It’s time to put away your maxis and flowys and time to bring out your Shabbat clothes! It’s Shabbaton time. It’s time to express yourselves with your fashion own choices (tzniusly of course) without being restricted by our school skirts. Everyone wants to look nice and picture ready, a mix of comfortable, stylish, and tznius. Here are some quick last minute tips for outfit choices: you can always add a statement necklace to a plain blouse or dress to make it a special look or wear a sweater over a short sleeve dress to make it tznius and cute! If you are looking for a place to shop, Forever 21 and Zara have some nice shirts, blouses, and skirts! Hope this helps a bit! Can’t wait to see everyones outfits!

– Leora Kroll and Remi Feintuch

This season, these back to school trends- bright/patterned laptop cases and cool notebook covers- are taking the world by storm! Here’s how you can them pull off!

1. Laptop Cases – These pieces of protection are not only good for keeping your laptops safe, but they are sure to add necessary color or design into your (often) dull school day!  We recommend getting one that is magnificently hued or fantastically patterned!
2. Cool Notebook Covers –  As notebooks are items that are used on a daily basis, it is crucial that you get really cool ones.  We advise that you get notebooks that have covers that make you happy and get you excited for your classes!

We’ve provided examples down below to give you inspiration as well as show you some of our favorite pieces.  Good Luck!!!

*A stylers tip- By the way, these two core pieces are meant to help make any school day more exciting, so choose wisely!

– Shulli Mayer and Rachel Gittler

The big question this year for many girls is: what shirt to wear with the new school skirts? Here are some options to help make getting dressed in the morning a bit easier.

There are actually a ton of options for the new skirts, and we even have the choice between three types of skirts: the Kiki Rikki skirt, the MeMe skirt, and any maxi skirt. The maxi skirts are easy and comfortable. They look good on basically everyone and you can definitely find one you like, whether it’s more fitted, flared, patterned, with a slit (that is below the knee), or without a slit. Shirts are an easy fit with this option because basically EVERY shirt can work with maxis skirts. You can go for a relaxed look and just throw on a zip-up or plane t-shirt or look a bit more put together with a collared shirt and sweater over the shirt.

For the uniform skirts, it is a bit harder to find shirts that work with them. The MeMe skirt is slightly more fitted at the top while the Kiki Riki skirt is looser. Both of these skirts would work with the same style shirts. The shirts that seem to look best with the skirts are baseball tees/Henley’s, fitted shirts, crew neck shirts, and shirts that are tighter at the bottom. With these options you should be rocking the hallways of YHS!!!!

-Leora Kroll and Remi Feintuch

As summer is approaching, it’s time to take over the beach. Since you will spending most of your time outdoors, it is necessary to have the appropriate accessories to achieve summer style perfection. First off, the right pair of sunglasses will increase your wardrobe to the max. There are a variety of sunglasses from the classic Ray Ban aviators to the retro cat-eyed floral and even heart shaped sunglasses. All of these shades will protect your gorgeous eyes from the glaring sun as well as accentuate your chilled-out vibe in which the summer creates. Once you spot the flawless pair of sunglasses, you will need a place to store them while catching some waves at the beach; hence the need for the big, wondrous beach bag. The ultimate goal of the beach bag is roominess that way all of your items from headphones to towels to flip flops have room to breathe. Also, beach bags should be colorful that way in comparison to the light colors of the sand and beach chairs, you will stand out. So, this summer it’s time to let loose and say goodbye to school and hello to the warm sun-kissed breeze of the new season.

By: Laura Flescher

Dear Modest Mili, 

I am in desperate need of sunglasses for summer, but I don’t know which shape will look best on my face. 

Please help!

Love,

Shades for days 

Dear Shades for Days,

People with oval faces are very lucky because almost all sunglass frames look good on them. People with round faces look good in rectangular or square frames because they mask the width of their cheekbones. Additionally, square and rectangular frames can make your face look longer. People with triangular faces should be very careful when choosing sunglasses. They should not wear sunglasses with large lenses because that will make their face look very small.

Much Love,

Modest Mili

Dear Modest Mili,

What is the best way to achieve those gorgeous beachy waves without having to actually go into the ocean, or even step foot on the beach? 

Thanks,

Ocean Hater 

Dear Ocean Hater,

DIY Beach Wave Hair Spray or DIY Surf Spray works great to get nice beachy waves without getting wet and salty at the beach. Another way to get beachy waves would be to twist and dry your hair from root to tips for pretty beach waves. Some people use a straightening iron to create beach waves; however, I find that time consuming and quite difficult.

