If you are a student at The Fashion Institute of Technology, this sounds like a regular Monday to you. To anyone else, this sounds more like a scene from a movie. You probably don’t think that girls like this ACTUALLY exist. They do. Crazy right? For a 9:00 Monday class, you probably wake up at 8:30, grab a hoodie, some Uggs, your Northface, and are set.  The thought of wearing sweatpants to class is horrifying to the FIT student body.  It’s a completely different world, the fashion school world.

Contrary to popular belief, the life of a fashion school student is not one continuous episode of Project Runway.  However, a typical school day is nothing like a day at the average university.  Classrooms are not just for learning.  The competition students face everyday is cut throat.  FIT students are arguably some of the most driven in the nation when it comes to working towards career goals.  They are friendly with each other, of course, but at the end of the day, it’s dog eat dog, and each extremely well-dressed canine is left to fend for himself.  Professors at FIT do not qualify to teach unless they have been working in the industry for 20 years. Most are still active and successful in their fields and choose to teach as a side job.  Opportunity is lurking around every corner and students are ready to tackle it when it comes their way.  Duly noted, they wouldn’t dream to tackle it in sweatpants.

As many would assume, a large percentage of the population are female.  The small male population is made up of mostly homosexual men.  Often better dressed than the girls, these boys have their eyes on the prize as well and put up fierce competition in every outlet.  Girls do not come to FIT to meet boys, it is a fact, and it will never change.  However, if any straight male were to walk down the block at FIT, he would probably kick himself for not applying.  It may be because they are interested in fashion, or because many want to become models themselves, but FIT girls tend to be strikingly attractive.  It is unfortunate, but true, that in the fashion world, it is all about how you look.  Even behind the scenes, being overweight is considered unacceptable when applying for jobs (as we all found out in “The Devil Wears Prada” when Anne Hathaway’s character was reprimanded for being a size 6).  Consequently, most girls are in tip-top shape, and better yet, know how to dress accordingly.  Although it is not their goal to impress some guy in class, girls know that they are constantly being judged by each other, their teachers, and potential employers that show up to guest speak in class.  They treat every day like an interview and dressing to impress is top priority.

It does sound intense (the dressing up, the constant comparisons, the competition), because it is, but as an FIT student I can attest that it is completely worth it.  Even getting up early to do my hair. Every day is a new adventure and life at fashion school is never boring.  The lack of testosterone is disappointing, but it’s a compromise I am willing to make because I am certain that I am on the track I’m meant to be on. Plus, with all these fashionistas around, you wouldn’t believe the hand-me-downs I get. It’s that fact alone that makes my lack-of-a-dating life completely worth it.

America has more name brands than Law and Order reruns and while you may want to go unload your entire check at GAP or Abercrombie, you don’t want to buy something that you thought was cute and unique and later have buyer’s remorse when you see something identical for less.

I’m not encouraging you to start buying knock off Jimmy Choos from Payless and wanna-be BCBG dresses at Walmart (although, just throwing it out there, you may find some very GOOD knock offs). All I’m saying is you should know that EVERY store is competing with another store and when you shop competitively, you save money. Money that you can use to stimulate the economy…or your wardrobe.

So I thought I’d help you sift through the proverbial mall and figure out which stores are best for your budget. Each week I’ll be comparing apples to apples (or undies to undies) to give you the real deal and arm you with the knowledge you need to make the wisest wardrobe choices. Ready. Set. SHOP.

Aerie vs. Victoria Secret Pink
Whoa, didn’t see that one coming did you? In fact, some of you are sitting on your bed thinking, “Are you serious, there is no competition!”or “Those two aren’t even the same.” Well, ladies, think again.

PINK
You know Victoria’s Secret Pink.

History
You’ve been to Pink before so I’m not going to bore you with a description of the store, but here is a little info on that brightly lit store blinding you on your way to Starbucks.

* Since its creation, Pink has been hailed the #1 Loungewear brand in the World (well at least, according to LimitedBrands, the parent company of Victoria’s Secret and Pink).
* In 2008, VS launched their “Exclusive Collegiate Co-branded Collection” and they currently own the rights to more than 33 colleges and universities in the country.
* They are best known for their loose fitting, extra soft sweatpants boasting giant peace signs.
* Some of their most popular items are their PINK tote bags and new, trendy college hoodies.

Pricing
Thong: $9.50 (or 5 for $25)
Bra: (about) $30
T-shirt: $15
Sweatpants: $30 (or 2 for $50)
“Frilly” panties: $9.50 (or 5 for $25)
“Plain” panties: $7.50 (or 5 for $25)
Shoes: $35
Other adorable stuff: $20 (except for that adorable mascot puppy; he’s usually free!)

