Welcome Back/Back to School Style Guide

Welcome back, Bobcats. Did you miss us? I know we missed you.

FMA has been working hard this summer to curate the perfect semester for all of you. As we welcome back a few familiar faces, we also introduce some new ones, including me! My name is Kira Naomi Utter, FMA’s very own secretary. I will be updating this blog every other Friday, and I will keep you in the loop with all things FMA and all things fashion at Texas State.

You might be thinking, what makes me qualified to speak on fashion? The answer to that is: nothing. Anyone can pick up a laptop and write about whatever they love and hate, and I am simply another person doing that. This blog is here to guide you in the right direction, to provide inspiration and insight on the world of fashion for you to incorporate in your everyday lifestyle. We hope to promote confidence and being your best self. Everything we write is for the readers’ own interpretation. 

(if it helps, I have pledged my faith to my personal Tumblr blog that I keep up with religiously! I know a thing or two about blogging, therefore I believe you all are in good hands).

Fashion is all around us. What I think is so beautiful is that inspiration stems from anything. I love how the world is curated to inspire us to keep creating and expressing ourselves. You could not convince me that I looked good in chunky platform shoes until I saw a beautiful girl walking on campus wearing some; I went home and immediately ordered a pair online. Last semester one of the stylists used a necktie as a belt and I think of it every day. A close friend of mine once told me she thought the sunset was beautiful and later that night when we went out she had the same shades of pink and orange glittering on her eyelids. 

Fashion is not just about clothes, makeup, hair or where your outfit is from or how much it costs. It is about feeling comfortable in your own skin and showing off your unique personal style that YOU put together. I believe that these lines between your own personal style and what is currently trending often get muddled; how many times have you heard, “that might’ve been cute a year ago?” I know I’m guilty of saying that. However, as the way most things are, trends are ever-changing. Some stick, some are around for a week–it is impossible to predict the current trend cycles. If you like something that was popular for a week, wear it for longer than a week! 

It is a lot easier to retract and decide to not wear that outfit, but without risk comes little reward. Fashion is a hard field to establish yourself in, especially in a place like San Marcos. With all these different organizations designed to express yourself, it seems as if everyone already has everything established. It is so easy to fall down the rabbit hole of discontent with yourself when there’s other people that are doing the exact same thing as you are, but you must not let that get you down. I believe that the key to success is to stay true to yourself (which is easier said than done) and be confident in your personal style. Express what moves you or fall victim to the collective majority. When you realize that you hold the key to your success, use it! If you think fashion is calling to you, then it probably is, and the only thing you can do is answer it.

After hours of scrolling through Pinterest and Tumblr, I settled on “off duty ballerina

athleisure” as my style guide for this fall semester. I love a good pair of Lululemon athletic shorts just as much as the next girl, and paired just right with a small t-shirt works wonders. I danced all throughout high school, so for this year, I pulled inspiration from my own personal archival to bring together the pieces in my closet. With all the walking us Bobcats have to do around campus, it can get hot super quickly–it is important to keep your layers loose and light-colored! Save your all black for the winter. 

Athleisure can quickly get spun into something that it is not, as most things fashion-related go. I believe that the fundamentals of athleisure should be rooted in comfort. Some key pieces to add to your closet to achieve this “off duty ballerina athleisure” look include but are not limited to: yoga pants, tights, boleros, athletic shorts (check Depop for cheaper, higher-end brands like Lululemon or Athleta), tight-fitting shirts/tank tops, hoodies, etc. My favorite combo I have been investing in is a baby tee and biker shorts with low-waisted sweatpants on top, when I know I'm going to be in versatile environments (do not recommend this for lots of walking–even if you know you’re going to be cold in your class, stay cold!! Walking up any hill in sweatpants in August is bound to be hell). 

Lastly, I have to give an honorable mention to my go-to accessory as of late–a headband! Solid or print, doesn't matter, but it adds a perfect pop of color to your outfit. I have not found an outfit yet that a headband does not look good with. If my bangs aren't cooperating, if I’m running late, if Mercury is in retrograde, I take it as a sign from the universe to wear a headband. It’s the perfect casual accessory that will amplify your outfit, so you don't have to worry about your hair for the day!

I typically try to keep these under a thousand words, so it appears that is all I have for today! I will have a new blog entry uploaded every other Friday at 5pm, so be ready September 13th at the same place, same time!

Our first FMA meeting will be Wednesday, September 11 at 5pm. If you’ve read through this whole article, wear something cheetah print to the meeting–just so we can see who’s interested. We will also be at Org Fair in the LBJ Ballrooms on Wednesday, September 5th from 3pm-6pm if any of you have any questions in need of an answer.

Until next time, stay fierce Bobcats!!

Signing off, 

Kira Naomi Utter