The Sun Devil Bookstore's Summer Clearance Sale!

So as a Classic Modern, I'm always looking for a good sale. To do this, I've signed up to receive email promos from some stores, but for the most part I just follow my favorite places on social media so I can easily hear about sales while I'm already scrolling through my newsfeed (Lazy? Nah. Efficient? YES!). Usually I try to look only when I have a piece in mind that I want to purchase, but I have one weakness: ASU gear. Seriously, the amount of ASU clothing I own is a bit ridiculous. But then again, can you ever really have too much Sun Devil Spirit? (Psst, the answer is no.)

All of this insight into my shopping plights brings me to what I came across on my Facebook feed today: the Sun Devil Bookstore's summer clearance sale. Now I love the bookstore's collection of women's ASU clothing because: 

1) they have a lot of different styles to match the look I'm going for and 

2) they have some REALLY cute stuff. Whether you're spending the summer in AZ and looking for a tank top to wear out on a hot day or you're back in your home state and just want to rep your school gear (did I mention they have great online sales too?), I highly recommend checking out the Sun Devil Bookstore's collections.

After checking out the website today, I put together a few of my favorites below. But check out the store because there are tons of other styles and like I said, SUMMER CLEARANCE SALE ;)

Original Retro Brand® Arizona State University Sun Devils Women's Muscle Tank Top | $28.00

This retro shirt looks like the perfect mix between cute and comfy- plus it's gold for game day!!

MV Sport® Arizona State University Women's Tank Top | $9.95

This new tank top is only 9.95 and comes in 3 colors- gray, white, and maroon. Sounds like a deal to me!

Original Retro Brand® Arizona State University Women's Tri-Blend Scoop Neck T-Shirt | $24.00

Can you tell I'm a fan of the retro brand? This one comes in maroon or old gold, and has my favorite guy on there- Sparky!

League Collegiate Wear® Arizona State University Women's Ra Ra Long Sleeve T-Shirt | $32.99*

I bought one of these shirts during the Shop-Off and haven't regretted it one bit! It is so comfy to wear around the house/dorm and once it gets cooler, I plan to wear it with my favorite pair of skinny jeans! *Currently on clearance!

Champion® Arizona State University Sun Devils T-Shirt | $24.00

And last but not least, a fun twist on the traditional t-shirt. This one has a small Sparky on the front left and this cute design on the back. Quick and easy to throw on with a pair of shorts on your way out of the house!

Alright ladies, good luck on finding those summer deals and, as always,

GO DEVILS!

-Ellyse

PS: If you're as much of a fan of ASU gear as I am, or just love some good deals, I highly recommend liking the Sun Devil Bookstore's Facebook page. That way you'll be among the first to know when they've got near gear or awesome promos!  https://www.facebook.com/sundevilbookstores?fref=ts

Keeping it Cool in the AZ Heat

Keeping it Cool in the AZ heat

This week begins the HOT summer season in AZ….can you say 113 degrees??

When temperatures hit the 100 degree mark, with it comes the need for a clothing strategy to stay cool!!  It’s not about the old adage of,  ‘never let them see you sweat’ - this is about SURVIVING the desert heat with wearing cooler fabrics, drinking lots of water, (or TAZO passion tea- my personal favorite) and finding activities that enable us to beat the heat!

So…. lets go swimming??

Float down the Salt River, paddle board on Tempe Town Lake or slide down that famous Slide Rock in Sedona!! You have so many options to plunge into the cool refreshing  AZ water!! http://www.riverboundsports.com        

Sad to say that many women will not to do any of those fantastic activities. Why? Well, because it requires wearing a bathing suit. Some of us would rather not ‘take the plunge’ because of how we feel about our bodies...how we feel about so much of our bodies being visible... to others.

Say, ‘YES!’ to your next pool party invitation!!

