This post was written by Paige, a college senior majoring in marketing:
Hello everyone, I’m Paige Nash, a senior marketing major from Texas Tech University, and I plan to graduate this August.
I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and I was never quite sure what I wanted to do other than have a fabulous office in a big sky rise building.
Today Dr. Su Shin’s Apparel Design and Manufacturing students hosted the Trashy 2 Classy Fashion Exhibition in the Library. All of the students are in her Fashion Illustration class and had to make an illustration of the garment and then create it from recycled materials. This is the 3rd year they have had the Trashy 2 Classy exhibition in partnership with the USGBCS (United States Green Building Council Students). I spoke to the Vice President of USGBC at Texas Tech, Emily Latham, and she told me this organization is focused on sustainable design and advocates for green design. Typically, they partner with Architecture, interior design or construction students; but this event draws a whole new student demographic.
One of my friends, Lisa Hon, was presenting her dress that she made completely out recycled materials. The dress was made from a marketing canvas from Ann Taylor that was going to be thrown away. The back straps were made from shopping bag strings, and held with coke can tops, and the clutch was made from shopping bags. It took her about 3 days to complete the dress that she worked on during spring break. Her model was Krystal Loya, a senior studying Retail Management.
Another favorite of mine was Mary Burt’s dress. She’s a sophomore at Texas Tech and her dress was made from plastic and paper shopping bags.
Taylor Dawson made her dress out of coffee filters, plastic bags, and newspaper to create a really cute couture look. She was actually inspired by flowers and floral designs she saw on Pinterest! She worked on it all spring break and actually used her brother as a human mannequin during the fitting.
Last, but certainly not least is Elaine Morton a sophomore who created this really cool rain coat out of CASSETTE TAPES and Packing Tape!! How cool is this? She worked all spring break on it!
I thought this was a really cool event, that really allowed students to be creative and let their talents shine. Some cool way to promote your fashion show or designs
Be on the look out for more info on this event in the Daily Toreador and Texas Tech Today! Wreck Em Tech & Go Green!
I can be extremely talkative, but for the most part I love to just sit back and observe the room. My favorite thing to do is “read” people. Too often we pressure people to force themselves to make small talk when they honestly have nothing good to say. I’d rather be reserved than make a fool of myself babbling about nonsense in a room full of influential people. No I’m not sick, angry or unhappy. I’m just waiting and thinking about what I want to say and listening to the conversation.
No one wants to network with a “fake” person; It leaves a very bad impression. If you have nothing good to contribute don’t feel bad about keeping quiet! Just like your mother said “If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say it at all.” So fret not my introverts speak when you need to, and be thoughtful and sincere.
Lies! You do care! After you flipped the table on the stylist and cried ugly Kardashian like tears in the parking lot you probably started googling “How to make my hair grow faster, how to hide short hair, cute hats, big hats, costs of extensions, and weave 101.”
You probably heard “Length over Health” “It’s just hair” and “It’ll grow back”
Those things don’t address that your hair is still short and you don’t like it.
Here are some tips on retaining length and hair mistakes from JustGrowAlready.com you can read more of them in the Beginners Hair Guide on her blog.
You can always buy some Biotin from your local vitamin store, use hair oils such as castor oil, drink plenty of water and eat clean.
So now you have the enormous task of pretending that you like your hair cut. Stop seeing it as a mistake and just use it as an excuse to go shopping!
You’re sophisticated, you’re edgy, you’re fierce. Snap in a circle, twirl, yell out “YAASS!” for no reason.
I’ve always been a big fan of social media, even in junior high at 13 I was on xanga before I pledged my allegiance to Myspace freshman year. It’s fun! It gives you the ability to connect with people all over the world and people you’ve know forever. HOWEVER, I feel like we’ve entered this period of social over sharing where we feel obligated and expected to connect with every single person that we’ve ever come in contact with.
People we met once at a party add you on Facebook, a friend of a friend of a friend adds you on Linkedin, your mom is following you on twitter, and your baby sister is on instagram. And people get offended if you don’t follow back or accept their request. So here you are feeling obligated to add someone you barely know or someone who you’d rather not share information with because you know them in real life.
Now you have to limit what you post, be aware of you say and comment on, and where you take pictures. UGH it’s like a chore isn’t it? You just wanted to post a photo of you and your friends now you have to put on a jacket and move the wine glasses out of the way, and make sure nothing incriminating is in the background so your Granny, Boss, and Sunday school teacher won’t think you’re a skank and a drunk. LOL. (Even though you’re legal and really like that strapless dress.)
