Do you struggle with transforming your outfits from day to night? Don’t worry, CF is here to help turn that daily annoyance into a fun challenge.Class to Night Out focuses on one piece per week, and aims to help you take your look from study sessions in the library to dancing the night away.
Few things in life are warmer and more comfortable than sweatpants and a robe, but hoodies definitely make the list. I don't know about you, but I'm partial to items of clothing with pockets to keep my hands warm, and, yes, gloves are an adorable option, but 9 out of 10 times I will forget them at home.
It may be a tricky trend to pull off, but a hoodie dress is a fun fashion alternative to jeans and your everyday hoodie! You get the pockets, the hood to pull over your head if it's raining or you are just really cold, and you have a chance to put together a sporty chic outfit.
You may see them in stores and think "What even is this? Is it a really long hoodie? Is it a dress? How would I even wear this?" Never fear, I'm here to help! To see how to style one of these hoodie dresses for class and a night out, keep reading!
Be comfortable and cozy in class with some sporty striped black knee high socks and dark grey sneakers. Add a touch of feminine with some purple accented accessories like this tote and headband. Since the neckline is so high on this dress, I don't think a necklace is necessary - just stick with some gold stud earrings or a bracelet if you'd like. We are trying to keep it sporty for class, so I think less is more regarding jewelry.
A cooler fall night might call for a pair of black or gray tights paired with some edgy black platform ankle boots. I adore the oversized buckle and gold detail on the toe on these. Gold and black look gorgeous together, so stick with gold accessories like this gold geometric cutout clutch and gold triangle ring. Finally, finish off the outfit with a pair of berry-hued earrings for a some added color and you are ready to rock that dress for a night out!
Your thoughts?
What do you think? Are you going to try the hoodie dress trend, or are you going to stick to hoodies and jeans? If you do, how would you style one for class and a night out? Also, how cute are those shoes?! Let me know what you think in the comments, I love hearing feedback!
Do you struggle with transforming your outfits from day to night? Don’t worry, CF is here to help turn that daily annoyance into a fun challenge.Class to Night Out focuses on one piece per week, and aims to help you take your look from study sessions in the library to dancing the night away.
Cool weather is here to stay for a while, so it's time we start perfecting that "cozy-chic" look. Between jackets, cardigans, sweaters, ponchos, and huge infinity scarves, there are many ways to be warm and trendy. Gotta love it when you have options!
Chunky sweaters are a hot (warm?) item in stores right now so you should have no trouble finding one. They look amazing when they're a little oversized, so it may even be a good idea to size up, depending on what kind of look you are going for.
To see howto style a chunky sweater for class and a night out, keep reading!
This sweater gets extra chic points because of the cowl neck. Pair it with some olive green skinny pants and black riding boots for a timeless vibe.
Since the sweater's neck is so exaggerated, I don't think we need a necklace, so just accessorize with some deep purple earrings and a fun headband if you're feeling girly. The tote and nail polish complement each other with their neutral tones and bring the outfit together.
That's it - you're ready for class. This outfit would also be a great Thanksgiving-with-the-family look!
Add a little more color for your night out with a wine-colored skirt paired with some lace tights (for both warmth and trendiness). Wear some chunky black heels to coordinate with the chunky sweater: I chose these killer black platform lace-up boots.
Again, I think we can skip a necklace, so accessorize with these black triangle earrings, a blue-and-purple cocktail ring, and a teal clutch. You are ready to have the coziest night out ever!
The Thanksgiving holiday is just days away, and chances are, on top of your family dinner and Black Friday shopping, you've also got a Friendsgivingplanned for Saturday night or Sunday.
If you're still stressing out about what to wear to Friendsgiving, never fear! We got you, girl, no matter whether you're hosting or just showing up - maybe - to your squad's soiree this year.
You're opening up your home / apartment / dorm room to your closest friends, fam, and coworkers, so not only will you be spending the day cooking, cleaning, and prepping for the party, but you'll need your outfit game to be on point.
It's tempting to want to pull out all the stops when you're entertaining, but trust me - the last thing you want is to be worrying about uncomfortable high heels, smeared lipstick, or a skirt that's too short. Stick to somethingcomfortable, simple, and chic that makes you feel like a million bucks so you cross your outfit off of the things I have to worry about list.