 

You are invited! Your friends want to see you there! No one is going to think about your body but you.  Here is what we suggest to help take the pressure off of your body during swimsuit season:    

1. Realize that every body is unique. Use this simple fact of your uniqueness to wear what will make you feel your best.  You don’t have to wear a bikini, if you feel more confident in a tankini or one piece.  Wear the color you love. Black can be everyones’ ‘comfort’ color for a suit, but you will radiate confidence in a color that makes you shine!

Check out Gabby’s bandeau in a fun pop of color!

Kelsey’s tankini is in a fun fish print that goes with her bubbly personality! She loves a swimsuit with unique details, like the ruffles at the top of her bikini bottoms.

2. Everyone has challenges in shopping for a bathing suit...EVERYONE!

Take a friend shopping with you that has a similar body type or shape like you.  

It will hinder comparing each other and enable you to help each other and focus on your shopping goals. DON’T BE IN A HURRY! You need to try on different styles, too!

Retro styles are so cute and flattering! We LOVE Lindsey’s sweet polka dot one-piece.

When it comes to two-pieces, don’t be afraid to mix and match! Amanda’s suit color brings out her hair and skintone, and her swim skirt is a cute alternative to normal bikini bottoms!

    3.  Your friends want to be around you to have fun and build their friendship with  

you! Swimming, pool parties, water sports or any social occasions are for connecting

with others. Honestly, no one is there because they want to criticize your body.  Don’t let

how you feel about your body limit you from a fantastic social life in the summer!

Thank you to Alyssa Campbell Photography for the sweet underwater pictures! Check out more of her work here! 

http://alyssacampbellphotography.com/

Here are a few style tips for every body type when shopping for a bathing suit.  Certain styles REALLY do flatter more than others.

'Tis the Season to SPARKLE!!

'Tis the Season to SPARKLE!!!

Club Sun Devils Wear Prada had a great night of holiday styling and making friends! 

JC Penney opened their doors to us for personal styling and gave us beautiful options to dress for this Holiday Season!! The JCPenney salon coiffed each of our students models as well as the make up artists in Sephora made each model shine with their own unique beauty!!  

Another BIG -Thank You!! goes out to Matt Le Photography for seriously believing in our mission to inspire ASU women to REVEAL self-worth through personal style!!

 Three ASU students, Divya, Amanda, and Ellyse were available to to attend a personal style session and, yes, we got personal, talked about our upcoming Holiday celebrations and of course celebrated finals being finished... which meant much more time to be with family and friends!

Remember to SPARKLE this Holiday Season!!

S - is for Self-Worth.  

 Celebrate in strength of knowing who you are and knowing your self-worth.  

P - is for Purpose.

 Remember your amazing purpose in life...even over the Holidays.

A - is for Attitude.

 In life, Attitude is Everything!!

R - is for Respect.

 Respect yourself and others. Use your influence respectfully.

K -  is for Kindness.

Amidst the hustle and bustle show a little kindness, it goes a long way!!

L - is for Love.

 Take the time to tell the special people in your life that you love them!

E - is for Enchantment.

 Be enchanted with the wonder of your own unique sparkle! 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
Love, 
Your Sun Devil Stylist

Amanda, a sophomore WP Carey student is ready for any Holiday party in her beautiful red dress that flatters her deep coloring and body shape, and can we all take a moment and appreciate those shoes! #SPARKLE!

Divya, a Senior Architecture & Engineering student is also dazzling in DEEP colors. Her smile is what SPARKLES in these pictures!

Ellyse, a W.P. Carey Senior and Community Assistant at ASU is ready brave the cold weather with this FUN faux fur vest! The soft white is beautiful with her soft coloring. 

We love how this embellished peplum top and shimmery gold skirt compliment Ellyse's beautiful frame. She's ready for a night out this Holiday Season and ROCKING these neutrals that look amazing on anyone with soft coloring like her! 

 We think Ellyse really knows how to #SPARKLE!

Special Thanks to the Sun Devil Stylist team!