Sometimes I like to watch, say, and do things that have nothing to do with my career goals or my university– it’s just for fun! There are things I would never walk into a classroom or interview room and say, but with social media I feel like I’m yelling them in people’s ears. Sometimes I like to do things without commentary, criticism, and feedback. I just wanted to express myself honestly. When I was in elementary we used to have “Free writes” for bell ringers, draw or write anything you want for 15 minutes. It’s not for a grade, you don’t have swap with your neighbor, and I won’t read it. My teacher would say “I just want to get your creative juices flowing and let you get anything off your chest. If I tweet “I hate burger king” I don’t want to explain why I hate it. I don’t want a 15 tweet dialogue comparing various burger joints from my followers.Or you saying you love burger king and I’m crazy! No one was talking about what you like, I was saying what I like. I’m not writing a compare and contrast essay. Maybe someone doesn’t want to be asked about why their relationship ended when they come into the office on Monday. It’s personal. And don’t get me started about how people psycho-analyze tweets, sub-tweets, and photos and come up with these crazy ideas. (Somebody somewhere is probably writing a dissertation about Rihanna’s instagram and twitter)
Sometimes school friends are only people you wish to converse with at school, and work friends are only people you’d wish to talk to at work; but how do you let them know that?
What do you think? Am I just easily annoyed? Do you see people over sharing and overstepping their boundaries on social media? Do you feel like you’re always being watched??
Everyone always says I know when the sales are and how to get the deals so I thought I’d share a couple hints that I use to save money and still buy things that I want. This semester I’ve been an intern for CollegeFashionista.com as a Style Guru reporting on Men’s Fashion in the column Let’s Hear it for the Boys. Peruse through some of my articles and see what you think! (I apologize for the Macy’s gif in advance. I found it funny)
1. Don’t shop just to shop.
My mom used to say that to me all the time, but she’s right. In Dallas, I find myself at the Mall for no reason at all. Just perusing through what I like and being tempted to buy things I don’t need. One of the glorious things about Lubbock is you don’t have as much temptation to shop. (Please put a Macy’s in the South Plains Mall) As college students and young adults you need to figure out what you need. For example: As a business major and student leader I’m dressed professional probably at least once a week. I don’t need club dresses; I need suits, separates, fashionable but comfortable heels, flats etc.
If you’re a senior and you don’t own the items to be dressed professionally I hope you’re not in line to buy the newest Jordan’s or rocking the latest JCs. If it’s cold and you have no jacket you might want to get a better coat. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised.
And going beyond just having the basics. I find pieces I like that reflect my style and personality so I’m not just another person in a drab suit.
(I would not wear this to an interview, I was giving a speech to young girls about College & Fashion through the Girl University program.) (Shirt Vintage via Mom, Skirt Target $12, Heels Target. Statement Necklace: Dillard's on sale. Bracelet BCBG)
Focus on the staples you need then build on those.example Get a good blazer and pants now you can buy whatever shirts and accessories to pair with them.
My Tip: Invest in stylish loafers they look great with jeans and they look snazzy with suits. Very stylish right now for men and women.
2. Don’t buy it if it’s not on sale.
I don’t believe in full priced. After working for Urban Outfitters it’s hard for me to buy things fully priced anywhere. If it’s not at least 40% off I debate whether or not I really need it. 20 percent is basically tax and 30 is a tease. But just because it is on sale doesn’t mean it’s a good sale 30% of 300 dollars is probably still too much if you’re trying to save money. Know your stores and when they usually have sales. For example Black Friday & New Year’s are notorious sales at Urban Outfitters for 50% off of clearance. So this 15% with your college ID or 30% off of this isn’t really enticing me. HOWEVER if you really have your eye on something and they’re low on stock you might want to get it.
3. Shop Around
The thing about trends is they are widely used by many designers and stores. For example the Cap toe heel. All of these shoes look extremely similar, but are made by different designers.
I personally shop for the style not the label so I can get the $30 pair versus the $600 pair.
I recently bought these shoes from JC Penney for $11.00 earlier that day I found a pair similar at DSW for 3 times that much.
Urban Outfitters had a Save Ferris Shirt for about 28.00 at Target it’s was 7.99.
Once you Identify what style you’re looking for, you can find deals everywhere.
4. Price Check
Sometimes things are on sale online, but not in person. Check on your phone or before you leave to make sure you’re not throwing away money. A lot of store honor the online price if it’s lower. I like Retailmenot.com or the app for coupons. I can just check on my iPhone if a store is having a sale and if there are any coupons available before I check out. Or just google coupons for this store.
5. Try things on
Some things look better in theory. I can’t tell you how many times I pick up something then try it on and it look awful on me lol. Conversely, If you try it on and fall in love now you watch to see if it goes on sale, if there’s a similar item at another store, or if you want to Treat yo Self.
