Fashion Advice from the Finest Fellas

I'm currently have a column in William and Mary branch of Her Campus Magazine, called "Campus Couture".  Her Campus is an online magazine with over 20 branches across the nation, which means LOTS of juicy articles and helpful tips for college girls on here.  Her Campus has become one of my favorite ways to procrastinate.  Each week I try to write an article for my fashion column, "Campus Couture".  Over the past three weeks I've had a series of 3 articles where I interview the hottest guys on my campus about our fashion, hair, make-up, etc.  It's been so much fun.  Here is the final article in the series.  Enjoy!!!

http://www.hercampus.com/school/wm/campus-couture-fashion-advice-finest-fellas 

XOXO, Dyl

Picture Perfect Love: Don't you want this?

This photograph completely inspires me. I picture this couple walking on the beach in Malibu, California.  After spending the day in the sun, surfing, throwing the football, and playing in the waves, they're taking a little sunset stroll.  Soon they'll be meeting up with their friends for a bonfire on the beach.  It's cooled off a bit, but he will keep her warm.  They will make smores, have a few drinks, and she will sit in his lap while he rubs her leg. I'm not going to go any further with this hahaha. But seriously... Who doesn't want this?  Don't kid yourself. 

8 Songs I'm Loving

Recently the weather has been gorgeous, and I've been able to get off campus with my baby (VW bug), windows down, sunglasses on, and blasting a few of my favorites.  It's such a free feeling. I love spring. 

Rude Boy- Rihanna
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITU_tPwTdFo 
Cyclone- Baby Bash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXnBjpzRTco
Out Here Grindin- DJ Dhaled
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U--thvgbSAM 
Need You Now- Lady Antebellum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB7T3lJ3dZ4

Imma Be- Black Eyed Peas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOPJ8sgom_k 

Replay- Iyaz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXxV9g7lsFE
Shake It Off- Mariah Carey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvqOfUvY-9k
Last Name- Carrie Underwood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vwkQp2m9Bo

Also loving Christian artists such as David Crowder Band, Joel Hanson, Chris Tomlin, Brian Littrel (the ex backstreet boy) and the Jonas Brothers (come on, they're Christians).

XOXO, Dylan

5 Tips for Wearing a Speedo, the Right Way.

Swimsuit season is upon us!  For all my guy readers who are tempted to try out this look, there is only one right way to do it- James Bond style.

1. Lift weights. Then lift some more.

2. Boyshort style, NOT bikini style.

3. Tone down gorilla-esque body hair.

4. Work on your tan. 

5. Give sexy stares... not insecure glances.

XOXO, Dyl

Ballet-Inspiration & My Future Daughters: Vogue Paris.

An excerpt from French Vogue....My future daughters.  Even if they are not dancers I will dress them like dancers. 

XOXO, Dylan

5 Life Tips: Deodorant marks, Tanning, and More!

1. Deodorant on your shirt?  Save yourself the huge water spot.  Instead of scrubbing with soap and water and hoping that it's all gone when it dries, use a pair of tights or nylons, and just rub it (without water).  It will come off super fast.  Guys- a sponge with a rough side works just as well :)
2. Maximize your tan.  Postpone a shower until at least 6 hours after you've been in the sun to give your tan time to fully develop.  It makes a huge difference.
3. Powerade Zero... the zero calorie sports drink.  Carbonated drinks make you feel full and not exactly bikini-ready.  This drink is sooo good- try the blue and the pink ones.
4. SPF 30 on questionable moles or freckles.  This always alleviates my worries about getting skin cancer.  I just put a dot of spf-30 sunscreen on the freckles that freak me out.
5. Don't bring your laptop to the beach.  I was at Jamestown beach on friday afternoon and I saw a few students attempting to type papers on their laptops.  You're basically asking to ruin your computer.  Sand and computer keyboards don't mix.  Take a day off! Enjoy the beach! "Purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka".