Good Luck,

Modest Mili

Dear Modest Mili,

I’m so happy I can finally transfer to fun summer nail polish colors. What are the hottest new colors, and what outfits should I pair each with?

Love,

Polish Professor 

Dear Polish Professor,

Salty water happy by Essie is a light blue that works perfectly for the summer. Saltwater happy looks best when worn with a white shirt. Sunset sneaks is a pinkish/redish color, and it looks great when wearing a black or gold dress. Fiji is a color by Essie that works in every season; it is a light pink that goes with everything. Play date is a light purple by Essie that looks best when worn with a floral dress or shirt.

Xoxo,

Modest Mili

Dear Modest Mili,

I cannot wait to buy tons of summer sandals, but I cannot decide which types of sandals to wear with certain outfits. I need some clarification.

Thanks,

Sandy Sandals 

Dear Sandy Sandals,

Gladiator sandals look good with a flowy dress or skirt. Backless, flip flop sandals are great for the beach because they are easy to take on and off. Wedged open toed heel sandals look best with a nice pencil skirt.

Much Love,

Modest Mili

Now that spring is here, we can finally say goodbye to our dull browns, blacks, and grays and say hello to our pretty pastels. When it comes to springtime, you will want to incorporate these colors in as many ways as possible into your wardrobe. One accessory that comes in a wide variety of spring colors is the classic headband. Headbands are very popular and stylish because they can easily turn a bad hair day into a phenomenal one, and they can keep your hair out of your face on Florida hot days. The best thing about headbands is that the length of your hair doesn’t matter since, unlike other hair accessories, they work with every style. Also, when deciding on what to wear, you can go the sporty route and rock a headband with a bun or ponytail. You can go for a more girly, feminine look and choose a jeweled or laced headband with your loose locks. Another essential accessory for Spring 2015 that comes in all shades is the perfect purse. Purses range in all forms, from totes to cross bodies to clutches. Personally, I prefer cross bodies because they are easy to wear as opposed to other bags which you need to constantly hold. Cross bodies rest on your shoulder and carry all of your necessities without you needing to lift a finger. I feel that adding a purse to any outfit can give you a sense of sophistication and will give you an extra boost of confidence in your look. Thus, as we embrace spring with open arms, don’t shy away from these trends but rather give them a shot because who knows — these accessories could become your new go to’s!

– Laura Flescher

Dear Modest Milli,

I don’t look good in floral patterns! They just don’t work! What should I wear instead for the spring season?

Thanks,

Stripes For Life

Dear Stripes,

Floral patterns are very tricky, and not everyone seems to like them. It’s a good thing we have polkadots and other types of fun patterns. Flowers aren’t the only trend you can rock this spring. Bright colored shirts paired with a polkadot or tropical-patterned skirt can make any outfit pop!

Much love,

Modest Milli

Dear Modest Milli,

What makeup can I wear with pastel colored clothes so I don’t look washed out?

– Ghost Buster

Dear Ghost Buster,
Makeup really depends on your skin tone and eye color. If you are very pale, make sure to invest in some bronzer. But do make sure that the bronzer is not too dark – you want to look sun-kissed, not fake. Also look for certain shades like soft pinks with minimal shimmer for eye shadow and brown or moss green for eyeliner. For cheeks and lips, match your blush to your lipstick or gloss to put together a more cohesive look, and don’t forget to keep whatever color you choose soft, like a light rose or coral. Whatever you do keep it natural. You’re already making a statement with your pastel outfit, so you’re makeup should be a simple accessory.

Much Love,

Modest Milli

Dear Modest Milli,

Finding tznius dresses is really hard! Know of any places I can go to shop?

Thanks for your help,

Shopaholic

Dear Shopaholic,

Finding tznius clothes is always one of my biggest problems. Other than the stores catered specifically to religious people, finding modest clothes is a game of luck. The more high end stored tend to carry more modest clothes. However, Forever21, Anthropology, and Urban Outfitters also carry nice skirts and dresses. Don’t give up! Keep hunting!

Much Love,

Modest Milli

Dear Modest Milli,

How can I take part in the winter fashion trends while living in Florida?

