Showing posts with label Kayla Elam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kayla Elam. Show all posts

Pastels & Paparazzi Fashion Show Rocks Summer's Hottest Looks


On a rainy Friday, dozens of MU's most fashionable students filed into Perlow-Stevens art gallery, decked out in platform heels, shiny gold jewelry and chic ensembles. This dazzling array of people fit right into the "Pastels and Paparazzi" themed fashion show, which featured designers from St. Louis, Chicago and Columbia. The event was sponsored by the Black Programming Committee at MU. 

Main takeaways for the upcoming summer fashion season were floral prints, breezy maxi dresses and lots of color. The Protagonist Collection by MU student Cyndi Robertson featured a funky juxtaposition of masculine and feminine inspired pieces. Striped ties accented girly white dresses, and models rocked white vests and pants. 



Yan by Hannah Cusack showed several dresses the women in the audience couldn't wait to get their hands on after the show. Many of her dresses had an evening event in mind, and the final white gown was a showstopper. Cusack also won the heart of the judges and walked away with a $500 cash prize and a free photo shoot for her clothing line.






Fellow MU student Elise Lammert looked to tribal prints for her summer-ready collection. Models hit their stride in strappy sandals and hi-low maxi dresses in sunny yellow and orange hues. These pieces are a girl's best friend for vacation, a pool day or even an afternoon out with the girls.



Mother and daughter design duo LaRoyce and Rikki Byrd's line Roi & Rik focused on color and featured a multitude of items in lime green, yellow and powder blue. A standout was a shiny metallic skirt, which had a futuristic feel and is just the piece for girls that don't like to shy away from bold fashion.




Other highlights included tropical swimwear by Jasmine Stocking, urbanwear and classic graphic print tees by Arrognt Empire, Basic Bots and Lost Liberty and L.A. chic clothing from new downtown boutique Muse. This summer is all about fun, so let these designs inspire you to play with your look and try something new.

By: Kayla Elam

CG Mizzou’s Top 5 List of the Best & Worst Dressed at the Grammys

The Grammys may be a wrap, but the red carpet fashion lives on. As with most award shows, some stars looked like royalty and some looked straight up off-key. The College Gloss Mizzou team watched every misstep and has a lot to say about what they loved and hated about the fashion on music's biggest night. (Somebody get Taylor's stylist on the phone!)

Top 5 Best Dressed

Rihanna


“Rihanna is not always my favorite, but I have to admit that I loved her style last night. She looked so elegant in red, and her hair was perfection.”  -Abby Kass

“Lady in red. Rihanna was the definition of glamorous in this flowing crimson gown. Her bold red lips and nails complemented her ensemble without overdoing it.” -Candice Brew

Kelly Rowland


“The strategic peek-a-boo panels in this dress are the definition of being tastefully sexy. She looks strong, sophisticated and just downright hot. A big ol’ “WOW” sums up my feelings for this look, head-to-toe.” -Veronica DeStefano

“Kelly Rowland embodies the perfect balance of sexy and classy in this gorgeous gown. She was absolutely working it.” -Luria Freeman

“Rowland looked stunning in this Georges Chakra gown. She managed to give off the perfect amount of sex-appeal while remaining classy. Not to mention, her natural-looking makeup and simple updo was the way to go with such an extravagant dress.” -Candice Brew

Carrie Underwood

“Carrie looked amazing in the dress. It fit her perfectly and was interesting, but at the same time showed off that amazing diamond necklace.” -Abby Kass

Katy Perry

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“Some people might hate this, but I think it’s simplistically beautiful, and also Katy is my spirit animal so...” -Alise Murawski

"Gucci at the Grammys. What more needs to be said?" -Kayla Elam

Justin Timberlake

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“Simple, yet so stylish and classy. Men can’t go wrong with that look.” -Abby Kass

"I love a good bow tie and a good shoe on any guy, but this Tom Ford on Justin? Just wow." -Kayla Elam

Top 5 Worst Dressed

Adele


“I’m all for Adele getting past her all black stage, but wearing a rug isn’t an improvement.” -Cheyenne Roundtree

Florence Welch 


“She looks like some kind of ginger reptile. Godzilla in America.” -Luria Freeman

Jennifer Lopez 



“Sad but true. That bun does not belong at the Grammys, and the weird crotch on her dress ... just no.” -Luria Freeman

"Angelina Jolie already did the high slit, leg pose. Sorry J. Lo, try again!" -Lindsay Keaton

Taylor Swift

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“I feel like I’ve seen this before from her ... branch out a little T-Swizzle!” -Alise Murawski

John Mayer

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“Not feeling the velvet blue jacket and the blue bowtie that doesn’t really match.” -Abby Kass

The stars should never fear, though, because the next few weeks will bring more award shows with new fashion for us to gossip and drool over. We'll be watching.