XOXO, Dyl

9 Trends at Forever21 this Spring

Last night I went to a brand new Forever21 in Hampton, VA.  Inside a single store, it had all of the merchandise from Forever21, Heritage, Love21, Faith21, and Forever21 for men (who knew this even existed!?). This store was HUGE! From feminine florals to racy rompers, I definitely noticed a few themes going on this spring.

1. Feminine Florals.  Florals are everywhere.  These patterns scream, or should I say, politely announce, "I'm a girly girl!".

2. Sassy Sequins.  Avoid looking like a disco ball by keep them in moderation or wearing this look at night.  It's all about the shimmer and shine.

3. Rosy Rosettes.  This is one of my favorite trends.  It adds an extra dimension to your outfits.  Keep jewelry simple to avoid looking overdone.

4. Military-Inspired. Support our troops, and now, dress like our troops. This trend is great, especially if you like to have a hard-edge to your look.  It's a great alternative to leather in your quest to be a little bit badass.

5. Flirty Fringe.  Fringe makes me want to shimmy my shoulders and shake my booty...I'm not sure why.    I'd suggest using this trend in moderation.  You don't want to look like you walked straight out of the Great Gatsby.

6. Naughty Neon.  If you're one that likes to be noticed, this trend is for you.  Forever21 had an entire neon clothing section, as well as plenty of neon swimwear.

7. Cool Crochet.  Most of the shrugs, cardigans, and sweaters had a crotchet detail.  Super chic and allows a nice little breeze through on those hot and humid days.

8. Breezy Tops.  These are the tops that have basically no-shape. They hang off of your shoulders and hit your lower waist.  I'm somewhat perplexed because they are not especially flattering when worn alone... unless you are pregnant. If you decide to jump on this trend, try tucking it into a high-waisted skirt or pair of shorts.

9. Racy Rompers.  Very Sexy.  If you have a small bladder, these are not for you (difficult to get on/off).   Also, the rompers at Forever21 are made for people with short torsos...aka if you are tall, they will give you a wedgie. Trust me.

XOXO Dylan

6 Stunning, Memorable Ralph Lauren Ads

I LOVE Ralph Lauren Advertisements.  They use such beautiful photography and color.  It's very All-American, yet high-fashion and classy.  I always tear them out of fashion magazines and put them on my inspiration board.  **The ones from O Magazine (Oprah) are the best quality I have found because they're larger and the paper is the perfect thick, glossy texture. ** Here are some of my FAVORITES.

I LOVE the blue tone-on-tone look. Great for marketing Polo "BLUE" Cologne. Side Note: Best Man Smell Ever. 

Isn't she the cutest thing? I love her distressed denim. You rarely see it on the little ones.

Ralph Lauren Children's Ads are my favorite.  They combination of adorable children and vivid colors gets me every time.  I think it's their facial expressions that really draw me in.

It feels like this guy is about to serve a tennis ball...and then go make-out with his girlfriend who is watching on the side-lines. 

The black-on-black look is really intriguing. 

Such realistic images.. This one is too precious.

This right here says "SEXY NERD"...(if there is such a thing).

Let me know if you're a fan of these too.

XOXO, Dylan

Mascara Reviews: L'Oreal, Maybelline, and Cover Girl

Alright, so I'm definitely a mascara girl.  If I had to choose to wear only one product, it would be mascara, hands down.  I find that it makes the biggest difference in a girl's overall make-up look.  It can take you from "I just rolled out of bed" to "I'm ready to party".  People often ask me what mascara I use, so I thought I would review a few that I've tried. Disclaimer: I'm not trying to offend people who don't wear make-up.

L'Oreal Teloscopic 
If you want clear separation this is for you. It makes lashes almost feathery, but it does nothing to thicken or substantially lengthen.  It's very subtle, so if you are looking to thicken your lashes you will need a few coats.  Also, the wand is pretty flimsy so you need to be pretty careful.