Now for the competition:

Aerie
It’s new, it’s cute and, YES, it’s competing with VS Pink.

History
* In 2006, American Eagle Outfitters Inc., the parent company of American Eagle Outfitters, launched their “intimates sub-brand,” Aerie.
* They take a more pastel approach to the “dorm-wear” fad
* Their simplistic, yet dainty color schemes of light blues and pinks makes them appeal to less brazen crowd.
* On October 13, 2009, Aerie’s Customer Loyalty Pass (aka their A-List Pass that some of you currently own) surpassed over 1 million in a little over a year, which is pretty big deal for a newer store.
* The ambiance of the store is enough to pull even the most timid shopper in.

Pricing
Thong: $7.50 (or 5 for $25), $10.50 (or 4 for $25) and $12.50 (or 3 for $25). The most expensive individual thong you can buy is $14.50.
Bra: $24
T-shirt: $20 (or BOGO)
Sweatpants: $34.50
“Frilly” panties: $10.50 (or 4 for $25)
“Plain” panties: $7.50 (or 5 for $25)
Shoes: No shoes, they cut those about 6 months ago, but they sell booties and slipper socks that’ll run you about $29.50 each
Other adorable stuff: $ 20

You be the Judge
So, what did YOU guys think? According to survey of 30 girls or so, this is what you guys said:

- 81.8% of you guys said you prefer Pink to Aerie
- Every month, 50% of you girls spend between $25-$75 in Aerie or Pink
- 82.6% of you guys shop at Victoria ‘sSecret more than you do American Eagle.

When asked what you hated or loved about Aerie OR Pink, this is what you said:

“I love Pink because it offers me a variety of retail and it’s fun, flirty, and fresh.”
“Aerie just doesnt appeal to me. Something about it seems rugged and not sexy enough.”
“Sweatpants should never cost $70. Too expensive”
“Aerie is boring”
“I don’t like the way PINK bras fit, they’re too low cut for me and I feel like I’m falling out of them all day.”

At the end of the day, neither store is traditional nor is either store “cheap,” but in both, you can expect to find something that will make you smile and something super comfy to wear to class. Or maybe something you can take off for your male friend later…

What do you have to say? Which do you prefer?

“The Ultimate Hatelist” posted a list of things they assume we, the ladies of the world, like that they think are ridiculously stupid.

Okay, so maybe we do get a little excited if our horoscope says we have a romantic interest in our near future (the guy from Bio, maybe?) and a little frozen yogurt is totally refreshing on a hot day. Okay fine! Maybe we do love a lot of the things they list, which also include brunch (how fun is a mimosa date with the girls?), reality TV, and making t-shirts (we’re bonding okay?!).

But we don’t really think men should be judging, especially with the laundry list of stupid shit they like.

10. Fantasy Sports

“Hey, man how’d your team do?”You might think the guy is actually involved in some sort of extra curricular sports team, meeting on the weekends to play a little two-hand touch or throw a Frisbee. Totally hot, right? Wrong. Instead they are sitting on their ass in front of a computer screen, picking real athletes who they think may possibly play well that week, and assembling a “fake” team. Yes. That is it. If they happen to choose correctly, other men will then applaud them.

9. Fast Food

A burger here, some pizza there, totally fine. We’re all in college, and we all understand the accessibility and yumminess of fast food. But when you eat whole foot long meatball subs at every sitting and then complain that you are putting on weight and can’t lose it, you’re just being stupid. And the gut isn’t cute either, so maybe add some salads into that diet?

8. Reality TV

So fine, we are addicted to The Hills and can watch day-long marathons of Say Yes to The Dress, but who do you think keeps Real Chance of Love and Ice truckers on air? It sure as hell isn’t us girls.

7. Football Sunday…All Day

I love football. It’s totally great that one day a week Americans gather around their TV sets and root for their favorite team. But why this one event has to erase an entire day off the weekly calendar is beyond me. The game starts at 4, so the pre-show starts at 1 and the tailgate starts at 9. And we couldn’t possibly do anything afterward, because then there’s highlight clips and recaps of the game that we just watched. Oh you want another foot long meatball sub? My pleasure, I’ll be right back.

6. Poker

Don’t get me wrong, I love cards. I don’t even mind a little blackjack or five card every now and then. What is stupid is that men will sit for hours on end, cleaning out their pockets to the point where they are throwing favors and their car keys into the pot just to keep playing. What happened to a friendly game of poker? The fact that men will gamble away their whole wallet and think nothing of it is stupid.

