CollegeCandy » unique

I’m Torn: Vintage Shopping

Brithny - Duke University — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:00:59 +0000

I love shopping. Period. I love the exhilarating feeling of finding something that looks great and feels great at the same time, and makes people turn their heads in the street and let their eyes linger over my fabulous outfit for a second longer. I love picking up new things and pairing them with the stuff I’ve already got to make a beautiful outfit even better. And sales? Don’t even get me started on the high of sale shopping.

Let’s just put it this way: if shopping were a sport, I would be a Michael-Phelps-style Olympic gold medalist. Thus in my vast experience of “competing,” whether it be at D&G or at Target, I’ve definitely run into some vintage stores every now and then and I’m not sure how I feel.

I’m Torn.

Love it
I used to hate dressing for gym class because everyone had to wear the same old, boring gray shirt and blue shorts. And you know it’s a major fashion crisis when you walk in somewhere and there is another girl wearing the same exact top (BRB – must run home and change pronto). But that doesn’t happen with vintage clothes. It’s pretty much guaranteed that when you find something in there, no one else is going to have it. And it’s gonna be cool and unique and different and awesome.

Vintage stores are also great for their versatility. Not only can you find something in every kind of style (from 80′s prom dresses to flowery blouses), but you can go there for every occasion. Sometimes I go to vintage stores to buy outrageous stuff for highlighter parties or tailgating, or just any time I want to have a little more fun with my outfit. (Vintage stores are gold mines for accessories!) On lazy summer afternoons I love sifting through the shelves and racks of clothes you can’t find anywhere else and, with the right store, cheaper than anywhere else.

Loathe it
There’s a reason why some people deem vintage stores as “thrifty,” “flea and tick,” or just plain “junk.” Lots (and, many times, most) of the stuff in vintage stores is actually junk; I mean, it’s there for a reason, right? There’s only so many cool, raggedy old Beatles t-shirts out there. And what’s with the smell? It’s like faded leather mixed with cat litter plus a hint of deteriorating…something. (Cat?) It might be the clothes, but it might also be the store owner who is always kind of strange and seems like someone who wouldn’t bathe all that often.

And it’s not like you can hold your breath while you run in. It usually takes awhile to find that special garment you’re looking for, what with all the heaps and bundles of clothing you have to go through. And don’t even get me started on the over-stuffed racks that are so full you can’t even move the hangers apart to browse. You pretty much have to know what you want and come prepared: with patience, with coffee and with a SARs mask. That is, of course, if you can find a store, because many of them are hidden along the twists and turns of the city that even Google Maps hasn’t discovered yet.

Oh, and being that “vintage” is so in right now, lots of these smelly little shops are charging serious cashola for their goods. $65 for a shirt someone’s smelly grandma wore? For real?

What do you think?

You Gotta Check It Out: Etsy.com

Elizabeth-Baruch College — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:39:27 +0000

A while back, a friend called me and broke some news to me that has changed my life completely.

Cassie: Girrrrrrrrrlllllll, don’t hate me, but I gotta tell you about a website.

Me: Why would I hate you for telling me about a website? Is it porn?

Cassie: It’s craft porn.

Me: Craft porn?! What’s the url?

Cassie: www.etsy.com You’ll never get off of it. You’re gonna be hooked. But you’re gonna love it.

Two months later, I still can’t get off of etsy.com. It’s kind of like ebay, but there’s way cooler sh*t and no lame bidding. Artists and craft-sters from around the world put their hand-crafted items on etsy with a price. If you like something, you buy it.

Yes, it sounds like the same-old shopping website, but it is so much cooler. The stuff on there is home-made and all kinds of awesome.

From tote bags made from seat belts to mushroom shaped salt and pepper shakers, etsy is seriously everything a craft-lover could ever dream of. It’s like going to Arts & Craft fairs from around the world without getting off your lazy ass.

It is the perfect one-stop-online-shop for all of your gifting needs: everything is unique, lots of the stuff is super cheap (those mushroom shaped salt and pepper shakers were on there for 5 bucks!), and you get to discover new talent from around the world.

If you love the idea of personal and crafty gifts, but you’re too lazy or talentless to make your own, definitely scope out etsy. You are going to love me it!

Style Idol: Anne Hathaway Got (Fashion) Smart

Jess T. - Columbia University — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:10:54 +0000

[Celebrities get paid to look good and serve as a style guide to all us common folk, and part of looking good is flaunting their totally awesome fashion sense. Each week, I will be highlighting my Style Idol of the week: a celebrity who consistently shows keen fashion sense and whose closet I would raid in a heartbeat. Of course, no celebs are immune to the occasional “what the hell were they thinking?” moment, but for the most part, these celebs look foxy and fabulous and inspire us all to do the same.]

