Summer Lovin'

Obsessing over these items this summer

One item in particular that I wanted to focus on is the Murad Gentle Blemish treatment. I actually use the Murad mattefier which is a different product (can be found at Sephora for around 40$.) I started using this product this summer and it is AMAZING. You apply the matte-fier before your usual makeup routine and your face stays shine-free all day. Definitely a necessity for Florida living. I also love the tank by Clover Canyon, an up and coming brand known for their unique prints.

Prints: A sure way to get noticed

When it comes to fashion, there are few things more intimidating than prints. Printed anything- pants, tops, shoes- may be appealing to our eye, but more often than not we turn them down in favor of their simpler, plainer counterpart. Maybe you don’t know what to pair a particular print with, or maybe you think you won’t get a lot of wear out of it. And when it comes to designers like Marc Jacobs and DVF, we oftentimes find ourselves wondering if a print is just plain weird. Personally, I’m just the opposite. I prefer printed everything (I really do mean everything) and the weirder, the better. I love prints because they add personality to an outfit, they’re aesthetically pleasing, and they can spice up a simpler wardrobe. Diane Von Furstenberg is a favorite of mine, because she creates pieces that can only be described as art, and no two pieces resemble one another. More than that, she creates clothing that you will not find anywhere else. There’s nothing I hate more than showing up somewhere in the same outfit as someone else (imagine my dismay when I arrived at a fraternity event wearing the same Alice and Olivia dress as another girl), and prints are ideal if you want to avoid this situation.

DVF Prints 

I would suggest starting simple. Don’t worry about mixing polka dots with lace- yet. Pick a printed trouser and pair them with a loose- fitting plain black tshirt. Or pick up a scarf-printed blouse from Zara and dress it down with your favorite pair of skinny jeans. Starting simple is a great way to get comfortable with incorporating prints into your wardrobe. You can also add a printed scarf, flat, or sweater to an otherwise simple look. Use this beginners step as a way to figure out which prints are your favorite, and which prints you want to stay away from.

Scarf-print blouse from Zara

After you’ve mastered prints-for-beginners, you can begin to mix prints. This is where things can get tricky, as oftentimes mixing prints can be confused for or labeled as “clashing.” Spirit week in highschool always included a clash day where girls would tear through their wardrobe and show up to school wearing everything polka dotted, striped, floral, and neon that they could find. The way to avoid this fashion mishap is to pick only two patterns, like a striped top and floral jeans. 

Below, Blair Eadie of the fashion blog Atlantic Pacific paired her Diane von Furstenberg Leaves Pant with a striped t-shirt and a white blazer. Notice how she picked a simple print-striped- and used it to offset the loud pattern on her trousers. 

More tips for mixing prints:

1. Make sure one color repeats in every piece of the outfit (For example, the navy in Blair’s striped top is echoed in the pattern on her trousers)
2. Combine loose prints with structured prints (like flowers with stripes).
3. Blend small designs with larger-scale ones (the pattern on Blair’s pants is a lot larger than the stripes on her shirt).

Lace top and silk polka dot trouser, both by Robert Rodriguez

If you still need help figuring out what to pair with your prints, you can email me at skwiatkowski@knights.ucf.edu. 

Trend Report: Maxi Dresses

It’s officially the first day of summer, but for those of us who are spending our summer days here in Orlando, this day means nothing new for us. We spend our days sitting in the same lounge chairs we scouted out back in February, the ones that we spent hours manipulating until we found the perfect location to achieve maximum penetration from the sun. We’ve been wearing shorts and sandals and Essie’s summer collection for months now (turquoise and caicos anyone?) We can even count on three fingers how many times we visited Jeremiah’s that first week back from winter break. Blazing hot temperatures don’t come and go in Florida like they do in Northern states. In fact, you’re more likely to find us tweeting and updating our facebook status over a drop in temperatures than a rise in one. Once September begins we head to the nearest Bloomingdales and buy every sweater in stock, hoping that some higher power will sense our total desperation to wear something other than tank tops and denim cutoffs all day. We didn’t spend our entire life’s savings on those Tory Burch boots for them to sit in our closet, did we? But nonetheless, we chose to live here, and more than that, we chose to go to school here, so we have to make due with the cards Mother Nature has dealt us. So stop daydreaming about knit sweaters and printed scarves and keep reading to find out to have all eyes on you this summer. 