5. Cars

Us girls can appreciate a nice car when we see one. We’ll even entertain your comments now and then (“yeah, those rims are really nice”). But this crazy obsession guys have with cars is beyond absurd; when a nice one rolls by it’s like they are rendered incapable of speaking, walking, or continuing whatever activity they were previously engaged in. They become drooling, gawking little boys. It’s the 21^st century; nice cars are everywhere. Get over it.

4. Sneakers

They rail on us for always wearing uncomfortable stilettos, but we think it’s stupid that they are always in dirty sneakers. Seriously, can they really be wearing the same shoes out to dinner that they just played baseball in? Perhaps we do tend to overdress, but it’s always better than being under-dressed. Especially in certain situations that demand looking put together (church, family dinners, meeting your parents).

3. Public Flatulence

We’re not going to go down the whole girls-are-pretty-and-never-fart road. Yes, we burp. Yes, we fart. And yea, we even poop sometimes. But it is stupid that boys relieve themselves in public, think it’s funny, and even congratulate each other for it. What is even remotely entertaining about filling the booth at a restaurant with your raunchy stank? I will never understand why men see this as an expression of their manhood.

2. Quoting Movies

Yeah, that line was funny…in the movie. But being able to quote (and recognize quotes) from every movie ever made A) doesn’t make you funny and B) doesn’t make you impressive. Guys just love quoting movies and frown upon anyone who doesn’t pick up on the obscure reference they just made to some random line from some random scene in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.

1. Turning Everything Into a Competition

We totally understand being competitive in all things sports, physical and intelligence-related. Hell, even the ladies get a little crazy at a sporting event. But guys will turn anything into an opportunity to win. “Oh yeah? Well I can type faster than you and I know more Will Ferrell movie quotes. LET’S GO!”

This week’s article lists a number of reasons why women are (supposedly) attracted to taken men. Let’s see what they have to say…

AskMen says: “In the Garden of Eden, Eve sinks her teeth into the one piece of fruit that God instructed her to avoid — so began a long line of women who wanted, oh so badly, what they could not have.”

I Say: Actually, I’m pretty sure Eve convinced Adam to eat the forbidden fruit instead of biting into it herself. Nevertheless, I don’t really find bible references to be the most accurate explanations of human behavior.

AskMen Says: “Significant others are a reflection of the people they date. That’s why it’s in a girl’s best interest to act like her boyfriend’s PR rep: to mention whenever possible that he studied at Harvard — oh, and he plays in a band. When she boasts, her listeners see him through the rose-colored glasses that she wears.”

I Say: Of coarse, the only way women can make themselves seem like decent human beings to to boast to others about the great things their boyfriend does.

AskMen Says: “Girls want what other girls have. To women, the simple fact that a guy is someone’s favorite flavor makes him worth a try.”

I Say: For some girls, sure. But it’s definitely not a majority of women who feel this way. Most of us abide by the same code men do: hands off your friend’s man!

AskMen says: “Consider this: If a man risks his entire relationship — commitment be damned — for one exceptionally steamy night with another woman, that other woman will go home feeling like she has one-upped Helen of Troy. That’s bragging rights to the max.”

I Say: I would never, ever brag about sleeping with someone else’s boyfriend.

AskMen Says:”In short, women believe that men who are single are single for a reason. Backward as it may sound, the ones who aren’t available are the ones worth going for.”

I Say: Single women who know that not having a boyfriend doesn’t mean there’s something inherently wrong with them. We are smart enough to know  that a man not being in a relationship doesn’t mean he is defective.

AskMen says: “Women want to screw over other women… Women size up their competition and somehow rationalize that her boyfriend is begging to be with a real woman — no offense to the tramp he’s with.”

I Say: Women are terrible, horrifying creatures responsible for all the evil in the word. Right, askmen?

AskMen says: “The man exuding confidence like perspiration in a sweat lodge has his arm blissfully around his bombshell of a girlfriend — and in case you didn’t notice, she’s all about him. What better proof exists that he is successful, intelligent and endlessly charming? Men who enjoy this luxury are infinitely more natural, comfortable and cool. They worry little, stress out even less. This all adds up to a man with incredible romantic gravity who pulls women into his orbit.”

I Say: Seeing a girl who loves her man does not make every woman immediately want that man. However “successful, intelligent and endlessly charming.” Most women will turn off their advances the moment they see he is taken.

All in all, askmen offers another pigheaded view of how women work.

Have you ever gone after someone else’s boyfriend? Why?