Lets us know what looks you LOVE and post some of your Holiday looks to us!!

Tips for Thrift Shopping

Thrift shopping- some women love it, some just abhor the idea! If you’ve had bad experiences with thrift shopping like I have, you get a little weary at the idea of spending a day at Goodwill or Buffalo Exchange. But I’ve garnered some tips over the years to hopefully make that shopping trip even better! Who doesn’t love to brag about a name brand purchase bought at a fraction of the price?!

1. How often are you going to wear it? If it’s a little out of your budget, what I like to do is divide the price by how many days I’ll wear it in a month, or maybe a few months. If you can justify spending that much per day wearing it, then get it girlfrann!

2. Check the condition before you purchase! Check all seams, check for stains, and hems! Don’t forget that “thrift store smell”- if it smells funky, chances are it won’t go away after a few washes. If there is a minor hole or tear, can you mend it? Does the price justify the fact that you’ll have to mend it yourself? If not, save yourself the heartache and keep moving!

3. The price shouldn’t affect how much you want it! Usually when I find something for $5, I get blinded by the fact that it’s so cheap and end up never wearing it. This is the ultimate disappointment for me- why bother buying something you will literally never wear? Treat thrift shopping like any other shopping excursion!

4. Wear camis, shorts, and bring socks! Some thrift stores have the dreaded “open area fitting rooms” where you try on clothes without the privacy of a dressing room door or curtain. In case that happens, wear a cami and shorts if you’re layering, so dressing isn’t super awkward. Always bring socks as well- you never know when you’ll find a pair of sneakers but don’t know how it’ll fit with socks!

And there you are! Just a few tips to make your thrift shopping experience a little easier! Take it from one girl who’s had plenty of bad experiences and use it to your advantage!

Have you ever gone thrift shopping in Oregon? Put it on your bucket list.

Fall Fashion... In Arizona?!

Living in Arizona is tricky. Nine months of the year, it's hot enough to wear tank tops and shorts or sundresses and sandals. This means, as Arizona-women, our closets consist of ninety-percent of summer-wear… And as Arizona college women, we don’t exactly want to try and jam too many winter sweaters into our tiny dorm closets. So how do we prepare for the short Arizona winter ahead? How do we prepare for open fires, hot chocolate, pumpkin patches, tree decorating, and the chilly walk over to your 7:30am lecture without having to cart a whole new wardrobe to campus? Believe it or not, you can still wear your sundresses, tank tops, and shorts in the dead of winter- with just a few adjustments.

1. Tights

Wool or nylon tights are an easy and warm addition to any dress, skirt, or pair of shorts. All you need are one or two pair of tights for the winter! That’s cheap and it doesn’t take up much room in your limited closet space!

2. Blazers and cardigans

Blazers and cardigans easily add style and comfort to virtually any ensemble. These outerwear additions can easily be applied to any item of clothing: jeans, skirts, dresses, jumpers, tank tops, or t-shirts.

3. Boots

Boots are not only adorable in the fall and winter, but also extremely functional. You would be surprised what one pair of shoes can do for you in the chilly months- and it only takes up a little bit of space in your closet! One or two pair of boots and your closet is automatically transformed!

4. Scarves and hats

Accessories. A girls best friend. Scarves and hats can dress up (and warm up) your already existing summer wardrobe. Take a plain tee or tank top, jeans, and add a warm scarf or beanie!

5. That one oversized comfy sweater

Of course, we all dream of winter coming because it’s sweater season. While all of these other clothing pieces are mostly made up of accessories and add-ons, its always good to keep around that one cozy, oversized sweater for especially chilly nights. You can even use it to layer! Put in on over a dress! Add it to a shorts and tights ensemble! Add a scarf, hat, and boots! Now you’re practically ready to build a snowman.

Take a look:

Take that favorite summer dress, a warm cardigan, wool tights, boots, a hat, and scarf and you are ready to brave that Arizona winter!