Every girl’s summer wardrobe requires a few necessities, one of which is a maxi dress. Maxi dresses are easy to throw on, easy to accessorize, and can be dressed up or dress down to fit nearly any occasion. You can even wear a cotton maxi dress as a bathing suit coverup. I like to pair mine with a wedge sandal out to dinner when I’m on vacation with my family, or with a flat sandal when I’m headed to the mall with friends to check out the Victoria’s Secret semi annual sale. You can wear a plain maxi dress with a bold necklace or a printed maxi with bangles and your trusty Michael Kors watch. Maxi dresses also come in a myriad of different styles, cuts, and fabrics. 

5 rules about Maxi Dresses:


1. If you’re on the short side, shell out a few extra dollars to have your dress hemmed. A maxi that drags on the floor can give off the appearance that you’re shorter than you really are. Also, this should go without saying, but if you are going to have your dress altered make sure you also take the shoes you’ll wear most often with the dress, so that the dress can be hemmed to the correct length. 

2. Don’t over accessorize! If you are wearing a maxi with a loud print, keep it simple...the focus should be on the dress, not on your earrings, your necklace, your bracelet, your fuchsia sandals, and your crossbody bag.

3. You can dress up a maxi dress with wedge sandals or pumps

4. You can dress down a Maxi dress with flip flops and a floppy hat, like Vanessa Hudgens did here:

5. Choose a Maxi Dress that will complement your body type. For example, an empire waist will provide an overall slimming effect

This maxi is great for Summer 2012 because it caters to the current neon trend. Add subtle accessories to tone down its bright hue. You can also nix the jewelry and add a pair of havianas and a string bikini to make this look beach appropriate. A leather jacket and pumps takes this maxi dress from day to night.

Sara Kwiatkowski

5th Annual Harriett’s Park Avenue Fashion Week 2011

Mark your calendars! Harriett’s Park Avenue Fashion Week (HPAFW), October 9-15, is a weeklong admiration of the local fashion retail and design community of Orlando. Since it began in 2007, HPAFW is held every fall and is hosted by the boutiques of Park Avenue and Hannibal Square. They host many fashion events throughout the week, as well as fashion show inspired by New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, with great venue designers, amazing lighting and music. The main purpose of HPAFW is to promote fashion throughout Orlando and to exemplify the boutiques in Winter Park. Some boutiques include Lily Pulitzer, Bajalia, Eileen Fisher, Bebe’s & Liz’s, as well as Kendall & Kendall and Marvaldi Hair & Makeup Studio for participating salons. 

Here is a few photos of fashion show last year and events throughout the week!

If you're interested in volunteering click here

To purchase tickets click here

Kelsey Haddock

Vibrant Strides

To the uninformed fashionista fall fashion brings to mind dark colors ranging anywhere from rustic brown to black. Although these classic fall colors are staples of fall fashion every year, adding a splash of color to your fall wardrobe is not only trend-savvy but also a way to make winter’s dark layers look fresh and fun.

A great way to add this much-needed splash of color into your wardrobe this fall is with bright pants. On the runway and off, bright pants have proved to be a top fall fashion trend this year.

Although bright pants are trendy and fun, they can be tricky. Many people don’t know how to wear them. With these tips you can finally buy those hot pink skinnies you’ve been eyeing at Zara without having that dreadful thought, “When am I EVER going to wear these?”

TIP #1: Less is More
I know we see A LOT of this on the runway, but lets’ get real, most of us real-life girls would NOT look too hot in this get-up: 

Remember that less is more. Stick to one bright at a time! You want your hot new pants to be the center of attention, not an afterthought to your even brighter jacket.

Now this is a look us real girls can rock:

TIP #2: Always Classy Never Trashy
Many people seem to think that bright pants need extra zippers and other attachments of different colors stuck onto them. As mentioned earlier, less is more! The only special feature bright pants should have is the color itself. That’s a statement right there on its own.
Keep it classy! DON’T make this mistake:

TIP #3: Cut is Key!
Bright pants are NOT the same as jeans, and shouldn’t be treated as such. Jeans look good in about every cut, whether it be flare, jeggings, etc. Bright pants, however, look good in a limited amount of cuts. The most basic thing to remember is that a straight legged or skinny style is best. Bright jeggings are a bad idea. Why? The pants’ color already accentuates our womanly curves, so we don’t need them to be skin-tight.

