simply come to class with a valid student ID and walk down to the supplies distribution area as a class and pick everything up. Super convenient, right?! At Parsons/USC, we received a list of books and materials to track down and you had to hope that we purchased exactly what the professor wanted us to get. Thankfully, this is not the case with FIDM and you can be 100% certain that every single cent of the “books + supplies” portion of you tuition is being used well.

The only negative aspect of this distribution system is that some people don’t have any idea that it is happening and come unprepared. A small (but still important) tip for the first day of classes is to leave your mini crossbody purse and platform wedges at home…it may seem like it will be an easy “syllabus and introduction day,” but picking up supplies can be quite a task if your class ends up being in one of FIDM’s Annex buildings and you are lugging all of your supplies around all day. Come prepared on the first day of class with comfortable shoes and a large tote bag (or you can go all out and purchase one of FIDM’s rolling totes that are usually on sale when the summer quarter begins…it may seem suuuuper dorky at first, but almost everyone has one since some classes require large toolboxes or even large bolts of fabric!).

3. TAKE EVERYTHING SERIOUSLY.
At FIDM, if you do something right the first time, you won’t have to do it all over again once you graduate and go job hunting. This one is plain and simple! FIDM has a very fun and exciting atmosphere, but trust me, it is hard work and you will thank yourself later on if you commit to doing and turning in everything on time. It will also make you a better future employee if you are able to stick to a timeline and get things done right the first time! Make sure to post your work to the FIDM Portfolio Gallery as the quarters pass by so that you have work uploaded and ready to go once you graduate. I sure wish I had known this tip earlier!

4. PICK THE RIGHT MAJOR.
Ok, so this one is a little more serious than the other tips. It is important to understand that some majors are more specific than others – which can be freeing (example: land you a career in a very specific part of the industry) or it can be limiting (example: you want to work in fashion-related social media but have devoted all of your time to studying footwear). If you know for a fact that visual merchandising is 100% what you are interested in doing, then it is a wise decision to pick that major and devote all of your time to classes related to visual merchandising. With that being said, there are many classes that overlap between the majors. For example, I was a Merchandise Product Development major and had several classes with the Merchandise Marketing (different major) students.

If you are interested in gaining an overall understanding of the fashion industry and learning the many aspects of design, merchandising, line development, etc. then it would be smart pick a major that covers a wide variety of fashion-related career paths. Even better, the professors at FIDM have always been super helpful in gearing the discussions towards what you are interested in. If you tell your Sourcing professor that you are interested in working in footwear design, there is a good chance that they will provide you with special materials and insight into that particular area of the industry.

There are pros and cons to every major and you should seriously consider your program based on the schedule of classes. In contrast to my very “open” course plan at USC, FIDM strongly encourages (basically requires) that students follow a very structured plan that is outlined for each major’s specific required courses . If you are deciding between several majors that sound appealing, make sure to request a copy of the courses offered in each major. You might just find that several courses overlap and some stand out as more important or interesting to you, which could ultimately sway you in the right direction.

5. AVOID PARKING HEADACHES.
Last but not least, parking. Luckily for you, I will offer my parking advice in downtown to literally anyone and everyone who will listen (not kidding). Parking in downtown can be easy or impossible depending on what time you arrive for classes and what day of the week it is. Street parking can be difficult since some streets are closed pretty often for construction or events going on in Downtown. The parking signs can also be a little tricky depending on what day it is, so you probably do not want to risk getting a ticket or towed. If you have morning classes at 8am, you can probably find parking at one of the parking lots recommended on FIDM’s website (page 2 of this link). Unfortunately, if you have class at 12pm, parking will be a lot more difficult as the recommended lots are mostly full by then. I have always preferred to park in the LAZ lot on Hope St (conveniently located between the FIDM main campus/The Annex and the Hope St Annex, so getting to any of those buildings is super easy). They charge the standard price for parking around FIDM ($8-$10, depending on how long you stay) and I consider it to be the best option since it is an indoor, secured lot.