By: CG Mizzou Staff

Wish List vs. Must List: Holiday Edition

The holiday season is a time for many things, and one of the most fun things is being able to dress up in your shiniest, best and brightest. But because holiday clothing can be dressy, it can also be tricky to pull off the other 11 months of the year or before the big party. I mean, let’s face it, a sequin skirt is the ultimate statement piece, but how can you pull it off in the daytime without looking like a Moulin Rouge back-up dancer?

Actually, it’s not that difficult to take one major piece that is great for an evening party and change a few things to make it wearable for day. I took three holiday staples: the statement cardigan, the little black dress and the sequined skirt and put together three looks that can easily transform from day to night or night to day. (And the most expensive piece is only $89!) After all, who has room in their suitcase for two outfit changes a day.

Statement Cardigan:
To me, the sequined or jeweled cardi is the 2012 holiday must have because it is easy to slip on over dresses, and it adds a little personality and warmth. It can come across a little mature, though, so be sure to balance the look with trendier pieces so as not to look like you’re going to an ugly sweater party. For daytime, I paired the look with skinny jeans and added combat boots to toughen the sweetness of the sweater. Add a beanie and a red infinity scarf, and you are ready for a family outing or a trip to the mall with the girls for after-season sales. To transition the look to nighttime, grab coated skinny jeans and burgundy heels (burgundy is the color of this season). The velvet on the heels add an interesting spin to the outfit and help dress up an otherwise “blah” black ensemble.

Little Black Dress:
It’s classic, it’s chic, and it’s certainly timeless. There isn’t a season or time period I can think of that doesn’t have the LBD in it. That said, if you are ever in doubt about what to wear to nearly any occasion, it is always a good answer. This tulle and lace LBD is sure to turn heads at any holiday party or formal event. Since the tulle does make it ultra dressy, I would balance it with a printed sweater layered over the dress and add a black blazer for daytime. Keep the rest simple with black boots and tights. For evening, let the dress do the talking by keeping your accessories down to a simple necklace. I love these burgundy heels with this outfit, too, and I think they would keep the look classic but interesting.
Sequined Skirt:
This piece is the showiest and most luxurious of the three, and it can be the trickiest to style. But it is the ultimate holiday party piece, and the risk is worth the effort. For day, make sure that you keep the rest of your items as simple as possible because the skirt is your statement accessory, and it needs no competition. I chose a classic white oxford, and I would wear a denim shirt as a jacket over it. The juxtaposition of the business-like top with the party-like bottom makes a cool statement that is sure to make you the most creatively dressed in the room. To make the look even more unique, I added brown combat boots. For evening, I chose a classic cable sweater in a bright fuchsia color to pop against the gold. Since these two pieces are very loud, I chose basic black tights and flats to complete the outfit.

As the year’s end approaches, be sure to celebrate in style, both day and night. Holiday style is all about making a statement, so let your creativity flow freely. After all, it is the most wonderful time of the year!

By: Kayla Elam | Images: 1, 2, 3

Get Supermodel Miranda Kerr's Unique Look

Dressing well is not a matter of geography or budget, but a matter of creativity. In this column, I wanted to move away from downtown shops in Columbia, Mo., and instead take a drive down Stadium to the Columbia Mall.

Fashionable people tend to scoff at the idea of the mall, deeming it for the masses, the middle school population or for those who are fashion-challenged. I must admit, I have tended to gravitate to more independent lines myself, but Target is just too tempting! The notion that you can’t find style in a mall is just not true.

And to prove that a unique look can be mass-produced by mall chains, I recreated two looks inspired by the angelic supermodel Miranda Kerr.


Kerr is not just enviable because she happens to be Orlando Bloom’s wife but because her style is spot-on for any college student looking for inspiration. It’s trendy with a rock edge, but also minimal at the same time; you won’t find her bogged down with accessories. This translates well for a college student who can’t be too excessive on a daily basis.

That being said, minimalism can get dull. So to show how her minimal pieces can be incorporated to fit your personal style, I created two looks using her basic outfit as the building blocks for each style: Fashion Lady for feminine style or Urban Legend for urbanite style. 

