The Northern Southern Belle: Show off personality with your back to school wardrobe

The Northern Southern Belle: Show off personality with your back to school wardrobe

Welcome back to school, Bisons! I hope that your first week of classes is off to a great start. It’s been super exciting to see everyone back on campus and to see everyone’s personality shining through with back to school outfits! There are definitely a lot of popular trends going on right now, so I thought I’d share them here! Athleisure Sets Comfortable and cute, these are so in right now! The matching / coordinating sets are versatile and fashionable, and allow you to stay relaxed and on the go all day! Many stores are hopping on this trend, but you can find sets at OFFLINE by Aerie, Free People, Lululemon, Athleta, and Fabletics. If you’re not into the matching sets, another great athleisure option is an athletic dress or skirt paired with a vintage tee for a cute and summery look.  Comfort is key on these hot days in Nashville, and the breathable material of athleisure allows you to stay cool and comfortable, while still being cute. Wide Leg Pants All summer, I saw wide leg pants with bucket hats. Celebrities like Olivia Rodrigo and Rihanna have helped this 90’s-style revival become the phenomenon that it is. Whether you choose a woven textile or denim, the cropped and wide leg looks are definitely in right now, and can be found at most stores, and lots offer a wide variety. Loft has almost completely put their skinny jeans online, focusing in store on the kick crop, wide leg, and 90s straight styles of pants.  Two Piece Sets I know I said athleisure sets are super on trend right now,...
The Northern Southern Belle: Summer style suggestions

The Northern Southern Belle: Summer style suggestions

Hey friends! It’s been a while, but I hope you’re all having a great summer! Things are finally getting back to normal, and it is wonderful to celebrate the summer with friends! We all have a great reason to celebrate this week, as the 4th is Sunday! With things opening back up and gatherings beginning to occur again, the 4th is a great way to show off your style and your American pride. When I think of patriotic clothing, I think of red, white, and blue, of course! When I was little, my go to Independence day outfit was a Faded Glory flag tee and a pair of jean shorts. While still patriotic, I’ve realized that there are plenty of other ways to express yourself and your love for the US through what you wear on America’s birthday. Red white and blue are still my go-to colors for the day, but a way to modernize it is to mix and match the colors with prints. Try a solid navy top with red and white shorts for a flag look, or blue and white stripes or gingham with a red hair accessory or lipstick.  Plenty of stores offer 4th of July themed attire. Target currently has a whole section in the women’s/juniors department of America-themed tees. If you’re going for a cute and casual look, pair one of these with a pair of shorts or a colored athletic skirt. If you’re looking for something to wear more than just on the 4th, Loft is a great option! Their new arrivals feature plenty of red, white, and blue that can fit...
The Northern Southern Belle: Accessorizing with Masks

The Northern Southern Belle: Accessorizing with Masks

As we continue to wear our masks everywhere we go, there is a problem that plenty of girls are running into: how do you wear earrings without getting them caught in the elastic of your mask? This is a struggle I’ve dealt with as well and even lost one of my favorite hoops to the tangled mess of mask + earrings. So I’m here to share ideas on how we can accessorize while still staying safe with our masks. Avoid hoop earrings. These are my favorite, and I hate to take a break from wearing them, but with the way that they get oh so easily caught in the elastic of masks, it might be better to take a break from them. If you’re going to wear them, just be careful and make sure you don’t lose one when removing your mask. Instead, try a fun pair of dangling earrings, or a cute pair of studs. Loft has tons of cute earrings, as well as Francesca’s and Etsy.  Try a hued hairpiece. I haven’t always been big into headbands, but with our masks, they’re a great new way to accessorize and add a pop of color. If you’re not a headband fan, a cute ribbon or a bow scrunchie is a nice touch! Amazon, Anthropologie, and Forever 21 are all great spots to find these items, and there is a wide variety depending on your price range.  Draw the attention to your hands by decorating your fingers with rings. This is something I’ve recently fallen in love with. Each ring I purchase has a meaning behind it, which makes...
The Northern Southern Belle: Masks — Making the most of our new necessary accessory