6. Remix
Remix is a term I got from the lovely Daniela Ramirez from Nany’s Clozet. She’s the queen of remixing. Remixing is take a piece and basically styling it another way to double the size of your closet. Check out the rest of her remixes here and follow her blog.
(Images Via Nany’s Klozet)
By figuring out new ways to style items you just made yourself a brand new outfit. Especially if you can transition it between seasons.
If you need a little help trying to figure out how to style an item try using Polyvore to try to see how people would style similar items.
If you want to be stylish on a budget I’d suggest shopping at my favorite boutique Targét. They do a phenomenal job of providing stylish clothes for fairly affordable prices. It’s a college kid’s best friend! Asos is also a great website that has some amazing sales! If you’re not familiar with Asos think H&M and Urban Outfitters but at a lower cost and FREE SHIPPING! (they’re also having a sale right now)
For your die hard shop a holic’s here’s the tough love. Once you research what you need take cash in the amount of roughly what you will pay for it so you’ll only get that item. No debit card, no extra items no extra spending.
Style On,
Paige
@Paige_Nash
Follow Me on Pinterest.Com/That_Nash!
Forever 21 Trench , Target Turtleneck, Jc Penney Oxfords, Leopard Print Scarf Aldo, Ear rings Aldo
Red Peplum dress from TJ Maxx – Steve Madden Heels from Ross
Vintage Shirt via Mom Green Jean’s – Marshall’s Leopard Print Peep toe Wedges – Forever 21
Moto Jacket – Burlington, Bow Tie TCampCollection (A student owned clothing line from some friend’s at Morehouse!) Spiked Bangle – Forever 21
Moto Jacket – Burlington, Bow Tie TCampCollection (A student owned clothing line from some friend’s at Morehouse!) Spiked Bangle – Forever 21
**UPDATE***
I recently discovered Soletrader.com and they’re having a phenomenal sale right now! I just got a pair of 195.00 shoes for about 60 + shipping
I was at Target in Cedar Hill and I noticed how big the ethnic hair care section was. I stopped and stared. The section in Target was not this large before I left for school, and the section in Lubbock isn’t this large.
This was what I remembered not too long ago, an end cap at the end of the aisle.
Now it’s in two places the end cap and the entire row with full product lines.
this is only a section of the products, but as you can see a significant increase from the endcap. (Sorry for the blurriness, it’s awkward taking pictures of products lol)
Nubian Heritage has its own row, Shea Moisture has its own row, Mixed chicks has its own row that goes all the way down as well as a lot of other brands.
It’s not that they had a lot of hair products, but a lot of it was for Natural hair and was even broken up into two sections “Natural and textured” and “relaxed”. This takes detail. If you go to Walmart it simply says “Ethnic Hair” one aisle full of Ampro, Blue Magic, and God knows what else. These labels mean they did some research; They know who they’re targeting, what they want, and they’re not just gonna buy it because there’s a brown person on the label. Somebody paid real attention to it.
Why?
Because Target is awesome, but besides that I believe it has to do with demand. Taking care of your hair is trendy right now–but really it is. Women are going in droves to the store to get natural and organic products for their hair. If you’ve watched commercials for any type of hair they’re featuring natural ingredients. “With honey extract” “olive oil” and “grapeseed oil”. L’oreal launched their “sulfate free line and have even expanded it (EverStrong, EverySleek, EvereCreme, and EverPure). (I love the EverStrong in the green bottle) Consumers are more informed and more adamant about what they will and won’t use in a hair product. This is a perfect example about how consumers feel about multicultural marketing. It takes real work, consumers want companies to be authentic in trying to reach them. It made me think of an article I read in Adweek a long while a go by Robert Klara.
Which made think, if we were to show the companies that we as a minority community made it known to the companies that we wanted BETTER for ourselves they’d be forced to fill that demand. Who remembers when you could only buy certain hair brands online? Why is there a Central Market, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s within spitting distance of each other in North Dallas, but in other areas only dollar stores, Popeyes, and liquor stores are the only thing that seem to be placed in our areas. It has a lot to do with demographics, but let’s not forget we have a voice outside of what statistics say.
What do you think? Comment below or tweet me at @Paige_Nash!
Top Five hair products from Target: 1. Fekkai Shea Butter Conditioner & Shampoo 3. Shea Moisture Anti Breakage Masque, 3. L’oreal EverStrong No Sulfate Shampoo 4. Neutrogena Triple Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner. I also purchase the majority of my oils there.
1. Castor Oil
2. Olive Oil
3. Lavender Oil
4. Tea Tree Oil
If you would like to know more about my staple hair products visit (pinterest.com/thatnash/paige-s-staple-hair-products/)
