My Favorite SS22 Looks

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Fashion weeks are back are back like they never left.

Over the past couple of weeks, designers have been releasing their spring and summer 2022 ready to wear collections. We are seeing lots of trends form last spring stick around such as the knitwear, mixed materials and gender neutral clothing – and I am not mad about it. There are also some deigns on the runway that are bringing back major 2000’s vibes with the mini silk dresses, illuminating accessories and, what everyone loves to hate it, the Canadian tuxedo.

Out of the collections I have seen so far, one of my favorites has been Miu Miu. Miu Miu channeled more of the gender neutral aspect, but by taking mens clothing and reconstructing it to mini skirts and cropped office wear. This was on the causal side of runway attire compared to past Miu Miu collections, and that is to show that we are in a new, defining age of casual dressing. They are taking business casual to a whole new level – has it won over corporate America? Maybe not, but it for sure has left a mark on myself and the rest of Gen Z.

Along with Miu Miu, there were many other designers that surprised me such as Jil Sander, AZ Factory, Christian Dior, and more. Can I afford anything from these collections? Absolutely not, so I will admire them from afar.

Here are my favorite looks for SS22.

Help, I Suck At Thrifting

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It’s okay, me too.

In a world that is consumed by fast fashion, thrifting is climbing its way back into our consumer purchasing system. Over the past year I have really tried to watch my intake of fast fashion from popular retailers such as Zara, H&M, etc. as they cause extreme amounts of garment waste. It are these companies that that draw in such a large amount of customers because they are promoting items at a cheaper price. If I don’t shop there, how else I am supposed to afford the trendiest items everyone has? Well, you know the saying “what goes around comes around”? That has to do with fashion too. And the best way to stay in the consumer loop? Thrifting.

I am very new to buying lightly worn clothes, but I have found out some tips for when it comes to finding the best deals, where to look, and who to trust. Here is what I have found.

Know where to shop.

While I know there are many thrift stores near me in Chicago, between work and school, I have not had the time to go and explore what they have to offer. In the meantime I have been using online apps such as Depop, Curtsy, Poshmark, Ebay and TheRealReal to find some of the best steals.

Follow sellers on online that are your size.

Yes, there are so many options to buy used clothing and accessories, which can make shopping very overwhelming. Finding sellers on these apps, more specifically Depop, with your style preference and size is a game changer. I have purchased from sellers in the past who have bought from stores I like to primarily purchase from, and are my size. This makes online thrifting quick and easy, and you can follow them for post notifications.

Follow influencer’s on Poshmark.

I have found that influencers are some of the best people to buy from off Poshmark. Most influencers only wear clothes one time for a photo, and are constantly being sent new items, so the lifecycle of a piece of theirs is very short. But, some sell their clothes online for extremely inexpensive. I just purchased a Ganni dress that was worn once by an influencer for $40 (it was originally $250).

Use eBay if you’re looking for vintage designer.

While I have not purchased from eBay for designer bags, I have definitely looked and I know many people who have. Despite the claims that eBay cannot be trusted, it its almost difficult to dupe a vintage designer bag, which ensures many bags authenticity. A vintage bag has plenty of wear, while good dupes are newer and are noticeably clean. It is much cheaper to purchase off of eBay than designer second-hand stores like TheRealReal or Fashionphile, so this will be where I buy my next designer bag.

Start selling your clothes online

Whether you need a second source of income or are just looking for a closet cleanup, selling your clothes online is always a great option. In college I worked for Cursty, an app target towards college girls for easy buying and selling. When I sold I was able to see who bought my clothes. If they are my size and like my clothes it was almost certain that I would fit into the pieces they are selling and like their style too. It’s a great way to make money and find new places to shop. A win-win!

If you have any tips to share about thrifting, leave a comment for other readers below. Help each other shop sustainable!

The Life Balance

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A life balance – words that have seemed foreign to me recently. Right now everyone is busy adjusting to new lifestyles: new school, new city, new job, whatever it may me it can be overwhelming.

Just a couple months ago I moved to Chicago, somewhere I had really never been to prior to my big move. I began a new job in a field I knew nothing about. Right after I began working, I started my full-time masters program online. Sounds like a lot right? Well it was extremely overwhelming at first. With the combination of a new city, new job and new school, I was left with little time for myself. I was missing out on all of my favorite things like cooking, going on long walks, working out, and even writing. If you have read my blog before this post you may have noticed I have been a little M.I.A. Well, that’s because I’ve been figuring out my life balance.