The Northern Southern Belle: Masks — Making the most of our new necessary accessory

I’m back! After spending half of the spring semester abroad and the rest in quarantine, I’m happy to be back at Lipscomb and continuing my column for Lumination. A lot has changed since I last wrote: we got a new parking lot on campus, Chick-fil-A started serving milkshakes and, most notable, everyone is wearing masks due to the coronavirus, which has altered our college experience.  Wearing the masks doesn’t have to be a hassle, though. Not only will they protect you and others from the virus, but they are also a whole new form of fashion. You can pretty much find masks of any print imaginable, and with major retailers stepping up to sell masks, you can sport your favorite brand while also staying healthy.  Whether you’re a fan of florals, solids or something totally different, there is a mask out there for you. Plus, they can be an additional accessory to coordinate with your outfit! Try a solid color mask with your favorite printed top or dress. Choosing a color for your mask that is speckled throughout the garment will make it pop. If you’re a fan of wearing solid color tops, try a fun print! You can find masks of plenty of different florals, zigzags, polka dots, and plaids which can add a fun burst of color to your outfit. I love masks that are versatile and can be worn with multiple outfits if you are trying to coordinate. Multicolored masks such as florals and tie-dyes are perfect for this because the variety within the prints allows for them to match garments of multiple colors. But you...
The Northern Southern Belle: Incorporating menswear looks into your everyday style

The Northern Southern Belle: Incorporating menswear looks into your everyday style

Friday morning, the Fashion Department hosted a Men’s Masterclass in collaboration with Peter Millard, The Oxford Shop, and Dillard’s. In addition to the fantastic biscuit bar that was provided before the event, the panel discussion about appropriate men’s attire was very encouraging and inspiring. It got me thinking, and I wanted to focus on some of the main points of the class while also providing other related fashion inspiration for both guys and girls, as well.  We all know that comfy clothes are the best, but sometimes they don’t look the most professional. We’re lucky to be able to wear whatever we want to class, but once we leave, we’ll be wearing professional clothes in the workforce. With that being said, we should start putting that collection of outfits together now.  The masterclass focused on some important points for men’s dress. Employees from Dillard’s, The Oxford Shop, and Peter Millar all participated in the panel discussion, along with Charlotte Poling from the fashion department. Some focal points of the conversation were that men should have 3 suits: gray, navy, and black. Gray and navy can be used for weddings, interviews, and other events, while the black suit is for more formal events. White shirts go with every color tie, so that’s an option for under the suit, along with a tie and pocket square. Men commonly try to match their tie and pocket square, but they’re meant to correlate more than match. Pocket squares are super popular right now, so even if you do not decide to wear a tie, a pocket square is a nice alternative to still...
The Northern Southern Belle: Versatile outfits for fall fashion and lingering summer weather

The Northern Southern Belle: Versatile outfits for fall fashion and lingering summer weather

The 90 degree days seem to be coming to an end here in Nashville, but with a few 80 degree days still in the forecast, it’s not quite time to fully transition to a fall wardrobe of boots and jeans. I love fall styles, but with the hot weather, it’s not the easiest to wear them comfortably right now. Therefore, here are a few ideas for how to incorporate your summer pieces into fall looks. Combine your t-shirt dresses with a part of ankle boots or a fall scarf. I have an Old Navy orange t-shirt dress that I absolutely love. While a plain dress might be good and light for summer, it could look too plain for fall. I have a thin rope belt that I love to pair it with to add a little flair to the look, and tan ankle boots will heighten the look even more. Adding a fun pair of earrings will enhance the fall look, even more, all while keeping you cool on the warm days still ahead.  I am a huge fan of jean skirts, and while I think that they are great for all year round, I especially love them in the fall. I recently got a red floral blouse at Loft. It’s super cute with buttons up the back and tucked into my favorite dark wash jean skirt, it’s the perfect fall look! If it’s too warm for boots, continue to wear your sandals! I have so many pairs of fun jeans that I love, and I can’t wait to wear them! I also have a white and brown kimono...