5 Students, 1 Quest: Entertainment Journalism Through Blogging

Every morning, millions of Americans are united in a ritual that many do not even realize they are partaking in. While it is proclaimed that breakfast is the most important part of morning, on any given day people tend to place this meal on the backburner during a prolonged attempt to answer the burning question, “What should I wear today?”

For those walking the streets of New York, Paris, or Milan, there is an added pressure to look their best as there is no telling when one might bump into Scott Schuman on the streets.

Schuman, better known to the fashion crowd as The Sartorialist, has parlayed his hobby of photography into a 21^st Century art form, snapping photos of well-clad people on the street and posting them to his blog.

“I started The Sartorialist simply to share photos of people that I saw on the streets of New York that I thought looked great,” says the Indiana-born Schuman.

The decision to start an online blog focusing on the fashionable everyman and everywoman came during Schuman’s 15 years of working in various fashion showrooms, representing the collections of the likes of Valentino and Jean-Paul Gaultier.

“I always felt that there was a disconnect between what I was selling in the showroom and what I was seeing real people…wearing in real life.”

After the events of September 11, 2001, Schuman closed his showroom and turned his interests toward photography.

“I didn’t want to become a ‘fashion photographer’ but I knew somehow that my loves of fashion and photography would eventually merge. I just never guessed it would be in the form of a blog.”

Schuman says that his way of looking at people on the streets is similar to that of how designers look at their creations and the people who wear them.

“My only strategy when I began The Sartorialist was to try and shoot style in a way that I knew most designers hunted for inspiration. Rarely do they look at the whole outfit as a yes or no but they try and look for the abstract concepts of color, proportion, pattern mixing or mixed genres.”

This strategy has seemed to pay off. A single photo that Schuman posts to The Sartorialist can generate up to 200 comments by his readers. These comments serve as testimony that readers enjoy seeing unique looks being put together by real-world citizens rather than just in the confines of the pages of fashion publications.

Since beginning The Sartorialist, Schuman and his work have been profiled in publications such as Vogue and Esquire magazines and has been featured on the website Style.com chronicling the looks of various Fashion Week attendees. In addition, Schuman also has a monthly page devoted to his photos in GQ.

Despite his success, Schuman says the greatest result of his work has come in the form of personal emails from readers, telling him how his photos have inspired them to take fashion risks and not always play it safe, as so many tend to do. Likewise, Schuman has received correspondences from several designers, informing him that some of his photos have played a role in inspiration boards when putting together a new collection.

To get The Sartorialist look is not as difficult as it may seem. Play with colors and contrasting textures. For men, tuck away the ripped jeans and seek out a return to classic elegance. Pair a cream blazer with black pants for a fresh twist on an old classic. Team a traditional suit with an unexpected shoe.

Ladies, play with shapes! Try billowing tops with super-skinny jeans or leggings, or a close-fitting top with flared pants. It is all about proportions.

Buena Vista University students need not overhall their entire closet, but can find a signature look that works for them. Perhaps there is a specific pair of shoes or an accessory that has particular value. Incorporate this into your daily rotations. Go ahead and experiment with new pieces, but most importantly, be true to yourself and your style aesthetic. On such a small campus, it can be easy to become in a style rut, but with a little inspiration and a dash of confidence, everyone can develop their own unique look.

You can visit Schuman’s blog at http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/.

-Justin

If you are worrying about what to wear this summer and are needing a look that is more office-appropriate, or are just bored with the old standbys of short-shorts and strappy tank tops, fear not. New York resident Bianca Posterli, Associate Editor of Chic Report and a reporter for the website Fashion Week Daily, as well as the Editorial Assistant for The Daily and the Mini magazines shares her style tips on how to look amazing when the temperature begins to rise.

Posterli predicts the biggest trends we will be seeing this summer will be less about flashing an excess amount of skin and will rely more on romantic cuts and billowy shapes.

Ladies, for your torso and below, say good-bye to the micro-mini and hello to flowing skirts that add an air of mystery and a sense of fun. Hippie looks, with floral prints and flowing gowns will be making a revival, accompanied by appropriate scarves, hats, and wraps to complete the look.

If you are not one for the gypsy-chic look, channel your inner Charlotte York with a nice A-Line skirt cinched at the waist. “Belted looks are still in, very much giving girls the natural waists” says Posterli. “So get to the gym!”

Menswear-inspired options are also chic, but beware of overdosing on this trend. One key piece is all you need to make this layered look pop. Going overboard will only make you look like you are auditioning for an Annie Hall remake. After all, you want to look like you borrowed your boyfriend’s sweater, not raided Diane Keaton’s closet.

“Gucci has a great example…with long boyfriend-type blazers over pants and shirts.”

As for the hot colors, brights are always en vogue during the warmer months, but watch for extreme neon hues making a resurgence in the coming months. Even your nails can get in on this trend.

“Essie has a fabulous collection out for summer with bright orange, yellow, pink, and purple that can give you the neon trend without a huge push for the color all over your outfit.”

If you do not feel bold enough to rock the blinding brights, bold blues in deep hues will also be a big color in the fashion world, as will shades of purple. Posterli notes that these hues are versatile enough to be worn throughout autumn, “so it’s a good color to invest in.”

These tips can work for anyone, regardless of location or budget. While some might spring for a dazzling blue ball gown, you might opt for a simple accessory, such as a blue headband or cocktail ring. The choice is totally yours.

For more stylish tips, and to read more of Posterli’s work, check out Fashion Week Daily’s website.

-Justin