It’s almost summer, and the days spent cramming for finals and living the dorm life are winding down. To celebrate acing your exams, go out with a second semester bang by clubbing with the girls! Often times I find myself annoyed while packing my clutch, because I have to remove and replace items because of the size. I’m not about to carry around a tote, but I’m an over-packer/planner. I need a lot of tools. For the complete party girl survival kit (camouflaged by an adorable Oginski Clutch via Aldo, $45.00) see below:

Walk Home Shoes

The savior to all sore, bruised and broken heels. Peel your feet out of those stilettos and unroll these babies on your way to taco bell. They are affordable, as thin as an iPhone, and come in their own little case, so no worries about the grimy bar bathroom bottoms pressing up against your lip gloss.
Footzyrolls, $12.99

Pocket Size Sanitizer

Okay, other than its obvious uses (warding off sickness, and removing the ‘X’ from your hands) it really comes in handy. Let’s be real here. We dance our hearts out, and that induces sweat. Clunky deodorants take up way too much room, even if they’re travel size. If you’re feeling a bit ranky under your arms, pat some of this onto your skin. The sanitizer removes the bacteria, taking away the smell and leaving a fresh scent.
Dancing Waters, $1.50

Mini Mascara

My favorite makeup tool is my mascara. Nothing looks prettier than long, defined lashes. By the end of the night, mine begins to run and clump, regardless of whether or not it’s waterproof. Stash a mini-stick into your clutch and reapply during your 5th trip to the bathroom.
Bold Eyes To Go, $28.00

Roll On Perfume

Roll on perfumes or samples are perfect for targeting small areas with fresh scents. Roll onto wrists and sides of your neck. The size is just right, and stays on longer than a small bottle of body mist. My favorite scent is Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue!

Bandaids

You love those leopard print wedges, but your ankles don’t. Stick a few behind your heel for a night full of fun and no friction.

Aspirin

Alright, I know we’re not old ladies, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wished I had just one travel pack of aspirin for the morning-after.

Pop-up Brush

This is the sweaty, poof gone birds nest, drunk hair’s best friend. It’s the perfect size, compact and comes with a mirror. What more could you ask for?
Turquoise Pop Up Brush, $8.00

Gum

As Sammi Sweetheart once quoted, “I don’t want your pukey-breath on me.” Exactly.

Mini-Tamps

Whether you’re on your monthly gift, or a poor, stumbling stranger is, it’s always nice to have backup. U by Kotex‘s brand is small and compact for your clutch.
U by Kotex, $5.15-16.00

Bobbie Pins

Bobbie pins are not only great for pinning your strays back, but I’ve made use of these babies for dress malfunctions as well. A belt is too big? Bobbie it. A bra strap broke? Bobbie it. Need your shirt to stay in place, tucked under that adorable high waist skirt?
Full Tilt 60 piece bobbie pins $5.99

Chapstick

I love Burt’s! Natural and minty, it keeps your lips prepped for that hopeful hookup. It’s also great for removing smudged eye-makeup.
Honey Lip Balm $3.00

It looks like a lot, but they can all fit snugly in your favorite clutch and can easily be purchased with a college-budget bank account. Keep these handy and rage on!

www.fashionablymeg.blogspot.com

In other words, you gotta make sure that you have what you need in the most miniature form possible. Here are some of my personal favorites to keep me prepared without ruining my outfit (or sweet dance moves) with a massive purse.

A wristlet: The right bag is step one to making sure you’re fully stocked with what you need for a night out. I prefer to use a wristlet because I can throw it around my wrist and not worry about it slipping off. Plus, they’re small enough to hold onto all night without crampin’ your style. Try to get one with a zipper – I once lost my ID and debit card due to a faulty clasp.

Lip gloss: But not any lip gloss. Be sure that you buy a shade that you can wear with almost any make up style. That way, you can just keep it in your purse without having to remember to switch it out every night. Also, try to get one that will moisurize your lips as well so you don’t have to take up precious purse space with an additional lip balm. I like MAC lip gloss in Spalicious.