-Hot and Confused  

Dear Hot and Confused,

Living in the hot Florida climate can be very tricky when it comes to winter fashion. We all want to partake in the trends, but that sometimes proves to be difficult. But remember, it doesn’t have to be below 30 degrees for you to wear a light scarf or a cute beanie. Just swap your Uggs and fuzzy socks for cute flats and you’re good to go. Mix and match lighter articles with heavier ones, so you don’t overheat! Just remember: it’s never too hot for accessories!!!

Much love,

Modest Milli

Dear Modest Milli,

How can I incorporate fashion into my school style without looking overdone?

-Stylish But Shy

Dear Shy,

Dressing fashionably is an art. Remember, less is sometimes more. If you have a very loud and expressive shirt, pair it with a plain black pencil skirt. If you want to wear a cool graphic or patterned skirt, try to wear a plain shirt that doesn’t draw away too much attention from the skirt. Also, when it comes to flashy accessories, pick one! You don’t want to waste your awesome necklace, earrings, headband, and scarf by donning all in one day! By wearing everything at once, you’re just drowning yourself in stuff. By choosing only one to showcase, you can achieve a glamorous, put-together, yet not too over-the-top look.

Keep on styling,

Modest Milli

Dear Modest Milli,

How can I follow the trends without looking like every other girl?

-I Wanna Stand Out

Dear Wanna,

Going to a school with no uniform has its perks in the sense that standing out isn’t that hard. But when every girl is wearing the same black skirt everyday, we all tend to fade into the crowd. Try adding some flare to your otherwise blah outfit by adding a chunky necklace or a cool add-on collar. If you’re not into the big statements, you can try colorful or shimmery slip-on shoes. Also scarves and headbands can transform any outfit!

Shine bright like a diamond,

Modest Milli

Storm Style: Where and when did you intern?

Emily Firestone: This summer I interned at Latitude Showroom NY which is a fashion showroom located in the fashion district of Manhattan. For the first four weeks, I was interning while also taking Business of Fashion courses at LIM College. For my last two weeks I interned full days.

SS: What exactly happens at a fashion showroom?

EF: A fashion showroom is pretty much a large room filled with organized racks of merchandise. The showroom represents different brands and clothing lines and the people who work in the showroom (called Account Executives) act as intermediaries between the designer and the buyers. Buyers make appointments to come to the showroom and the account executives present the buyers with different collections.

SS: What did you do on a day-to-day basis?

EF: Every day I did something different. Many days I was calling buyers of different retailers. I was often tasked with merchandising the different racks in the showroom to prepare for an appointment of buyers coming to make large orders. Throughout my time at the showroom, I was working on an individual project where I was researching different fashion bloggers based in New York City to try to promote the brands that the showroom represents. But each day included different adventures — some days I got to sit in on appointments and some days I got to dress the mannequins (which I always found to be so much fun!).

SS: What was it like living in NYC as a fashion intern?

EF: Interning in the fashion industry was pretty cool. Definitely a dream come true. I loved dressing up every day, dressing really fashion-forward. Seeing every step of the process, from when a garment is produced to when it hits the racks was astonishing. The intern life wasn’t as harsh as The Devil Wears Prada but it’s certainly not always glamorous.

SS: What did you learn from your experience interning at this showroom?

EF: I learned so much this summer! Being around people who work in the industry all the time, I picked up on different phrases and terms that the insiders use. I learned the right balance of professionalism and personality by observing the people around me! It was also really interesting to hear the stories of the different people I encountered and find out how they’ve gotten to where they are.

SS: In what ways did this inspire you in your pursuit of a career in fashion?

EF: Seeing the different jobs there are in the industry helped push me to where I want to be headed in my career in fashion. I aspire to be a fashion forecaster — which is someone who analyzes the high fashion runway shows, street fashion, and fashion history to predict the upcoming trends. But in order to succeed in any part of the industry, it is very important to understand all the different aspects of it.

SS: What would you suggest to other like-minded teenagers who want to start off in the fashion world?

EF: Well in my opinion, you’ve just got to start somewhere. If you can get to New York for an internship, begin your researching, emailing, and calling months in advance. You can try to get internships at major companies or publishers but also stay realistic and apply for smaller scale internships. At the showroom where I interned, the employees were so grateful to have me. The fashion industry relies on interns as extra sets of hands. Work hard and you will find an internship that’s right for you. If you can’t get to New York — or any other fashion capital filled with opportunities — get knowledgeable about the industry! Read articles, blogs, and magazines. That way, when the time comes for you to get a job in fashion, you will be well prepared. Like I said, you’ve got to start somewhere.