Remember when the end of the summer meant a shopping trip with your mom and a first-day-of-school photo shoot to chronicle the beginning of first/second/third/fourth grade?

Then high school hit, and you took your own initiative to blow your money on the perfect ensemble to make a statement on day one. Freshman year meant something eye-catching enough to grab the attention of a studly senior, whereas by senior year, your wardrobe had to scream, “I’m a senior. I own this school. And I’m f***ing graduating, bitch!”

Now that college is just around the corner, is it time to retire the tradition of back-to-school clothes, or do you simply need to step it up a notch?

On the first day of college, the campus will be filled with tens of thousands of students, frantically trying to change their schedules, pay their financial aid, and find the right classroom in the right building. It was easy to get noticed in high school, when you were one fashionista among only a few hundred, but in college, the people you meet on the first day are most likely to be a nameless, faceless blur who were kind enough to give you irections to the registrar’s office.

If you are thinking about going all out for a first day of school ensemble, ask yourself what your motivation is. Do you want to look professional to impress the teacher? Give yourself a little extra self-confidence to make it through the day? Find a nice college boy to walk you from one class to another? The following are some broad categories of BTS-wear that I have encountered year after year. You might fall into one of these groups, or you may notice a few hundred students who do on the first day of college. Read More »

I love vintage things, but the concept definitely weirds me out. You just don’t know where that gold lame blazer or floral prairie dress has been. I have to wash anything I buy thrift at least three times before I actually wear it, and vintage shoes, even when awesome – looking, are off – limits for my hygiene’s sake.

Apparently, Nike is ready to bank on my vintage shoe phobia. The shoe giants have crafted a brand – new line of vintage – looking shoes. These sneakers are replicas of true Nike originals, made with fresh materials that only look aged and decrepit. Genius!

Which vintage kicks are the coolest?

I love Vans — I’ve been wearing the Cali skater shoes since I popped out of the womb. I also love MJ, whom I’ve been wearing for slightly less time due to his holier – than – thou price tags.

But now, the two have teamed up to create a totally rad line of shoes for a price that meets in the middle. Marc Jacobs imposes his cheeky designs onto classic Vans slip – ons and sneakers. I’m dying for a pair of the silver slip – ons. Now if I could only find them at my local Pac – Sun.

I’m not a big runner myself. I think I might have half jogged across the street the other day to avoid an oncoming car. But I am always inspired by those joggers who run everyday—weather it’s bright and sunny, or below zero and snowing. I would kill for a quarter their motivation.

Those of you who are runners should definitely keep your eyes peeled for Nike’s new iPod compatible N+ sneakers. The current N+ sneakers allow you to track your run— time, distance, and calories burned—with your iPod nano. Myself, I don’t think I’ll ever be that into my run. All I need is the pride for actually getting out there.

The details of what exactly is happening are vague. But the President and Chief Executive of Nike says the products will be out some time this year.

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