What’s more, the show has proven that working out can be fun, and that dancing is an excellent way to shed some unwanted pounds, build muscle, and start living an overall healthier lifestyle. I know I signed up for Zumba and impulsively bought the DWTS Cardio Dance workout DVD without batting an eye.

As DWTS has increased our awareness of fun ways to stay fit, it’s also a great vehicle to demonstrate that fitness comes in all shapes and sizes. In the past, we’ve seen DWTS combat some of the Hollywood stereotypes that distort women’s body images across the country. Remember when all 167 pounds of Laila Ali made it to the top three? How about when Sabrina Bryan, who is “chunky” by Hollywood standards, was sent home simply because everyone thought she was too talented to need their votes?

Most importantly, consider the fact that normally the beauty queens and supermodels are the first to get the boot: Paulina Porizkova, Shandi Finnessey, and Shoana Moakler are among the competitors who never saw round three, and thus, they all blend together into one generic DWTS loser, while fan favorites like Marisa Jaret Winokur show you that being skinny doesn’t mean you can move.

That being said, the enormously talented professionals with DWTS also have very different looks, which is great, because it shows that they are all very individual, not just some manufactured dancing Barbie doll. However, this season I’ve been disappointed to see the media scrutiny that Cheryl Burke has had to deal with. Just because Cheryl doesn’t have the rail-thin body of Edyta, it doesn’t mean she’s gotten “fat,” and either way, DWTS shouldn’t be the show to decide who’s fat or thin, because for several years, it’s been more about techniques and talents than the number of ribs that protrude when someone arabesques.

If I had Cheryl Burke’s body, I’d be thrilled. Not only would I look amazing, but I’d know I was in great physical condition. So why is it that two-time champ Cheryl is suddenly under scrutiny? Girlfriend can move– and isn’t this a dance competition? Karina Smirnoff and Edyta Sliwinska’s outfits are getting smaller and smaller, and our former champ, Cheryl, is being put under a microscope.

I’m not saying Edyta is at fault for being so skinny with such a huge rack, or that Karina’s to blame for making me second-guess the cheeseburger I had at lunch. I just thought that the lesson we learned from the first six seasons of DWTS was that “fit” comes in all shapes and sizes. Edyta, Karina, Cheryl, Julianne, Kym, and, this season, Lacey all put in grueling hours as they patiently teach their partners to dance like pros. Just because they have different body types doesn’t mean that one is “fat” or another is “better.”

So please, DWTS fans, media, paparazzi, and whomever else is trying to turn my favorite dance competition into an anorexia playground, just back off. I would love to have one of those girls’ bodies… but I would much rather have their talent.

I know I’ll make some people angry out there, but I’ve noticed a few things about the many pre-meds I’ve come across in my time at college. This surely isn’t true of every doctor wannabe out there, but it is a lifestyle and mindset that ensares many a good student.

1. A pre-med is always the one asking “Will this be on the test?” Yup, the pre-med is always the really annoying kid in a class, ignoring the intellectual meat of any discussion. Pre-meds are fixated on performing well by the numbers, of doing well on the test and getting the A, regardless of what they get out of the course. A pre-med’s moves are often calculated just to get the grade rather than stimulate discussion.

2. A pre-med can’t stop talking about grades. “What did you get on the exam?” “What do you think the curve will be like?” “Man, I was studying ALL last night.” “I’ve got to get an A in this course if I want to go to so-and-so med school.” It can rapidly get exhausting to chat with a pre-med. They can’t stop talking about doing well on exams and actually getting into med school — their singular obsession. They don’t want to talk about literature, art, or culture. They only want to talk about themselves and that big exam coming up.

3. A pre-med is endlessly competitive. If you’re friends with pre-meds, I’ve discovered it’s best to keep your grades to yourself. They thrive on competition and they’re determined to be better than anyone else in terms of academics. GPA’s are thrown around like currency, and they’ll stop at nothing to keep that GPA high, from shamelessly sucking up to professors, to wheedling them for grade bumps. I’m just glad the majority of my classes are arty and not swarmed with these guys and gals.

4. A pre-med can’t relax and enjoy themselves. This isn’t the pre-meds’ fault. Colleges expect a tremendous amount from their pre-meds, and the competition is so fierce that I can understand why students think they have to live this obnoxiously hardcore lifestyle in order to survive. Plenty of people start out thinking they’ll be doctors and find out early on that they just can’t hack it. However, the way the system stands now, the universities reward this bad behavior with success. Rather than valuing learning for learning’s sake and really getting something out of their classes, pre-meds know that what counts is the grade, and not the content of the class. It’s a terrible cycle of competitiveness increasing obnoxiousness, which only increases the competition.