Both looks feature a black blazer (I chose one from Target), and I show you how to go from day to night with a black blazer in two different styles. And yes, every single piece is from a store you can find in the mall.

Day Outfit:


Take a page from Miranda’s book with this pullover layered over a thin, flowy top. Add an additional layer with the blazer for the collegiate look. This outfit is easy to put together for fall, and each piece can be used in many ways apart from these two outfits.

Night Outfit:


For nighttime, take the same black blazer and layer it over a leopard skirt and flowy gray tee. This sounds like an odd mix, but that is where the chicness of the outfit comes from. A hat and oxfords (daring girls, try this with rolled down socks like Kerr’s) transforms the outfit to a whole new style level. Then add tights and boots with a pop of color on the clutch to keep it girly stylish.

We can’t all be Miranda Kerr, but remember this fashion proverb now and for always: style is a state of mind, not a geographic location. Even with an abundance of strollers, food courts and kiosks, you can indeed find style. Now, who’s up for a ride on the carousel?

By: Kayla Elam | Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Stylish Sister Acts

Sisters usually have love/hate relationships. In my experience with my older sister, it’s like some days you team up on your parents, and some days you cannot stand to be within two feet of each other. Then the gauntlet is thrown (or the hairbrush, rather).

I cannot think of one girl who does not have those moments with her style. In the store it looked so fashionable and cool, and then you throw it on, and ugh, not so much the next day.

But these celeb sisters seem to have it all together: style, sisterly bonds and just being super chic. As if we didn’t envy them enough!

1. The Olsens
Trendy and eclectic - Mary-Kate and Ashley

Ladylike with a trendy twist - Elizabeth

While MK and Ashley are the siblings that are usually evaluated, I couldn’t help but throw in Elizabeth, who is blowing up these days in fashion magazines, blogs and films (Robert de Niro movies, hello). In college, Mary-Kate and Ashley became the running joke for late-night comedians for being a weird breed of New Yorkers: bag ladies with oversized clothes, roaming Manhattan with their Starbucks. Since their NYU days though, MK and Ash have tamed that "I-look-homeless-because-I’m-a-hip-film-student" look and turned it into cool-girl style. This has translated into their fashion lines Elizabeth and James and The Row, the latter which earned them top honors in womenswear at the CFDAs in June. Love or hate them, you have to admit these Olsens have some unique style genes!

2. The Knowles

Glamorous - Beyonce

Daring and Edgy - Solange

You knew this pairing was coming, because what better way to demonstrate the varying styles of sisters than Beyonce and Solange Knowles? Bey usually rolls more "Glamour" magazine style with girly accessories and lots of bling, while Solange usually turns it out "Nylon" magazine style with a rock-and-roll edge and daring pieces. Being the older sister, Jay Z’s lady is usually more polished with her looks and seems more put together with flirty dresses and high heels. Solange takes so many risks not just through her fashion, but also with her hair and beauty styles. Anybody remember when she buzzed her head way before it was cool? Beyonce is actually more trendy than many celebs of her stature, but next to daring baby sis Solange, she comes off like a Middleton.

3. The Fannings

Classic - Dakota

Girly - Elle

Strictly New York speaking, if the Olsens are more Chelsea District and the Knowles are more Upper West Side, then the Fannings are uptown, Upper East Side (coincidentally that happened to be a movie Dakota was in). Dresses, blazers, neutrals and girly touches? Check. Over the years, Dakota has branched out into "edgier" looks with Converse and oversized scarves, but next to Solange or the Olsens she comes across as Blair Waldorf in a Halloween costume. Sorry, Dakota, but you should stick with your red carpet style, which always turns heads because it is so classic. And can we talk about Elle? This younger sister is literally all over Tumblr and fashion magazines like "W" for good reason! She comes out in ultra-trendy Louis Vuitton dresses and still looks girly and fresh. When college students are admiring your girly style at the age of 14, you know that you are a bit of an icon.

Whether your have Greek sisters, biological sisters or just your closest girlfriends that are just as close as blood, I think it is safe to say that you can definitely have distinct styles even when you’re together so much. But while you have these chic women close, why not borrow some of their pieces and try something new? Just be sure to return them so World War III doesn’t break out.

By: Kayla Elam

Wish List vs. Must List: Recreating A Designer Look at Britches

Everybody knows there are some great style blogs out there. It is not unusual to find me sitting in Kaldi’s on Ninth Street, scrolling through the blogs that I have bookmarked on my computer. More than anything though, I think about how great it would be if I had the budget of a big-name style blogger like Bryanboy or Chiara Ferragni of The Blonde Salad. Paris Fashion Week invites, cocktail dresses courtesy of the designer and new Louboutins in my size held in a special place for me in Saks? Yeah, I could deal with that.