6. EMBRACE DIFFERENCES.
FIDM attracts a unique and creative group of people. There will be individuals from all over the world and from all different backgrounds, age groups, and belief systems in your classes, just as there are in other schools. This should go unsaid, but at a school with such an expressive student population, FIDM really stands out as institution full of unique people that you can learn from.

It is such an interesting dynamic – there are students that are 20+ years into their career in the industry that come back to school who are mixed in with students that are 18 and straight out of high school. The students with industry experience are able to offer contacts and invaluable “real-world” advice to the students who come to FIDM straight from high school, while the students who come to FIDM straight from high school are able to offer information and advice about digital marketing and how to operate the latest & greatest digital programs. It truly is such a collaborative and unique environment that you can only benefit from. Since it is such a collaborative environment, it is easier to give and receive feedback in critique sessions. It has always felt like a safe place to (respectfully) voice opinions and receive valuable feedback from classmates and professors.

I hope that you found my tips helpful! I’m also thinking about doing a “FIDM Admissions Advice” post soon, so make sure to subscribe via email (in the sidebar!) if you are interested in that. Best of luck to anyone applying to FIDM!

Categories: Lifestyle, Style

Pretti Tech Accessories

With all of the adorable iPhone cases being sold today, it’s almost hard NOT to use one at this point! I used to love the look of an iPhone or a laptop without a protective case, but these cute cases are making me want to do everything that I can to protect my phone (hah). There are also a ton of cute portable chargers, card holder cases, laptop cases, and other pretty tech accessories in stores right now, so I am sharing a few of my favorite summery tech accessories below!

Categories: Lifestyle, Style, Uncategorized

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Graduation

Today I am sharing some details about my amazing FIDM Graduation Ceremony! I had such a wonderful experience as a FIDM student over the past year and made so many amazing connections. I enjoyed meeting people from all different backgrounds and from different life/career stages. No matter how different a classmate may have appeared, we all shared the same passion. Going to USC and then on to FIDM has been my dream since I was 18 years old, and, not to be corny, but I almost cannot believe that it has become my reality.

My recent Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Graduation Ceremony was surreal. I couldn’t believe that I was on officially d.o.n.e. with my career as a student. Part of me was saddened by the thought that I wasn’t going to be a student in Downtown Los Angeles anymore, but it was comforting looking back on how far I had come in the 4 years that I spent roaming around Los Angeles; search for things like sorority crafting supplies, fabric swatches, or 24 hour restaurants (lol).

I have come to know and love many of Los Angeles’ side streets, traffic jams, and parking lots in my 3 years at USC and my 1 year at FIDM. Los Angeles will always be the city that I really “grew up” in and became an adult in, so it was only fitting that my time as a student would end with a bang in the Staples Center, one of LA’s most well-known and loved venues.

As the ceremony began, I couldn’t help but compare my FIDM Graduation to my USC Graduation. My frame of mind was so different between the two ceremonies; it is so funny how one year can feel like such a HUGE difference! My USC Graduation took place outside in the pouring rain on a chilly & very un-Southern California day in May of 2015, just about a year before my FIDM graduation. I refer to it (only partially sarcastically) as the “best/worst day of my life.” I sat beside my best friends and we Snapchatted nearly the entire time while sporting our USC licensed rain ponchos and decked out graduation sashes.

On the other hand, FIDM’s Grad Ceremony was completely dry (thankfully it was indoors and the sun was shining that day!) and my grad cap was decked out instead of my graduation sash. The energy in Staples Center was absolutely incredible and I loved ending my FIDM experience on such a high note!

(That’s me crossing the stage on the Staples Center Jumbotron!)

I was initially sad to be leaving college behind, but I now realize now that we are always able to learn something new or participate in something that is bigger than ourselves, whether we are students or not. I will miss being a student, being in a sorority, and being part of a student body, but I know that the real world offers just as many opportunities when it comes to pursuing new interests, making new friends, or shopping for shiny new supplies (because it is easier to get stuff done with pretty supplies, am I right? 😉 ).