Gum or Mints: I prefer to use mints because you don’t have to deal with wrappers or have to spit anything out. My freshman year of high school, I discovered Certs Powerful Mints for prom. The package has 60 powerful yet yummy mints in a package the size of a credit card. Perfectttt.

Band-Aids: Just stuff a couple in your purse in case of a pseudo emergency. You never know when you’ll get a blister from your cute new stilettos, get stepped on by girls in their (less) cute new stilettos, or need to patch up an unfortunate-looking rug burn. Band-Aids even come in convenient little travel packs of 20 bandages if you’re the injury-prone type.

A Hair Tie: I always keep one or two of these in my bag in case of an impromptu keg stand or game of flip cup. Plus, it doubles as a cheap money-clip of sorts. I put my money, my ID, and my debit card in a stack then wrap my hair tie around it to keep my ish together. I’m a fan of Scunci Large Satin No Damage® Elastics in black.

Important Contacts: No, I’m not suggesting you tote around your little black book. As a safety precaution, be sure you always carry numbers you may need in a pinch. Include the contact information for the university’s police, safety services, and the friends you go out with the most often. Just write it on a little card and stick it with your credit card and ID. You never know the next time you’re could lose your cell phone (or drop it in a pitcher of Sangria) or get stranded across town without a ride.

So those are my essentials. What are your favorite items take along when you spend a night on the town?

Even if you are trolling through a college town filled with kids who fully support and expect it, walking home with last night’s hair, makeup and footwear is never your proudest moment (though mastering the Wheelbarrow drunk the night before came pretty close).

Unfortunately, for many college coeds, the Walk of Shame is inevitable, especially when you combine Dollar Pitcher night at the local bar and a whole lot of good looking boys. But just because you are walking home from some dude’s house early in the morning doesn’t mean you have to look that way.

I am a strong believer in preparing for everything, and the Walk of Shame is no exception. Pack a few things before you go and no one will have any idea where you were last night.

First things first, avoid that “going out bag” and opt for something bigger. You probably already have one, but in case you want an excuse to buy something new, I love this new Tycoon Dome Satchel from Juicy. Cute enough for a night on the town, but big enough to pack all of the essentials.

Makeup Remover: The biggest giveaway on a Walk-of-Shamer besides traipsing through campus at 8am is the black eyeliner smudged under her bloodshot eyes. Get rid of that shiz. Toss a travel size bottle of makeup remover (or those handy little pads) into your bag before you go.

Pressed Powder: The morning after a heavy night of drinking leaves your face feeling and looking…less than fresh. And let’s be honest: you don’t want anyone (including that boy) seeing those stress related zits that popped up all over your chin.

Mascara: Bring it along to finish off the “I’m up early to go to the library!” look. This combined with the powder and removal of last night’s makeup will leave you lookin’ so fresh and so clean, clean.

Headband: Even if you didn’t get much sleep last night (you dawg), your hair is gonna be lookin’ a little ruffled in the AM. If you have a pony tail holder with you, use that. If your hair is short, though, throwing on a headband will pull it off your face and give off more of a “I am far too busy/lazy to wash it” look than the obvious “I totally just had morning sex and he didn’t drive me home” style.

Breath Strips: Easier to transport than a toothbrush (and don’t require you to get out of bed to freshen that morning breath!) these little guys are a must-have. You never know who you are going to run into on the street and cigarette/stale beer breath is a huge Walk of Shame red flag.

A Fresh Pair of Undies: You may have just spent the evening doin’ the dirty, dirty, but that doesn’t mean you have to be dirty. Bring along a fresh pair. Also good if things get a little wild and your underwear ends up on the top of a dresser, in the woods or…where the hell did those things go!?

If the weather is warm, tossing in a pair of flip flops and a casual t-shirt is a good idea. Seeing a girl walk arond in a tube top and heels is obviously a clear giveaway of what she was doin’ the night before. (If it is cold out, a simple jacket can cover up the evidence.) You can also take advantage of the more casual looks that are big right now and just opt for a deep-V t-shirt (the American Apparel ones are the bomb diggity) and a pair of skinny jeans for your going-out ensemble.

[Walk of Shame photo courtesy of Owen Yeo on Flickr.]