I know some pre-meds who find time to party hard and end up wasted on the weekends, but again, there’s an air of desperation and competition to their partying, as if they feel compelled to do everything just to get the requisite college experience in. Get the grades, do the bodyshots, wear the right pants, and you’ll end up getting into the right med school. When college is only a means to an end, though, it wastes four years of what could be the best time of your life.

So to pre-meds, I say relax, try and enjoy yourselves and enjoy learning a little bit more. And to friends of pre-meds, I say, try and be patient, but make sure you have other friends as well, so you won’t be constantly surrounded by that wearying talk.

American Idol

Honestly, I’m just not all that into American Idol this season. The singers seem tepid to me. Sure, I miss the liveliness that my Sanjaya threw into the show last season—but even barring that, everyone is so bland! At least Ryan mixed it up with his offer to fight Simon in a pit of mud.

So, let’s talk about the bottom three: Syesha Mercado, Kristy Lee Cook, and David Hernandez. Syesha had to sing first, and the poor girl—I just wanted to cry for her. How much does it suck to be told that you’re unpopular and then be forced to sing in front of who knows how many million people? Syesha handled it pretty well, though, and at least managed to smile throughout her whole performance.

Kristy had to sing next, and though I can’t stand her look—the too-cute pink top with the flowing blond hair—I actually didn’t mind the song, which is surprising since I hate country. She picked up some more points by being über-perky, which I can only imagine is difficult to do when all you can think about is how the entirety of America hates you.

Rounding out the bottom three was David Hernandez, who gave possibly the most boring performance in the history of American Idol. It was so boring I don’t even remember what the song was. After what felt like centuries of hemming and hawing by Ryan, David was finally sent home. He handled it well and seemed confident—more power to him.

Basically, though, I am now psyched that there are only two Davids on the show… maybe now I can finally keep track of them.

As you push your cart up and down the aisles of Wal-Mart and Target stocking up on the necessities, your bank account is slowly draining (unless your parents plan on footing the entire bill-in which case you can stop reading now).

The money you’ve saved up at your menial summer job may be non-existent by the time you hit the mall to pick up some new kicks and a few back to school outfits.

So what happens when you land on campus broke as a joke in need of food and fun? You begin the job hunt.

As a seasoned veteran of the work study program, I would not recommend this line of work. My freshman year was spent slaving away between classes in an office with no windows. Fetching sandwiches for a hostile man whose job it was to make photocopies for 7 dollars an hour wasn’t my idea of a worthwhile part-time job.

When I ventured out to find legitimate employment during my sophomore year, I applied to every store, restaurant, and office within a 20 block radius of my school.

To be blunt, I went crazy, spreading my resume like wildfire to anyone who would take it. You would think my phone would have been ringing off the hook.

Well, think again. Turns out thousands of kids from my school and surrounding colleges were applying for those very same jobs. I didn’t receive so much as one call back for at least a month.

Eventually, I got a call from a restaurant less than a block away from my school. I wound up with a well-paying convenient part-time job. More importantly, I walked away from the situation with a better understanding on how to land a job in a competitive environment. I pass these tips on to you, our loyal readers:

1. ALWAYS have a copy of your resume with you- Nine times out of ten a manager will request a copy of your resume when you apply for a job. Don’t let them down. You’ll look silly and unprepared, qualities that are not highly valued by management.

2. Dress the part- Even if you’re applying to the crappiest hot dog stand, show up in a respectable outfit and you’re a hundred percent more likely to land the gig. Never, under ANY circumstances, wear jeans. Many establishments will politely take your resume and shred it to pieces the second you’re out the door if you look unprofessional.

3. Be Confident- Look the interviewer in the eye when you speak. Don’t be afraid to talk about your achievements and useful qualities. Remember, many others will be applying for this very same job. You need to sell yourself and convince the company that you are the best person for the job.

4. Be Available- Most part-time jobs will need you on nights and weekends. Obviously, it sucks working on Friday and Saturday night. However, most restaurants (or stores!) won’t hire you if you aren’t willing to make this sacrifice. If you’re desperate to salvage your weekends, request every other weekend off, or ask to only work on one weekend day.

5. Network- Sometimes the easiest way to get a job is through a friend. Ask around- someone you know is bound to be employed at a place that is looking for help. With their recommendation, you may have a simple “in” at the company.

A part time job can (surprisingly) be a key part of your college experience. As you’re required to spend time with your co-workers, a job offers you the opportunity to make new friends. You will always have extra spending money to buy that new shirt you REALLY want or to go out on the nights you’re available. It’s not all fun and games- but it beats sitting home because you’re penniless or grubbing money from your aggravated friends.