However, unfortunately, for most of us, reality comes crashing in. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of the great stores we have in Columbia and recreate those same looks on a college budget.

I took on the challenge myself one Sunday afternoon and made the trip to Britches Clothing Store, located on 130 S. Ninth St. in Downtown Columbia (just up from Chipotle and Starbucks). It has been one of my favorite places since I started visiting Columbia back in high school. I also think it’s a top choice for hot trends like comfy sweaters and studded blouses that are perfect for going out, a sorority gathering or if you just want to look good while walking to class

For this look, I took inspiration from voguehaus.com, a chic fashion blog from the Czech Republic, and turned her fabulous fall look into one from pieces you can easily pick up at Britches.

 The Original:
Voguehaus.com

Our Look:



Gold Necklace: $20, Burgundy Sweater: $30


Acid Wash Black Denim Jean: $45, Olive Army Jacket: $65 



Tote Bag: $50, Black Bootie: $45

Vogue Haus Total: around $600
Our Total: $225

 What we did:
I took the same army jacket style and added the burgundy color from Vogue Haus’s outfit with this great sweater, which is unbelievably soft. I paired our look with acid wash jeans for a little texture and to keep the look more casual compared to the tights and shorts from the original photo. Add a tote bag and black laced booties (another hot trend for fall), and you are good to go.

One item to focus on:
If I had to tell you to purchase one item this fall, it would be the army jacket with faux leather sleeves. It is exactly on trend with the leather accents, and the olive green color goes perfectly with darker shades for your fall/winter wardrobe. It is also versatile in that it can easily be paired with the floral patterns from your spring clothes. Now get out there and start shopping because there are some fabulous items here in CoMo just waiting to join your closet this fall! 

By: Kayla Elam | Images: 1, 2, Kayla Elam

CG's Must List for Breast Cancer Awareness Month


I don’t know about you, but I have been seeing a lot of pink lately. Not only am I a fan of the color, but a huge fan of this color’s meaning this month. As many of you know, it is, indeed, Breast Cancer Awareness month, a time for men and women to promote research and to honor the stories of those that have come into contact with this dreaded disease.

 I've uncovered the best fashion and beauty products you can buy to support causes that benefit breast cancer research. 

 Granted, there are no “wishes” in this particular column because I cannot think of better shopping than shopping for a cause. These are all “musts,” ladies!

Saks Fifth Avenue - Key to the Cure


Cause: Saks Key To The Cure, which has provided millions of dollars over 12 years to women’s cancer research.
Proceeds: 100 percent

 Carolina Herrera designed the tree logo on the $35 long-sleeved T-shirt. 

 I wear mine with black or gray skinny jeans, boots and my gold watch to keep the look elegant and tasteful.

Ann Taylor Loft - Live in Pink


Cause: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, an organization where 91 cents of every donation dollar goes toward research and prevention.
Proceeds: 25 percent of every Live in Pink item

 With its smart peplum and bright color, I cannot resist this fun dress. It is a bit candy sweet, so I recommend toughening it up with a gray moto jacket and tights. 

 Or you could embrace the Audrey Hepburn inspiration and don the pearls — SEC ladies.

 OPI - Pink of Hearts


Cause: In its sixth annual charity pairing for the disease, the nail color brand will donate to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Rethink Breast Cancer in Canada.
Proceeds: $25,000 to Komen; $5,000 to Rethink Breast Cancer

 With a package containing a pale pink polish and a sparkly pink polish, can a girl really go wrong? I would recommend trying one statement nail with the sparkly polish and keeping the rest of your fingers in the pale pink.

AVON - Pink Ribbon


Cause: Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, an organization that has raised $740 million dollars over the past 20 years to raise awareness, prevention and treatment.
Proceeds: 100% of net profits

This adorable $10 scarf would look perfect tied on your purse or backpack, don’t you think? Or truly go for the retro look and tie it around your neck like a la Jackie O.

Clinique


Cause: Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Proceeds: $3 of every lipstick

 Every girl needs a little Clinique in her life! Grab this super cute lipstick and pouch and feel good knowing that what you were going to buy anyways made a difference.

No matter what cause you are looking to support this month, Tigers, remember that it feels great and is so worth it! (And you might get a pretty thing or two in my favorite color out of it.)

By: Kayla Elam
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