DIY OF THE WEEK: T-shirt Scarves!

This week, we will be learning how to recycle old t-shirts that we all just have lying around the house! I have noticed over the past month or so how many DIYs there are that just allow us to create cool and fashionable items from all of our old clothes! Instead of always having to buy specific items, we can just recycle what we have and make it unique and our own. This week, we will be creating a cute and fashionable fall scarf! It's pretty quick and easy. The supplies you will need to complete this project are:

• A large or extra large t-shirt depending on how long you want your scarf to be
• Scissors
• Ruler (if you are a precise person)
• Food coloring or dye (optional - this is if you are using a shirt color that you what to dye)
• In the video, Mr. Kate also includes trinkets to decorate the scarf (also optional)

I hope you enjoyed this DIY and I would love to hear your feedback and see some of the cute scarves that everyone has made. You can send them to britneyoates8@gmail.com!

Atlanta Trip 2012

AIMO's trip to the America's Apparel Mart in Atlanta, GA.

October 12th-14th.

Featured Merchandising Student: Lindy Maddox

Let's face it. Finding internships is not always easy. Sometimes it's who you know. Sometimes it's what you know. But in reality, it's about your passion and what effort you put in towards that dream internship.

If you want to know how to get started in your search or even what trends you can find on the campus of ECU, Trendy Lindy knows it all. Her resume would need to be professionally bound with all of the amazing things this senior Fashion Merchandising student has accomplished. On top of having her own blog, Lindy has established herself as a wonderful writer for College Fashionista as well as a fashion columnist for The East Carolinian (As if your own blog Trendy Lindy wasn't enough :) )

This college fashionista has done it all by trusting in herself, her faith, and her drive to take initiative.

Read Lindy's interview to see what she has done throughout her college career.

MP: Give me a timeline of what you've done that has brought you to today.

LM: 
Fall semester of my freshman year I made my own blog. It was called Pirates Prevailing Taste and I took pictures of people on campus for fun. I would have posts about hair, trends, outfit of the day (OOTD)...It was really hard because I didn't have a good camera. 

That same year I heard about a blog called A Blond Ambition that I really liked so I emailed the creator (who is from Arkansas where they are big on fashion) asking if she had an intern. She had never had an intern before but asked me if I could co-author her blog, and we became good friends.

Sophomore year I found College Fashionista and applied to be a Style Guru for East Carolina. 

That semester I was contacted by Charlotte Style Magazine who asked me if I wanted to work with them. I shadowed a stylist who worked on photo shoots, picking accessories, etc. 

My junior year I went to New York with my family and met with my boss at College Fashionista. I knew we were going to be in the same area so I contacted her to see if we could meet. Since then we've become closer. The next semester I applied to be the social media intern for College Fashionista, where I am in charge of the Tumblr.

Before this past summer I applied to over 25 different companies and didn't hear back from any but one. I got an internship at a PR agency in Boston. I moved to Boston in May and started my internship two days after getting there. It wasn't what I expected it to be but sometimes you have to start somewhere to know what you really want to do.  

In June, I got another job in Boston working at Urban Outfitters which is the 2nd largest UO in the country. 

In July, I received an email from CollegeFashionista about writing for USA Today in September. Only 12 people are chosen a year from College Fashionista. I got the chance to write about the fashion on ECU's campus, which was really exciting. 

This month I went on a trip to New York for Teen Vogue Fashion U 2012. I found the program online and applied. Only about 500 people are accepted to attend. I had to pay for the program and my way to New York, but it was worth the money. It made me realize how many people are trying to get into the industry.
  

MP: What do you think has lead to your success so far?

LM: Taking initiative. Some people think an internship will just fall into their lap, but it won't. It's about making your own connections. Find something you have in common with  someone and go from there, even if you don't know them. 

MP: What do you wish you knew before today that could have helped?

LM: I wish I would have been able to find out more about the internship in Boston before spending all of that money. 
            

Do your research! You have to hope for the best, but expect the worst.

MP: Where do you get your fashion inspiration?

LM: From blogs. Some of my favorite blogs are...

-FashionToast
-The Sartorialist (because they have different styles) 
-Natalie Off Duty
-See Jane.

I hope Lindy has inspired you to go out and find that dream job, make that call, and send that email. All it takes is a drive for success and willingness to step out of your comfort zone. You don't have to wait for your advisor, teachers, or parents to tell you when to start doing what you love. If you want to start a blog NOTHING IS STOPPING YOU. Express yourself in creative ways so you can have something to show at your next interview.

Take chances. 

Lights, Camera, Fashion: Bevello Fashion Show

The fashion world is full of trendsetters and well-dressed folks that usually live or are from a big city, but going to the Bevello fashion show on October 25, 2012, one would not have known the difference! The atmosphere was filled with lighthearted fun and enjoyment and women, with the exception of a few men who were dressed to the T. There was such a diverse crowd within the doors of Bevello that one could get lost with all the inspiration you could gain from the crowd (I know I did)! On top of the audience’s ensembles, the outfits within the show were awesome! It was about 30 minutes of non-stop trends for any and everybody. The store was able to incorporate styles for the girl who enjoys a quick and simple look that still is trendy, the girl who enjoys more of a tailored look, and also the party girl whose outfits revolve around and incorporate all the latest trends. Bevello is definitely a store any girl who likes being up to date on the latest fashions should shop in and it is even for those who have a little trouble putting outfits together. Due to the fact that the staff at Bevello is extremely fashionable, they are able to help anyone put together a terrific ensemble, just as they did the girls who were actually in the show. All in all, I can say that the show was pretty awesome due to the variety of clothing that Bevello was able to put together and the environment that they were able to achieve. Below are a few pictures from the show along with a trend description of each. Enjoy!

Here we have a very comfortable but cute look that can be worn just about anywhere! This outfit can be worn to the grocery store, shopping, or even to class. It consist of a black maxi skirt, red v-neck, a hat, cute satchel purse, and a feather necklace to add a little flavor!

This outfit fits more for the semi-rocker chick. This girl likes to have a little edginess along with a slightly girly touch to the outfit. She is wearing an above the knee dress, jean jacket, and a scarf to brighten up the look!

This model is wearing a beautiful dark fuchsia dress with orange and navy blue accents with a nude heel that allows the dress to shine on its own. This dress is also very versatile because it can be worn to a wedding, on a date, or just out with a few girlfriends. Either way, you will look like the chic women you are!

As you can see, most of the outfits have been fun, but here we have a statement look! It is an all black jumpsuit with a deep v-slit in the front with a red statement necklace to makes the neckline pop! This outfit an be worn by multiple age groups, but will be eye catching in any situation.