]]> http://collegecandy.com/2008/09/09/prepare-for-the-walk-of-shame/feed/ 12 Lauren - University of Michigan wos.jpg juicy-bag.jpg makeup-remover.jpg powder.jpg mascara.jpg headband.jpg listerine_pshot.jpg undies.jpg havianas2.jpg tshirt.jpg http://collegecandy.com/2007/09/02/clothes-call-ten-wardrobe-essentials/ http://collegecandy.com/2007/09/02/clothes-call-ten-wardrobe-essentials/#comments Sun, 02 Sep 2007 16:38:39 +0000 CC Staff http://collegecandy.com/style/5053 Recently, after spending about an hour trying to find something to wear for poker night, I realized my closet was seriously lacking. I had tons of cute skirts for work, shirts to match, great shoes, and dresses. What I didn’t have were things most girls live in—great jeans, casual t-shirts, and anything under a 3-inch heel.

I made it my fashion mission to buy a few of those essentials every time I went shopping, and now I’m proud to say …

Recently, after spending about an hour trying to find something to wear for poker night, I realized my closet was seriously lacking. I had tons of cute skirts for work, shirts to match, great shoes, and dresses. What I didn’t have were things most girls live in—great jeans, casual t-shirts, and anything under a 3-inch heel.

I made it my fashion mission to buy a few of those essentials every time I went shopping, and now I’m proud to say I have a pair of jeans I love (two pairs if it’s not a fat day), some adorable flats, and a few casual tops. I still prefer to dress up rather than down, but when I’m running on 73 minutes of sleep and am getting dressed with a cup of coffee in one hand, having a wardrobe of basic pieces that I can mix and match is a lifesaver.

Between my casual clothes and my dressy clothes, I feel like I have almost all the essentials (though I can use a few more pairs of jeans!). But chances are, especially if you’re loyal to a particular style of dressing like I am, you’re missing a few things. Take a look at my must-have list and see if you need to do some shopping ASAP:

A little black dress: I finally found the perfect one, and I love it so much that I bought a little gray dress in the same style. Pair it with high heels and a clutch for a night out, or flats and a casual bag to dress it down. If your little black dress is made from something like cotton, it’s a lot more versatile.

Cute flats: I don’t know how I lived without my Mia black flats all these years. Well actually, I do know—-with black heels that my feet will never forgive me for. Let a little toe cleavage peek out and be cute and comfy.

Plain t-shirts: Not the big baggy kind and not the belly-baring kind that was last popular circa Britney’s underwear-wearing days. Grab a few that hit at the hip to guarantee that they’ll look good with almost anything, and that your spare tire is covered up. Go as basic as possible—if you get one great v-neck black t-shirt, you can pair it with jeans for the dive bar, a pencil skirt for work, or a mini skirt for going out.

The perfect jeans: Notice I didn’t say “bootcut jeans” or “skinny jeans.” Shop according to your body type, not the 5’10 model that designers have in mind when they create their latest denim look. I have muscular legs; skinny jeans look like leggings on me and have no place in my closet. If you need help finding jeans that’ll fit your specific measurements, try truejeans.com—you’ll put in your measurements and body type, and they’ll give you a list of specific brands and styles to shop for.

Black heels: “But they’re not comfortable…!” Blah blah, I don’t care. I am so over perfectly attractive girls fugging it up with Crocs and running sneakers unless they’re at the gym or gardening. Flats certainly have their place, but to never wear heels is just fashion blasphemy. Heels can transform the way a woman looks in her clothes—ass and chest go out, stomach goes in, and legs automatically look toned and lean. So suck it up and practice your Top Model walk.

A fabulous hat: Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but at some point soon, you will have a bad hair day to end all bad hair days. You will brush your hair in various directions to try and salvage it before giving up and screaming at your hair in the mirror, wishing you had a fantastic hat to cover up the mess on your head. There is no one hat style that you must have; just have one that complements your personal style. Go for a fedora if you dress kind of funky and offbeat, and a newsboy cap if you live in jeans and t-shirts. If you keep in mind what you actually wear on a daily basis when buying a hat, you guarantee you won’t have the problem I had the other day—trying to pair a slouchy knit newsboy cap with a dress.