Finding your life balance is like searching for the perfect balanced diet – it’s near to damn impossible. But slowly after the trial and error of new routines, you are able to figure it out a little bit better to work towards your end goal. My goal of my life balance is to have enough time for work, school, myself and my friends. That’s it. But I know that’s a lot to ask and prioritize. When you have a full plate you have to figure out your prioritizes; what you need to do (like work and school), who you want to spend time with and what you need to do for yourself to make your mental capacity better down the road. Those three things that I carry with me day to day help keep me on track and find my balance.

If you’re struggling with finding time for yourself, remember that the only person that can make that time is you. Our schedules fill up so fast, but we can make our own time just as quick. For me, I have a hard time saying now because I tend to be people pleaser. Saying “yes” to everything makes other people happy, but overall leaves minimal time for myself. Sometimes it can be as easy as turning down a night out or a quick lunch just to make room for things you need to do for you. That’s not being selfish, that’s looking for yourself. And no one looks out for you like you do.

In all of my craziness I know that I am not alone. So many people are going through extensive & time consuming life changes, and nothing is too big or too small. While this can be such an overwhelming time of our lives, things will even out. As I have been balancing my changes for the past couple months, I am finally finding my groove again to make time for myself as every part of the day counts. Yes, it is important to work hard, but it’s almost as important to play harder.

Best Of The Best: Revolve Sale Finds

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I have been SO good about not buying clothes. But today I did something so bad for my bank… I opened the Revolve app.

Revolve is normally crazy expensive especially with my high end taste, so I try to stay clear of it as much as possible due to my tight post-graduate budget. BUT, with a long shopping dry spell, comes a big (reasonable) shopping haul. We’ll see if I have the funds for that, but I definitely have been saving some pieces in the Revolve sale section. In my opinion the sale on Revolve is super hit or miss, but recently it has been a HIT. Some of my favorite brands like Cotton Citizen and For Love & Lemons have recently added to the sale section, and I know these won’t stay in stock for long,

If you’re looking to add some new pieces to your wardrobe without breaking the bank, grab these discounted pieces from Revolve while they are still in stock.

Cotton Citizen Milan Sweatpants

The ultimate WTH essential. Cotton Citizen is such an expensive, high quality brand made in the USA that normally charges hundreds for pair of sweats. This pair? $38.

$195 $38

The M Jewelers Initial Necklace

This M Jewelers is one of my favorites when it comes to long lasting jewelry. Classic, yet trendy pieces that last years and years are hard to come across, so I’d go for this with or without a sale.

$100 $65

Agolde 90’s Pinch Waist Short

My favorite denim brand? Agolde. 100%. It is because of this brand I have swapped my favorite joggers for jeans. If you live in a warmer state and aren’t quite ready for jeans, denim Bermuda’s are the perfect substitute – and these are top notch.

$148 $104

Ganni Zipper Boot

If there is one thing we all know it’s that lugged-sole shoes are going to be a hit this fall, which is why I am shocked these Ganni boots are almost half off. Are they still expensive? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.

$445 $236

n:philanthropy Monty Bodysuit

This is the most basic bodysuit ever but yet again is made with such long lasting, high quality materials. Definitely could be a piece in your capsule wardrobe.

$128 $45

OW Intimates Sherpa Hoodie

OW intimates makes the best basics/ lingerie type clothes which are great got going out or lounging around the house. This sherpa hoodie will be especially good if you are in the north when those closer months hit us quicker than we expect.

$218 $92

ALIX NYC Grace Crop Top

Despite this crop top being styled with yoga pants, this tank is extremely versatile and is the epitome of a day-to-night look. Style this to yoga in the mornings, and wear with a pair of leather pants to grab drinks at night.

$95 $40

MONROW Turtleneck Dress

I know it is still so hot outside, but it is never too early to prep for fall. The small cutout gives this dress a little bug of an edge. This would definitely be something I’d wear out fir drinks with a great pair of chunky boots.

$169 $46

Cotton Citizen Brooklyn Short

If you’re still at MSU – get these for tailgate season. If I were still in college there I would 100% have these in my cart and at my door before the first home game.

$155 $53

Aritzia, I Love You, But We Need To Talk

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Aritzia, Aritzia, Aritzia. The new colt favorite (and personal favorite of mine) has been steadily releasing their fall collections throughout the month of August. First came Wilfred, then came TNA, now comes Sunday Best.

Sunday Best is an Aritzia in-house brand that is tailored more towards their Gen-Z customer. The many tennis skirts, sweater vests and baby tee’s are the 90’s reinvention that we didn’t know we needed. And this 90’s to early 2000’s look is all the rage and a huge hit with the company’s target audience. But there is one issue with this style being so popular – the copying of designs from other companies.