For a look that's comfy, cute, and stylish, try a sleek printed sheath dress in a dark neutral color (nothing's worse than a wine stain on a white dress, amiright?) and a pair of edgy black booties with a low heel. A statement necklace adds a bit of bling to the look, but avoid anything feathery, furry, glittery or overly dangly - for your food's sake. Opt for a smoky eye and the blackest black mascara for a dramatic, no-fuss look. You won't miss your lipstick, I promise!
And, of course, you'll be hosting, so you'll need to provide the protein for this holiday shindig. Turkeys are a pain in the @ss to cook and are pretty $$$, and leave you with more leftovers than you can ever, ever, eat, so opt for a roast chicken instead.
If your BFF, SO, roommate, or sibling is hosting Friendsgiving, they're probably counting on you to either 1) show up early and help, 2) bring a substantial dish to pass, 3) not show up in leggings and a messy topknot, or 4) all of the above.
For a look that's cute and polished but won't upstage your hardworking host, pair a flouncy marsala-colored midi skirt with a cute sweater and cognac booties. A gold statement necklace and a deep wine lip look super festive but casual enough when paired with textured waves. A deep burgundy bag adds a touch of polish and edge.
Even if cooking's not your thing, you can still bring a lifesaving dish to pass, like this easy, lemony green bean dish that heats up easily in the microwave (so you're not commandeering your hostess' precious oven space!).
Men now are more aware and well groomed. They pay more attention to their appearance than any of the women they know. It will be amusing for you to know that men now own more grooming products than women.
We have to agree to the fact that men need it.
SCENT
The man who doesn’t have a feel of a masculine overpowering scent definitely needs a reminder to grab it. The perfume picking drill is not easy. The idea is to know the secret to picking the perfect scent.
Summer scent has to be airy and fresh whereas on the other hand the idea of a masculine scent contradicts with the summer scent because most of the perfumes for him are strong.
The scents with a touch of natural scents of wood, herbs and grass would keep it masculine for the men.
SKIN CARE
Men have a rough and tough body but the outer layer of their skin is more exposed to the harsh weather than any of the women’s skin. Men need to keep the skin hydrated to keep looking fresh and young.
There are many misconceptions about moisturizing the skin, but daily facial moisturizer prevents the overproduction of the skin’s own oils. To avoid a shiny nose and a forehead use a good moisturizer. The best moisturizer for men would be the one with a built-in SPF, which could give you men a two in one skin care product.
HAIR
Yes! Every man is familiar with the fact that hair styling completes the entire look. The idea is to use the hair products that help you guys achieve a sleek hairstyle. Be gentle with the hair and use the hair products in a very less quantity. Start with a very less quantity to have quality results.
The gels come in a variety of holds so this summer get hold of the one that gives your hair a fresh, non-oily and rough look to sport the summer look. On the other hand it should also hold the hair in place.
Some of the men face the problem of grey hair. Grey is the new black, grace the greys rather than dying them. The grey hair does look sexy even if you haven’t reached the age yet. But who decides the stereotypical conceptions about the grey hair.
BODY
The most important thing about a man’s appearance is his body. A well-nourished and well-built body is a necessity to look masculine. Include gym in your routine to stay fit. Have the doze of proteins to build some muscles.
FACIAL HAIR
Men look all the more sexy with their facial hair. If only the beard is well kept and nicely done. Every man knows what suits his face type and what is his style so let that stubble flaunt your masculinity to everyone.
Beards look sexy but they need to be well kept, the barbarian look doesn’t necessarily suit you and if you have extra facial hair then too you need to get rid of them. There is a fine line between facial hair looking disgusting and looking sexy. Stay focused on looking sexy.
Stack paper, nom well, and impress your friends like an ADULT.
Brave, brave, Ryan Gosling.
Everyone knows that buying your groceries is less expensive than eating out for every meal, but when you're stocking up on canned sauces and bottled condiments as well as the fresh stuff, it can start to add up quickly.
It doesn't make sense to try to make every single condiment you use, of course. I certainly don't want you to start pressing your own fish sauce or fermenting your own soy sauce (though if that's your thing pleeeease tell me you have a blog because I would read the ISH out of that). That said, there are certain pantry staples that not only cost an arm and a leg to buy pre-made at the store, but actually taste better when you make them at home.
No matter how well you know your way around a kitchen, there are things you can easily make at home for a fraction of the price that will make you feel like both a DIY goddess and the baddest b!tch in the home-cooking game. You're welcome.
Beginner Level: Veggie Broth
Get your culinary feet wet with homemade veggie broth!
If you're eating veggies on the reg and throwing out your scraps, then turning around and dropping your hard-earned dollars on veggie stock at the grocery store, get your head in the game.