A great jacket or coat: The style is up to you, as long as you’re not wearing the neon yellow bubble jacket you wore in 8th grade. When cold weather sneaks up you, your jacket or coat is often the first, and sometimes only, thing that people see on you. So if it’s the tattered jacket with holes that makes you look borderline-homeless, the impression you’re giving off won’t be a good one, even if you’re fantastically dressed underneath it.

A colorful shoe: A cute shoe in a non-neutral color can spice up an otherwise basic outfit, especially if black dominates your wardrobe. You don’t need flats and heels if you can’t afford it—just pick the heel height you wear most often. I have a pair of dark red stilettos that I’ve paired with jeans and a black t-shirt as well as my little black dress, and it’s a great way stand out and be a little creative.

A pencil skirt: Heels or flats, a pencil skirt looks fantastic with everything. Pair it with a t-shirt or a blouse, add a nice leather bag, and you automatically look put-together, even if you threw this outfit on 5 minutes before running out the door.

Your “I am monumentally hot” outfit: This can be anything, from jeans and blouse to a dress and heels. Every girl needs that one outfit that she feels absolutely amazing in, even when she’s PMSing, just broke up with her boyfriend, and failed her stats midterm. This is the outfit you break out when you’d rather set your closet on fire than wear anything in it.

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I did my entire undergrad abroad so I don’t know if I’m qualified to tell you about what to do on one semester overseas. But I have a fairly accurate idea based on the gripes I’ve overheard from visiting students sitting next to me in our school bar. Here are the top three things I can suggest to you to make your time wherever you are slightly better.

1) Make sure you spend some quality time in the city you are studying. You’ll feel pressure to see as much of Europe as possible when you get over here for three months, but take time out from weekend trips to really experience the city you’re in. I met one kid who told me that Paris wasn’t so great, but that he hadn’t really left the area surrounding the school, near where he lived. Excuse me? So take some time with your city—get to know the nooks and crannies. Leave the area surrounding your school, or where you live, and make a point to get lost. Try speaking to locals in **gasp** their language. Try a traditional food on your walk. You’ll never be able to get a good grasp of the place you live in, if you don’t ever explore it, so—get out there!

2) Sign yourself up for classes that won’t bog you down with work. You are here to get school credit, but you’re really here to experience a new place. So don’t sign up for classes that are going to give you a crazy work load. Take painting, or photography—something fun that you may want to try. Or sign up for classes according to the city you’re in. If you’re in Europe take an Art History class. I know that my university takes kids on trips all the time to actually see what they are studying. You’re not looking at the Mona Lisa in a book during a boring lecture; you’ll be walking around the Louvre seeing everything as you learn about it. My freshman year, I had to take Communications 101: The Meaning of Language. Instead of learning about the first printed books, our professor took us to London for the weekend to see them. You know you’re going to want to have more fun than anything else while you’re here, as well you should. Make it happen!

This next one may sound a little weird, but…

3) Identify one Irish bar and when you get homesick, frequent it. I assure you—there is an Irish pub in every single city in every single country. At least all the countries I’ve been to. I don’t necessarily recommend that you make this your favorite spot for the duration of your stay—as I said before you should be experiencing local places— but I do recommend going whenever you feel homesick. Don’t care where you are, visiting students flock to comfort which, if you’re in a non-Anglophone location, is an Irish pub. You will find other English speakers like you there. They will play too much U2. The barmen will most likely speak English. It’s just a nice haven to have when you inevitably get frustrated with being misunderstood. Cause it does get difficult to concentrate so hard on speaking another language. One of my favorite places—and where I met most of my best friends here in gay Paree—is a tiny Irish bar in the heart of the French student district. It is such a mixture of people all the time, but at the end of the day, I could come in and sit down with the boys behind the bar and know that I could just vent. You can always trust the Irish…

Just try and enjoy yourself wherever you go. It is an experience that you will look back on for the rest of your life. Though sometimes I’m upset that I’ve literally never been to a frat party, I would not trade in my time overseas for anything.