CoverGirl VolumeExact 
This was great for thickening and lengthening, yet it sucked for separation.  The wand was nice and sturdy, but the applicator made the product clump easily.  While I needed only one coat,  I would have to run though my lashes with a clean tester wand (pick them up for free at Sephora) afterwards in order to de-clump them.

Maybelline Great Lash 

This mascara is TERRIBLE. I know it's one that many people use, so I don't want to light a fire under any haters, but personally, I feel that it's one of the worst choices out there.  I found it to be clumpy, a poor consistency, and overall not a good investment.  While it's signature lime green and hot pink tube may seem attractive, it just masks a dark, globby mess.

CoverGirl LashExact 
This was another one of the first mascaras that I tried.  It was my favorite mascara for about two years.  It did a slightly above-satisfactory job of lengthening, thickening, and separating.  I needed about two coats to get the look I wanted. The small tube is very easy to carry around and it the color is just-so-cute!

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Blasting 

This is my FAVORITE mascara right now.  It's the best for separation and lengthening.  I use about two coats to get the perfect thickness.  I lovelovelove this because you never get clumps.  And the wand is even sturdy enough to give a person with Tourettes a steady hand.

Get out there and bat those flirty lashes!

XOXO, Dylan

Trending Colors: Navy and Pink

This is a fabulous color combination for spring.  It creates a pseudo-nautical look that's still very feminine.  It's less harsh than the pink and black combination, popular in the early 2000's, which hinted towards the punk, Avril Lavigne image.  The pink and navy combination looks great with brown, silver, and gold accents (i.e. belts, shoes, jewelry). I saw this adorable dress while shopping in South Beach last week.

XOXO, Dylan

10 Lessons Learned from Spring Break 2010

Spring Break 2010 = SO FUN. We hit up Fort Myers Beach, Naples, and South Beach, Miami. Here are a few lessons I learned:

1. Never share your deodorant with a guy. Their armpits shed.
2. McDonalds has free wi-fi internet. It's also a great excuse to get one of their 150 calorie reduced-fat ice cream cones.
3. After packing your bag, take out half of your clothes. Realistically, you will only wear about half of what you brought.  The extra room allows for ample shopping.
4. Take pictures. Photos are the best way to remember things, and they're so pretty to look when you get back home and it's 30 degrees.
5. If everyone else is doing it, it's okay. This refers to my experience walking around shops and the like in Fort Myers Beach, wearing nothing but my pony-patterned Ralph Lauren bikini.  I felt like I was doing something wrong, until I looked around, and everyone else was half naked too.
6. Never leave food out on the beach. As I was about to bite into a granola bar, a seagull swooped down and snatched it right from my hand.  Over the next hour I watched seagulls steal a lady's sandwich and devour a bag of chips.
7. Pink and Navy. This is a great color combination.  In one of my next blogs I'm going to highlight some of the fabulous fashions I saw in South Beach.
8. Sneak into hotels. It's really fun to check out the hotels in South Beach.  My favorite is the Fontainebleau.  It recently hosted the Victoria's Secret Fashion show, is the home to Nicole Richie's jewelry store, and is a favorite getaway for a number of hot celebrities. Check it out.
9. Broccoli and Catalina Dressing = Best Combo.  Eat it like carrots and dip. So good. And healthy too.
10. Never pose like a porn star on the beach.... especially if you are over 30. See below...

Alright, back to reality for me.

XOXO, Dylan

College Campus Cuties

Check out an article I wrote for Her Campus Magazine. It's part 1 of 3 articles.  I wanted to interview guys around my campus about what the REALLY think of girls' fashions.  In my next articles I will cover topics such as make-up, hair, favorite clothing pieces on girls, and general advice. Check out these hotties!

http://www.hercampus.com/school/wm/campus-couture-tips-fellas 

Enjoy ;)

XOXO, Dylan

9 Tips for Growing Your Hair Out

Before and after. It's a continuous process.