Keep a gallon bag in the freezer and throw in your scraps as you cook throughout the week. (Think carrot and potato peels, onion tops and papers, wilted greens and herbs - just avoid super bitter scraps like broccoli stems, cabbage cores, and cauliflower.) Once the gallon bag fills up, dump it in your largest pot and fill with water until the veggies are covered. Gently boil on medium heat for an hour or so, then strain and reserve the liquid.
Voila! A gallon of veggie broth. It'll keep for a weekish in the fridge and up to six months in the freezer. Make ALL the soup, curries, and sauces!
Easy Level: Pesto
The green stuff.
I survived my junior year of college almost on pesto alone, and let me tell you, making it at home is a snap and almost always tastes better than store bought (attention, pesto makers of the world - CUT IT OUT WITH THE SALT). All you need is a blender.
This versatile condiment is full of healthy green goodness and a little goes aloong way. Though the basil+parm+pine nuts combo is a classic, pesto can easily be made vegan or paleo. Pine nuts too expensive? Try almonds, cashews, or peanuts. Don't like basil? Swap for spinach, kale, or arugula. Don't have fresh lemon juice on hand? ACV to the rescue!
Once made, spread this on grilled cheese sandwiches, baked salmon, or pizza, or add a dollop to a bowl of gnocchi or linguine. Store for up to 6 months in the freezer. (It's the perfect little green pick-me-up when you have the winter blahs!)
Recipes to try:
Classic Basil Pesto from Gimme Some Oven
Poor Mama's Pesto
Kale Stem Pesto from Love And Lemons
Avocado Pesto from Ambitious Kitchen
Jalapeño Cilantro Pesto from Bowl of Delicious
Medium Level: Red Sauce
That basil tho
Even if you aren't a huge fan of Italian food and you aren't planning on using this on a big ol' plate of spaghetti, consider this: a basic red sauce, ormarinara, can be the base for a lot of cheap, tasty, and simple dishes, from a rustic mushroom lasagna to shakshuka to homemade veggie pizza.
Keeping a jar of this in your fridge or freezer practically ensures that you'llalways have something satisfying to eat, and you won't have to drop 8 dollars on a jar of premade sauce that's stuffed with sugar, salt, and preservatives.
Recipes to try:
Crock Pot Marinara from First Home Love Life
Thug Kitchen's House Marinara
30 Minute Marinara from Love Grows Wild
5 Minute Marinara from Skip To My Lou
Hard Level: Pickles
Decorative sprigs of dill are optional.
If you are like the husdude and your go-to quick meal is a sandwich, a well-placed pickle is your secret flavor weapon. Pickles may seem a little intimidating (true-true canning is time-intensive and exhausting, tbh) but all refrigerator pickles need is to sit in a vinegary brine, so no canning is needed. Win!
This just means that your pickles will only last a month or so in the fridge, and shouldn't be left out for more time than it takes for your brine to cool. You can make a pickle out of nearly anything, but this is a good way to preserve any extra summer and fall veggies you may want to have in the winter, if you're feeling ambitious.
Recipes to try:
Refrigerator Dill Pickles from the Creekside Cook
Grandma's Bread and Butter Pickles from Grow a Good Life
Red Onion Pickles from The Cafe Sucre Farine
Pickled Red Cabbage from Melangery
Pickled Cucumber and Red Onion Salad from Just a Pinch
Expert Level: Kimchi
GET. IN. MAH. BELLY.
If you're looking for a DIY challenge that will take your noms game to the next level, try your hand at making kimchi at home. Just be sure to keep your kimchi covered and submerged in its brine, and don't forget about it like I did with my last batch. It willturn into a mold factory.
Once your kimchi has reached the level of tanginess you prefer, stuff it in a mason jar and store in the fridge for up to 6 months. Jars of kimchi make creative and much-loved housewarming and hostess gifts if you don't think you can eat all of what you make, but I'm pretty sure you'll find a way.
Recipes to try:
Easy fast Kimchi from Foodie With Family
Spicy Kimchi from Primally Inspired
Bok Choy Kimchi from In Sonnet's Kitchen
Sriracha Kimchi from Modern Hippie Housewife
Brussel Sprouts Kimchi from Epicurious
What do you think?
Are you a big home cooker? What foodie type stuff do you like to DIY? What's your secret to adulting? Let me know in the comments below!
We're welcoming more body diversity on runways and in pop culture, but the vocabulary for plus-size women is still tricky.