-Aly

How to Keep Cool and Cute in AZ!

Maybe you've spent your summers abroad in colder states, or maybe you're from out of state and find the Arizona weather daunting. First off, we understand. It won't be the last time you hear "Yeah, it's 108 degrees but it's a DRY HEAT."

So we asked a few ASU students for their take: How do you stay cool and still look cute during the Arizona summers?! 

"I keep my hair in a bun, wear light makeup in the day, and stick to shorts and t-shirts." Bereniece

"Dresses and flip flops are always a good alternative." Danielle

"I recommend setting spray to keep makeup intact." Lexi

"My summer staples are shorts and tanks- any lightweight clothing!" Alyssa

Links 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 

How to Spot an American When Abroad

We were spending our first evening in Rome wandering the streets and hunting for pasta. That’s when we saw her. A gorgeous woman in an airy evening dress, a sparkling necklace, and curls. She walked straight to a Vespa and hopped on, stilettos and all. We stood there in awe as she sped away. How do European women do it??

I think my mouth was hanging open.

When studying abroad, it’s like every local glances at you for a grand total of 2 seconds before labeling you as “American tourist”. They speak to you in English before you even let a word out. I was always left wondering HOW they could possibly identify my nationality at first sight. Come on. I’m a pale, blue-eyed brunette - I could be French royalty or something!

I soon realized that it had to be how I was dressing. After living in Europe for five weeks, I found that my own style was slowly changing to blend in with the locals. No, I wasn’t anywhere near to being mistaken for the kind of perfection that slips onto a Vespa in high heels. But at least I could get away with ordering gelato in Italian with a “Grazie” without the shopkeeper laughing and responding “You’re welcome” in English.

 I eventually found that even I had the superpower of spotting another American from a block away - which inspired me to write this post!

How to spot an American:

1)      Any casual shoe.

Flip flops, Converse, Vans, you name it. I’ve heard it said that a Roman woman can and will judge you solely (haha – sole. Get it?) based on your shoes. Unfortunately, thousand-year-old cobblestone, slippery marble, and long walks to the metro make strutting in heels no easy task. If you tend to gravitate toward the casual side and aren’t ready to bust out the stilettos, try exchanging your Rainbows for a pair of ballet flats once in a while. You’ll instantly look more put together.

2)      Tanks and shorts.

I don’t care how hot it is outside -- You will never see a Roman woman rocking a tank top. Similarly, if you are sporting a pair of cutoffs around Paris, you will stand out. Not to mention you won’t be let into any cathedrals. Try pairing your favorite tops with cropped pants or a casual skirt for a more European look.

3)      Excess makeup.

Europeans love a more natural look. While abroad, I found that you can wear minimal makeup with a bright lipstick and look just as put together as if you had spend 45 minutes on your face. You will save on time, product, and money – and your natural beauty can shine through!

4)      Floppy beach hats.

Embrace that you will look like a tourist with one of these bad boys. However, I personally find them adorable and will not stop you from putting one on. The tough part is pulling it off without looking like you’re eternally headed to a tea party. Try it with a casual sundress or high waisted pants. Or tuck a blouse into an A-line skirt and rock your sun hat.

5)      Any form of sweats or exercise clothing in public.

(e.g. walking around Athens in a pair of leggings, sports bra, and bro tank = tourist).

I’m not going to lie – I’m guilty of this one. I like to be comfortable. If that means wearing what I wore to bed in public, so be it. Pair it with yesterday’s makeup for a complete ensemble.

However, as I get older, I’m learning that my perception of my worth is often reflected in the way I dress. Sure, everyone has those days where they just need to go to school in sweatpants, #thestruggle. But if it’s becoming a habit to never dress for the day, it begs the question: Do I expect others to think that I value myself? Do I value myself?

SDWP’s motto: “Revealing self worth through personal style” 

-Brenna.