These are a great straight-legged trouser cut that would be an asset to any wardrobe: 

These 3 tips should get you started on the latest fall fashion trend: bright pants. Just remember that they are nothing to be afraid of. Bright pants can work in any wardrobe as long as they are used correctly!

Balay Batu

Necessary Needs And Timeless Threads

It may be too hot out right now to even imagine the weather getting cold but trust us it will happen. Before it hits us stock up on must haves so you look cute and cozy while everyone else is running to class in sweats. 

You don’t have to break the bank this winter, utilize items you already have and make sure to mix and match. An old high school sweatshirt can look nerdy chic with a pair of shorts, stockings, and boots. It makes for a quick easy outfit to wear to class or run errands. By adding a pair of heeled booties you can dress up a day outfit and wear it out on the town or out to dinner with friends. Layering is a must, wearing tights with leg warmers on top are not only practical but super cute. Here is a list of must haves for winter. 

-BLAZERS

-FUR! FUR! FUR!

-RUGGED BOOTS

-PATTERNED TIGHTS

-SKINNY JEANS

-LOOSE LONG SLEEVED TUNICS

-QUILTED SCARVES

-TRENCH COAT 

FREE PEOPLE

FREE PEOPLE

TRENCH COAT

ASOS AFRICA Belted Trench Trench

$137

This light color trench goes perfectly with everything, 

you can wear pastels with it or mix and match with

 dark wash jeans and some tan boots. 

TOPSHOP 

NUTMEG BOYFRIEND BLAZER

$130

Blazers can be dressed up or down, for cheaper blazers

 check out your local good will and try on some real boyfriend blazers.

TOPSHOP

CABLE KNIT SCARF

$32

A scarf is the perfect accessory to any outfit, 

not only does it keep you warm but it keeps you 

looking pulled together even when you may 

want to wear a white v-neck and some sweats to class.

DSW 

COCONUTS LARKIN BOOTIE

$64.95

These boots go perfectly with skinny jeans and can

 be accessorized with leg warmers on top of leggings or tights. 

They also work well with a skirt or dress to give a more 

rugged look to a soft feminine outfit. 

ANTHROPLOGIE

VINALHAVEN CARIDGAN

$148

This cardigan is so cozy looking who wouldn’t want to cuddle up with you? 

URBAN OUTFITTERS

$14

OLIVIA MACCHIA

How To Get Involved With Knight Style

WANT TO GET INVOLVED? There are countless ways to do so! 

 A committee consists of meeting once or twice a month, discussing ideas with group members and creating an article for this blog(and soon to be .com website) creating a deadline, and submitting the articles to the committee leader. 

Below is a summary of what each committee does:

• Style Setter-Includes upcoming trends, where to find them, and how to wear them
• Beauty-hottest beauty finds and trends
• Spotted-selecting students outfits around campus, taking a pictures and describing 
• Fitness First-Finding the best workouts for college students to stay fit/lose weight 
• Volunteer-broadcasting news on Runway to Hope, Park Avenue Fashion Week, organizing volunteers for these events and other fashion related activities 
• Public Relations-represent KS at tableing events (ex. Freshman Orientation, Pegasus Palooza) Spread the word about Knight Style 
• Local News-interview local boutiques and people who are an inspiration for fashion in the UCF area/Orlando 
• Mens Fashion-Getting trends from runway and describing current fads
• Graphic Design-Designing promo items (ex: shirts, flyers, posters)

Please submit (up to 3) committees that you are interested in to knight-style@hotmail.com

If you would like to have more of a leadership role, we are looking for committee leaders as well! Committee leaders are head of their committee and edit the articles submitted to you, from your committee members. You then submit it to knight-style@hotmail.com, which will then be posted on the blog. Other roles include(and not limited to) creating ideas for articles, how to expand Knight Style in the UCF community, creating meeting times with your group, etc.  To be a committee leader you must have leadership skills and be able to handle a group of people. They report and work with the execs (president, vp, etc.)

Committee Leaders Application:

1)List the Top 3 Committees you are interested in being a leader in.

2)Why do you think you are best suited for this position?

3)Have you had any previous leadership experience? 

Please submit to knight-style@hotmail.com

If you have any further questions or comments, feel free to email Katie at
 knight-style@hotmail.com!