When talking about plus-size women, certain words come up over and over. "Plus-size", of course, is the most popular, followed by "curvy," "voluptuous," and the reclaimed "fat". As plus-size visibility is trickling on to the runways and fashion editorials, it's worth taking a closer look at the words we use to describe anything other than so-called "straight-size" fashion.
Writers were covering this issue long before I rolled up on the scene, but I wanted to touch on some of what's been published already and bring part of the conversation here.
The discussion of women's weight (unfortunately) surrounds us as it is, but it's come up prominently in the last few weeks: NYMag just posted a story on the impossibility of talking honestly about weight and both the UK and US versions of Women's Running Magazine featured plus-size cover models. I cover plus-size fashion alongside "straight fashion" in my Outfits Under $100 column and use the term "plus-size" by default, at risk of being repetitive.
The Euphemisms We Choose
So, the question of what words to use and the significance (good and bad) of having euphemisms for larger women is an ongoing issue. The link between the words we use and the attitudes they promote about plus-size women is worth exploring as we all work on covering fashion without disrespecting or treating plus-size women as an audience we "have to" cover in the name of political correctness.
Bustle wrote a tongue-in-cheek article in January on bizarre euphemismslike "husky" and "above average" that succeed in not saying "fat" but still manage to insinuate plus-size women are abnormal. The discussion over language sometimes produces hideous results (buffered with plenty of shaky science) aimed at shaming women for wanting to claim labels that humanize them.
Euphemisms can be empowering when women choose them for themselves, but they can ring insincere in other contexts. Those well-intentioned magazines that aim to cover a wider range of body shapes are often the same publications dispensing subtle guilt trips about your eating habits. Then there are the writers, plus-size women themselves, who eschew euphemisms altogether and use "fat" as part of their identity.
Plenty of fashion and health magazines write about "curvy," "full-figured," and "plus-size" women, but I sometimes wonder if fashion and health writers use these terms as a form of incorporating body positivity while avoiding difficult conversations about how we view plus-size women.
I think talking honestly about weight and different body shapes requiressincerity. True body-positivity needs to include a willingness to confront why we use euphemisms, and whether that's good, bad, or somewhere in between. It takes more than gushing over "curvy" women and occasionally spotlighting plus-size women. It's also important to temper that discussion by acknowledging that words like "fat" remain a harmful adjective to some women.
What do you think?
I know there's far from a consensus on what words people want to use for themselves so I'm wondering what you think. Part of the weirdness of euphemisms for plus-size women is that many of those terms were not coined by plus-size women themselves. The Wall Street Journal ran a fascinating history of "plus-sized," which came from some women not fitting the slender ideal of the Roaring Twenties. And so on.
Of course it might be an issue of culture, too. College Fashion writes for girls in high school up to women heading off to grad school. Using "plus-size" in past posts may have been the simplest way to acknowledge and welcome body diversity without wrangling with the issues around other words. When so many of our readers are already bombarded with arbitrary notions of who they have to be and what they have to look like in order to be considered worthy, do we really want to throw out words like "fat" in fashion posts?
I wasn't sure what vocabulary I should use in covering plus-size fashion while maintaining a safe, body-positive environment, so I wanted to post some initial thoughts and open up the discussion to you guys. Please let me know what you think in the comments! I hope we can continue this discussion there.
"Playful arguments would become fits of uncontrollable laughter, and, like magic, that experience would be crystallized into a private joke, and the private joke would get boiled down to a simple phrase, which became a souvenir of the entire experience. For years to come, the phrase alone could uncork hours of renewed laughter. And as everyone knows, the best kind of laughter is laughter born of a shared memory." – Mindy Kaling, Why Not Me?
Now doesn’t that sound nice?
The above passage is from Mindy Kaling’s new book, Why Not Me?, and it is one of my favorites. The quote gives me such a warm and cozy feeling, picturing best friends laughing and making priceless memories together.
As a commuter student, I don’t exactly have the same kind of luxury - it’s harder to make lasting relationships. There isn’t a lot of time to get to know your classmates in lectures, and between traveling back and forth, you don't always have the time to go out and party after that last final.
However, upon entering my second year, I’ve mastered a few tips for creating and sustaining friendships as a commuter. Take a look!
1) Start small
In every article directed to college students about making friends, joining extracurriculars is usually at the top of the list. What I think is missing about that is the idea of starting small. Joining a varsity sports team or a huge student organization is great, but as a commuter it can also be very intimidating, as there are so many people involved and often a large time commitment.