I was beyond excited to see Sunday Best’s fall collection, but there were a few things that stuck out to me from their release. Their graphic tee’s are almost exact designs from Réalisation Par and Brandy Melville.

On the left, Aritzia, on the right, Brandy Melville.

While this original design from Brandy Melville has been copied many times in fast fashion, I was not expecting to this at Aritzia in their fall collection. They have also made similar designs on other shirts with the words “Ranger”, “Rodeo Kid” and “Buckaroo”.

The second design that I immediately recognized from another brand is this shirt originally designed by Réalisation Par. This brand rapidly increased in popularity through social media as their floral dresses were seen on many influencers throughout the summer. Their dresses weren’t the only thing that stuck out on their website. Their unique baby tee’s were flying off the shelves. Constantly sold out, this is an immediately recognizable shirt. So I was yet again shocked to see this on Aritzia’s website. Aritzia and Réalisation Par bring in the same kind of customer, so this won’t go unnoticed.

On the left, Aritzia, on the right, Réalisation Par.

While unfortunately designs are copied all the time, I am disappointed with these pieces from Aritzia. What sets Aritzia apart form its competitors is its timeless, unique yet classy pieces that are wardrobe staples to keep in your closet for years. But with this collection that is launching on Thursday, it shows that the company is taking a different approach to reach their target audience. And to be honest, the target has been missed. By this ever so slight rebrand from Sunday Best, they are putting themselves on the same playing field as other overdone Gen-Z brands. What they have works, there is not need to change that and it shows in their numbers. Some of their past quarters have hit company records in terms of revenue, so I am curious, why the change to be like everyone else?

The collection comes out tomorrow. While I will be browsing the new items, you won’t find me making any purchases from Sunday Best.

The Oversaturation Of Instagram Influencers

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Brace yourself for my unpopular opinion.

Instagram influencers are the backbone of product advertising. Every time you go on Instagram think about how many times you scroll past a post promoting a product. And when I say a promoted product it doesn’t have to be from the self-proclaimed influencer, but even from your favorite actor or athlete. So, now that you’re thinking of it that way, it’s probably a lot. On my social media pages it seems like I can’t pass three post without seeing a photo with the caption #ad. A few years ago, this marketing tactic worked. Extremely well. Now? The excessive Princess Polly and Crest Whitening Strips ads aren’t cutting it.

Before we talk about the downfalls of influencer marketing, let’s talk about its perks. Customers like hearing from a person that they trust. The word influencer is defined as “a person with the ability to influence potential buyers of a product or service by promoting or recommending the items on social media”. They influence because they are trusted. Without these people having a trusted following, they wouldn’t be able to get other people to buy what they “love” so much. Have I bought things that an influencer promotes? Absolutely! I have girls and accounts that I follow that I feel like I have built a connection with, which makes me trust their recommendations, which leads me to purchase their beloved product. This form of product advertising does work. But it has to be done correctly. And as it has become more popular, this form of advertising is over saturating the product market. Therefore, decreasing its effectiveness.

Despite brand’s best efforts to appeal to the Gen Z and Millennial age group, something is missing between the consumers & their sought after purchase. These generations have taken it into their own hands to become a typical “Instagram influencer”, and it’s hurting the market. And I want to note that I am not knocking influencers in any sort of way. I know it is crazy hard work, time and effort to achieve the things that they do. Shoot I even struggle to work my full time job and get blog post up a few times a week. They work hard, but the influencer world is overdone. Oversaturated. It has been roughly ten years since Instagram started, and about the same time since the first influencers gained their following. Technology is evolving, and so is the product advertising in a digitally driven world.

According to Forbes, affiliate marking is already maturing. While it seems like every brand is on social media looking for people to push their product out to their target audience, classic, luxury brands like Bottega Veneta have steered clear of this tactic. Could this be because the market has too many brand’s doing too similar of advertising? Part of me thinks so. I give these luxury brands props for sticking to traditional advertising methods that seem to be working. Bottega doesn’t seem to be having a problem as their Mini Jodie & Chain Pouch have been seen everywhere for the past year.

Despite the constant change in advertising tactics, product marketing is important. And necessary for a brand to succeed. The question that remains though is what is next for the “influencer” world? Will Instagram remain on top, or will a new platform reign in the world of influencers? Hard to say due to the evolution of technology, but keep your eyes peeled for something other than the #ad.