The Search for the Perfect College

With my junior year of high school rolling around the corner, I'm faced with the daunting college search. This is the year where it's time to buckle down but it doesn't even feel real to me. I'm leaning towards a degree in Fashion Merchandising from a college in the city; preferably New York or Chicago. Lately in my free time I've done a little college research and have chosen my top 3 colleges so far. With the help of Fashionista.com's The Top 50 Fashion Schools in the World I was able to find these...

1. The Fashion Institute of Technology
Located in Chelsea, New York the Fashion Institute of Technology(FIT) is listed as #9 on Fashionista.com. There have been many successful alumni throughout the years such as Nina Garcia, Calvin Klein, etc. This school's reputation opens a lot of doors for students and there is a high job placement rate. On top of all that, the tuition is extremely reasonable! I believe the out-of-state tuition is about the same as some in-state tuition where I live. With everything else I have seen on their website this is definitely my top pick.

2. Savannah College of Art and Design
Next is Savannah College of Art and Design(SCAD) which is listed as #14 out of 50. It has 5 locations(including online learning) and is known for having awesome teachers with industry experience. It's a great school even though it's not in a huge city like New York and it offers tons of degrees. Overall SCAD has many positive reviews from students.

3. LIM College

To finish off, LIM College makes #47 on Fashionista's list. Even though it's ranked pretty low, this school has some perks. One of the perks is it's location in New York City. I prefer colleges in New York because of the many internship opportunities. That way you can balance school while doing cool internships you can't find anywhere else. LIM also offers concentrations such as styling, fashion publishing, etc. to combine with your basic degree. The concentration you choose could make your college experience more interesting and will make you even more prepared for your future career. To see more check out the school website.

My college search has only just begun and who knows, maybe I'll decide not to pursue fashion after all and become a scientist or something... Thanks for reading and I'll try to follow up if anything major happens in the college department.

My All-Time Favorite Stores

Living in a small town does not leave much variety for shopping. Where I live we have stores like Gordmans, Kohl's, Maurices and such and such. Not that I'm complaining but personally I want more variety than your generic, neon t-shirt. Therefore, I have compiled a short list of my favorite stores that I never see but tend to go a little crazy in whenever I do.

1. Topshop
For those who do not know what Topshop is, it's a brand and store based out of the UK. The clothes here tend to be edgy and girly with tons of variety which is perfect for me. Their accessory department is always impressive and their clothes are very current/vintagey. However, one con has to be the prices. The things here can be freakin' expensive! You could defend their prices with the good quality of their clothes but why is a headband $30? My last complaint is that there are only 3 locations in the US. I suppose that isn't a problem for some people because you can shop online but sometimes it can be hard to judge what size you need from a computer screen.

2. Urban Outfitters
Next up: Urban Outfitters. This store has really cool clothes, period. The dresses are always so pretty, the graphic t-shirts are awesome and you'll get sucked into buying the accessories and knick knacks. They even sell furniture and home accessories! I love this store because the clothes are unique. Again, the con is the price of the clothes... unless you go to one of their super sales. I went to "Black Monday" last fall and got a $75 dress for $5(not kidding)!

3. American Apparel
What a winner! The simpleness of these clothes are what makes me love them so much. It's great when you can put together an outfit that not only looks (a)effortless, but is (b)comfortable and (c)trendy. You can achieve that with a cute pair of denim shorts and t-shirt from American Apparel. Not to mention that most of these clothing items are timeless. Finally, the bow hair accessories are so cute, but get a little pricey for just being hair bows. All in all- thumbs up!

4. Forever 21
Not a big deal but it's just my favorite store in the world... I have never once left a Forever 21 without buying at least one thing. Sure, it can get overwhelming in there but it is so worth it. The prices are even great! There is something for almost everyone because of their wide selection of styles. I can't even think of any cons except for the low quality of the clothes, accessories and shoes. But honestly, who wants their clothes to last forever when you're always adding newer, trendier items to your closet?

To keep this from getting too long I'll leave it with my top 4 favorite stores. I hope to share more of my life and personal style on here as I continue this blog. Until next time...