A few of my family members couldn’t attend because they were in Amsterdam watching my older brother play in a huge football game for the Amsterdam Crusaders!! I wish I could have seen my brother play but these events happened to be only a day apart and it was just too hectic to make it to both.

I had a great time celebrating with the other FIDM Grads and I can’t wait to see where the future will take my new friends and I.

I will carry the incredible energy from my big night at the Staples Center with me wherever I go! Congratulations to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Class of 2016. The best is yet to come 🙂

*I will have another post on my blog about “Things I Wish I Had Known Before FIDM,” so stay tuned for that! I also am thinking about doing a “FIDM Experience vs. Parsons Experience” post for those of you who are interested. (You can read about my time at Parsons here!).

Categories: Lifestyle, Style

Spring In My Step || Instagram Lately

An outfit shot from Nordstrom’s Spring Trend Fashion Show
Details: Dress || Bag || Similar wedges here & here

My mom and I had such a fabulous time at our dear friend Evelyne’s DVF South Coast Plaza event!
Details: Dress || Shoes

The OC blogger group had a blast at this Coachella themed that our friend Cassydy hosted. We did a little shopping & sipping at one of my absolute favorite stores, Modern Romance.

I’m addicted to these facial cleansers from Wabi-Sabi Botanicals. They are smell AMAZING and are non-toxic!

This was kind of an “impulse buy” since I had a Rebecca Minkoff gift card to use, but I’ve gotten so many compliments on this little key-fob! I use it at school to store my USB sticks (and now I sound like a total dork) with style.
Exploring downtown LA in Show Me Your Mumu (the sunflower print is sold out, but the other prints offered are equally as cute!)

An outfit of the night pic of the look I wore to FIDM’s Debut Fashion Show || Dress || Coat

Obsessed with these crewnecks from this shop!

Exploring The Getty Villa with my boyfriend in Malibu.

Another shot from The Getty Villa.

A fun day in the beautiful city of Santa Monica.
Coat (similar) || Hat

Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to check out my blog’s Instagram account for more.

Categories: Lifestyle

USC || Graduation Portraits

Last weekend, my brother walked in his commencement ceremony at the University of Southern California. It is hard to believe that I was crossing the stage just a year ago to get my own diploma! In some ways, the last year seems to have flown by…but it also feels like forever ago when I think back on everything I’ve seen and done over the past year. I remember taking my graduation photos on campus with my mom and my sorority and thinking that they were just part of going through the “grad motions,” but now I realize now that those super cliché graduation photos are actually so important to have in the long run.

My mom did a GREAT job on my own graduation photos, but she was super busy during this year’s gradation week because she was planning a party for my brother, Alexander. I insisted that my brother let me relive my glory days at USC and make a trip up to campus take his photos (haha). I knew that USC’s campus would be super crowded and hectic during graduation week with finals wrapping up and all of the families coming into town for the ceremony, so I brainstormed a few locations to shoot at and we were in and out within an hour. I convinced my brother to take some suuuuper spirited graduation photos with some of USC’s most recognizable locations in the background – I even convinced him to climb up on a building for a #views photo (mostly because he loves Drake and the future generations NEED to know that 😉 ). If you’re wondering what the peace sign shots are about, that’s USC’s sign for “Fight On,” our motto.

Alexander was a good sport and we had a good laugh at the fact that I have to jump up on benches for most of these photos (I am much shorter than him…he is 6’3″ so I was struggling!). Today I’m sharing my favorite shots so that future graduates may use them as inspiration for their own graduation photo shoots. Enjoy!

Congratulations to my brother, Alexander, on being a member of the USC Class of 2016! I already miss running into you on campus between classes – how lucky I am to have had my brother at my college and part of greek life with me. FIGHT ON!

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