In my first year, as I mentioned in this article, I joined a small newspaper on campus that ended up leading me to bigger opportunities. This was perfect for me as a commuter. I'm also generally less nervous when dealing with fewer new people - another bonus. Therefore, I recommend starting small and working your way up.
2) Get a job on campus
Your college campus is buzzing with opportunities, and what’s better than one where you get paid as well? Jobs on campus not only look great on a resume, but you can meet other students who you get to see on a weekly basis. They might be older or younger than you, or in a completely different major, and it’s great!
As a commuter, jobs are also helpful because you can go from class, straight to work, instead of traveling back and forth between home, work, and school. You get to meet and foster a lot of personal and professional connections, too. Definitely check out your college’s job board!
3) Don’t beat yourself up
My last piece of advice is to not stress about it. I’ll be honest, I only made a few friends in my first year, while I saw others making what looked like millions of connections. I beat myself up about it for awhile, but looking back on it now, the few people I did become friends with ended up being the exact people I needed at that time in my life.
There are only so many things you can control and your time shouldn’t be wasted on feeling bad about yourself. Put your best foot forward and appreciate the friends you do make.
What do you think?
Do you have any tips for making friendships as a commuter? Let us know in the comments!
Breakfast ideas you'll definitely look forward to waking up to.
A toast to mornings.
With midterms approaching and sleep becoming harder to get, breakfast is probably one of the last things on your mind. Why make yourself food when you can just wake up five minutes before class, right?
Although you might not think it's important, eating first thing in the morning helps give you the energy boost your body and mind need to get through the day. Having breakfast can help you power through intense study sessions, focus on your exams, and be less inclined to stress eat later in the day.
One of my favorite breakfasts is different variations of toast. Easy to make, customizable, quick, and totally delicious, toast is among the most versatile breakfast foods. And, of course, it's a snap to make in your dorm.
Don't settle for plain old butter or jelly, though. We CF girls can do better! Here are 3 of my favorite fancy ways to eat toast for breakfast:
Almond* Butter, Banana, Chia, and Cinnamon Toast
Your new favorite twist on a peanut butter and banana sandwich.
This is one of my favorite toasts of all time. Classic and simple, you really can't go wrong.
What You'll Need:
A slice of your favorite type of bread
Almond butter (or your favorite nut butter; try sunflower seed butter if you have a peanut allergy or cookie dough flavored peanut butter if you're peanut-OK and feeling decadent)
Banana
Cinnamon
Chia seeds
How To Make It:
Read these instructions carefully because we're talking advanced techinques: First, put your bread in the toaster until it's crisped to your liking. Then spread the nut butter on top. Sprinkle cinnamon and chia seeds over the nut butter and top with sliced banana.
Strawberry and Cream Cheese Toast
A lit bit of creaminess, a little bit of tang, a whole lot of deliciousness.
This toast has the perfect combination of flavors to give your tastebuds a morning wake-up call. You can give it some gourmet updates or keep it simple and sweet.
What You'll Need:
A slice of your favorite type of bread
Cream Cheese
Strawberries (or strawberry jam if you don't have fresh strawberries)
How To Make It:
Again, put your bread in the toaster until it's crisped to your liking. Then spread the cream cheese on top and add your strawberries (or strawberry jam). Bonus: You can probably grab some cream cheese from your dining hall to save money and a trip to the grocery store. If you want to jazz it up a bit, try swapping goat cheese for cream cheese and adding a drizzle of honey on top!
Raspberry "Nutella" Toast
A healthier version of a favorite childhood breakfast.
I'm all about dessert for breakfast. Starting your day off with chocolate is always a good thing, right? This toast will give you a sweet start to your day in a healthy way. Walk away from the donut and say hello to a delicious alternative.
What You'll Need:
A slice of your favorite type of bread
Chocolate hazelnut butter (check out this one)
Raspberry jam (bonus if you get it unsweetened)
How To Make It:
Put your bread in the toaster until it's crisped to your liking. Then spread the chocolate hazelnut butter on top and add your raspberry jam. Getting a chocolate hazelnut butter with healthy ingredients and less sugar can save you from a sugar crash mid-morning and can also provide your body with healthy fat to stay satiated until lunch time.
Ready to Try?
So, what do you think? Will you be waking up to any of these toasts this week? If you test them out, let me know what you think in the comments! I'd also love to hear what your favorite toast combinations are if you have some. Do it for the energy. Do it for the deliciousness. Do it for the toast.