Do you wish your hair would grow faster?  Do you get sick of the waiting around?  Don't you just want it to grow like 6 inches over night?  Yes, Yes, and YES!
I've been trying to grow my hair out ever since about 9th grade.  Whenever I feel like it might have grown, I have to get a trim to get rid of the split ends.  Then I've practically trimmed off everything that I've worked so hard to grow.  My hair never seemed to get below my shoulders.  This sparks hopelessness and frustration.
However, in the past year and a half, since I've been to college, my hair has grown dramatically, and I've created a list of tips to achieve this dramatic growth.
1. Have a goal.  Have a freckle or some other check point for you to compare your hair length to.  It will help you see how far you have gotten and how much further you have to go.  My goal is for my hair to reach below my boobs.
2. Skip Shampooo. Since I have curly hair, I cannot use shampoo because it will dry out my hair and make the ends break off.  I only use conditioner when I wash my hair.  Also, I never wash the conditioner out.  The only time I use shampoo is before I blow dry and straighten it- you want to get rid of any product build up.
3. Use a deep conditioning treatment 1x a week.  I use a leave-in oil treatment or Aussie 3 Minute Miracle.  I leave it in overnight, and it works!!!
4. Wash your hair every other day.  Hair is weakest and most prone to breakage when it's wet.  Every other day, put it up or wrap it in a towel while you shower.  I noticed that it was much healthier after just 1 week.
5. If you're going to use a hair gel... always make sure that you put conditioner on your ends first (for curly hair).  Let the conditioner almost dry before you put gel in your hair.  Once hair gel dries, it prevents any moisture from reaching your hair, leaving it dry, brittle, and prone to breakage over time.  If you put conditioner  on the ends first, it will lock in the moisture.
6. Never use super hot water. Hot water increases breakage.  Turn down the temp before you wash your hair.  It's worth the goosebumps.
7. Trim only when necessary.  If you wear your hair straight, split ends will be more noticeable, and you may need a trim more often.  However, with curly hair, I can get away with getting a trim, or dusting, once every 3 months.  This is necessary because I'm not in Minnesota often, and the only hair stylist I trust is Shayla from Rocco Altobelli in Minnetonka.  She is amazing!
8. Minimize the use of hot tools.  They fry your hair and make the ends break off.  If you want to straighten your hair, skip the blow drying and let it air dry overnight with hair ties banded around the length of a pony tail it to keep it straight.  Eliminating the blow dryer will also make the strands smoother when straight (if you're a curly girl).  When using a flat iron, don't hold it in one spot for too long, move quickly and smoothly. Going over one piece of hair 2 times quickly is better than 1 time slowly.
9. Biotin.  This is my newest trick.  Go to Target and buy a bottle of Biotin supplement pills for only about $1.75 for a month's supply.  They are proven to make your hair and nails grow long, healthy, and fast.  My hair stylist, Shayla, has seen this do wonders on her clients.  For such a small price, it's worth a try.

Pray for patience.

XOXO, Dylan

What Do I Do When Life Gets Tough? Retail Therapy

So recently, there has been some shocking, tragic things come up in my family that I found out about when I arrived home on Thursday.  While I don't believe in using shopping as a way to cope, I do believe that taking care of yourself plays a big part in feeling better and staying positive.
I'm going to be flying to Florida tonight, and throughout the week I'll be visiting Fort Myers, Naples, and Miami.  I can't wait to shop on the strip at South Beach and also at Florida's Biggest Flea Market in Fort Myers.  What I love about shopping in South Beach and at the Flea Market is that you find things that are not sold anywhere else.  You go back home with one-of-a-kind pieces that no one else has.
It's really funny to me when people go on vacation and walk away with snow-globe souvenirs, key-chains, and those 5 dollar shirts that are screen-printed with "I Love Florida".  Unless you're trying to build a collection of shot glasses, souvenir shops seem like a waste.  I'd rather come away from vacation with something that I would use.  This week I'm on the lookout for a hot-pink bikini and fun sandals.  Wish me luck!