My style idol this week is someone who has recently come into her own and proven to the world that you can come out of a (very) bad break-up stronger and more beautiful than ever before: Anne Hathaway.

Ever since her life seemed to be falling apart early this summer when her ex was accused of fraud and tax evasion, Anne has been kicking some major booty. Not only is she getting rave reviews and Oscar buzz for her role in Rachel Getting Married, she’s doin’ it all while looking gorgeous and glam.

Let’s be honest; Anne hasn’t always been totally up on style or considered a fashion icon. Lately, however, she’s been seen everywhere sporting well thought-out ensembles that are trendy yet unique, classy, and do a phenomenal job of highlighting her long & lean frame.

She’s often seen in darling and feminine dresses, is a big fan of belts, and, when on the red carpet, she’s fantastic at throwing back to old Hollywood glamour with gorgeous gowns by designers like Marchesa and Dior. This combination of new-found style and a killer new haircut has turned her into a bonafide fashion star and officially has me drooling over her closet.

Creatively Accessorizing

Carly - Grinnell — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:30:31 +0000

Consider this… would you rather express your style with a pair of earrings that no one can see or a gorgeous umbrella that all the damp people around you admire?

Let’s be honest: anyone can pop on a necklace, carry around a $500 hobo bag, and call it a day. To be a true pioneer of style, you should learn to strut your stuff in truly unique ways that no one will copy.

Regarding bags, why not go for one that is actually supposed to carry stuff rather than just look good? True, you can stuff an awful lot of crap into a hobo bag, but laptop bags are a great way to rock some style while keeping your computer safe. And if you’re going to walk all over town or lug your textbooks to class, you can customize a backpack for a really cool and personal look.

And have you ever thought about a beautiful umbrella? They say the greatest inventions are marriages of function and design—and if that’s true, an eye-catching umbrella is the equivalent of a couple that’s been happily married for at least 50 years.

As long as you’re out and about, why not pimp out your ride? No, I’m not talking about your car—gas prices are through the roof, and one great way to save is by buying a bike you love and adding personal touches until you love it even more. You don’t have to go as all out as this guy did, but just a little bit of style is never a bad thing.

Finally, remember when you were in third grade and you doodled on all of your notebooks? Well, now is the time to do the same thing, only in a more refined way. With the pennies it costs to buy a few craft supplies, you can really make a statement and be unique by personalizing your school (or work) stuff.

What are your best tips for accessorizing unusual things?

[Image courtesy of flickr.com.]

My New Haircut (Caution, Explicit and Hilariously Familiar Dialogue)

CC Staff — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:30:05 +0000

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of stumbling across the stereotypical d-bag AKA Guido AKA meathead AKA frat boy, you probably also had the pleasure of wondering if perhaps showering in bleach will burn the creep-residue off your skin.

Identified by his spiked hair, popped collar, big muscles, and a tan that looks like he just spent the last two months in the Caribbean, he is a guy that people really love to hate.

In fact, people love to hate this guy so much a video tribute was made to celebrate the very essences that makes this character so unique. Check out the video, and for bonus enjoyment check out the spin-off editions, odds are you probably have seen those guys, too.



Are You an Alpha Kitty?
CC Staff — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 17:15:31 +0000

Meow!
Someone’s sending YOU a friendly purrrr, and that someone is Atoosa Rubenstein, former Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen Magazine and creator of ComsoGIRL!
What’s she saying, you ask? Alpha Kitty!
What we’ve got here is something of a revolution, my friend. Rubenstein, often referred to by her crew as “Big Momma”, is empowering other women (and basically everyone) to challenge themselves and embrace their individuality no matter how weird or how different.
Some one once told me we’re all weird.  And I agree. Its just that our “weirdness” is often diluted as we change, grow older, conform.  But, when we let go of what separates from the crowd then we start lose ourselves…right?
I think so.
So hang tight to that hula-hoop or tooth pick collection! Watch the videos and post your own back.  Let’s get crazy!
What I love most about this new idea, this Alpha Kitty, is that so often we try to achieve what someone else calls deems “success”…but instead an Alpha Kitty is someone who stops for a second, and says, wait a minute… “Do I want this? If so, why? I want to be me!”
Bold, sexy, unique, all of the above! Rowr!