XOXO, Dylan

New Favorite Nail Color: You Don't Know Jacque by OPI

For my friend's wedding yesterday, I used this fabulous nail color that the make-up artist had called "You Don't Know Jacques" by OPI.

1. It is a fabulous bronzy brown that makes your skin appear to have an instant glowing tan.

2. Its neutral tone makes it work well with any outfit.

3. I think that this darker color is going to be very popular this spring and summer.

4. It's not as harsh as the current trends of black and navy polish.

5. The make-up artist who referred me to this color said that it was her most referred color.

6. Layer a light gold top coat over it to make it ultra bronzy.

7. BUY THIS!

XOXO, Dylan

My Best Friend's Wedding!

They're married!!! Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Backes had a lovely ceremony and a fun-filled reception, complete with live goldfish in the table centerpieces, lots of sparkle, and lots of free-spirited family and friends dancing together.
Sarah has been one of my best friends since about 5th grade, so it was hard to not feel like I was losing a friend. But in reality, I'm not losing a friend, I'm gaining another friend, Brandon, who happens to make my friend, Sarah, the happiest girl in the world.  It's the ultimate blessing.  I will be praying for them both as they start out on this new journey. Praise God for a wonderful union.

More pictures to come on facebook :)

XOXO, Dylan

6 Bridesmaid Hair Up-do Ideas

Sarah and Brandon's wedding is tomorrow and instructions were to have a low bun of some sort.  Here are some ideas I have..... we'll see what works out.

Wish me luck.

XOXO, Dylan

The September Issue

Relax, it's Spring Break!  Maybe you feel like indulging in your fashion obsession and going on a shopping spree, but would rather not drop the $$$.  A cheaper fix: I would suggest renting "The September Issue"!  This is the real life "The Devil Wears Prada".  Anna Wintour, Editor in Chief of Vogue, and Grace Coddington, Creative Director of Vogue, tag team throughout this pseudo-documentary about the making of Vogue's September Issue, also known as the "fashion bible".  Relax, I'm not promoting blasphemy.

" I think what I often see is that people are frightened of fashion and that, because it scares them or makes them feel insecure, they put it down.  On the whole, people may say demeaning things about our world- I think that's usually because they feel in some ways excluded or not part of the cool group, so as a result they just mock it.... There is something about fashion that can make people very nervous."- Anna Wintour

Happy Spring Break. XOXO, Dylan

10 Tips to Get Style Like Lauren Conrad.

Lauren Conrad is one of my absolute favorite style icons, especially for spring and summer.  This California beauty knows exactly how to keep it sweet and sophisticated, with a dash of sexy.  Let's see what tips we can take from Miss Conrad this spring.

1. Look sophisticated in black and white. This combination is classic, sexy, and looks great with a tan.  The black skinny belt is the perfect touch.

2. Travel in style. Lauren shows us how to be comfortable yet sophisticated.  Here she combines navy and black- no longer a fashion faux paux!

3. Invest in skirts.  When worn at the natural waist line with a tank top tucked in, you get the look of a dress with the versatility of combining different tops and skirts.  

4. Chanel Purse. LC has been getting a TON of use out of this purse.  I'm not suggesting dropping all that $$$, but take inspiration from the chain shoulder strap. 

5. Mix loose and tight. A looser top with a closer fitting bottom gives a sexy silhouette. Instant Kim Kardashian booty. 

6. Loosen up the librarian bun. It takes that sexy librarian look to the next level. 

7. The short-sleeved frock dress.  I feel like college students can easily pull off this look for class.

8. Love this hair style.  It's really sexy and sleek, yet a little undone with side-swept bangs.  It's great for showing off highlights and giving your hair dimension.

9. Shorts with heels.  If you're going to wear short shorts, you want your legs to look their best. Heels give your bum an extra lift and make your legs look miles longer and hundreds-of-lunges more toned.

10. Not practical for rainy days, but who cares, it's such a classy look. The fit on this dress is fantastic.  It covers just enough and accentuates what it is supposed to. Well done, LC.

XOXO, Dylan