Here in the Philippines, usually you need to be at least 18 years old or a high school graduate to work, but in other countries you can already work part-time as early as the age of 16. 

    One of our new contributors, Selena, is currently a college student in San Francisco and works part-time in fashion retail. Besides working on her studies, she has to be able to keep up with her work schedule. It may be difficult at times but it could also be quite enjoyable. And since we're not very familiar of the work environment in a clothing store, we asked about her experience so far.

 
So what is it like working in retail? Do you have any tips?

     I am a Sales Associate/Cashier/Sorter/Fitting Room Attendant/Visual Merchandiser at Forever 21 on Powell Street, the popular tourist spot in San Francisco, California. I suppose I’m the person to ask customers if they are finding everything they want, remembering their name for payments, suggesting something with what they bought, or at least adding that touch to make the shopping experience complete. 

     When you work at a retail store, you are most likely on your feet the entire shift. You also have to be courteous to the customer even when you might not feel like it. It can get pretty hectic at times especially when the store is pretty big and also during holidays (Christmas, Black Friday, etc.). The best part in being in retail is getting to see new arrivals first, so if you like something, grab it and put it on hold! There are just some downsides of working in retail like having to go behind the customers and clean and straighten racks and tables they just messed up. Another problem is called the shopaholic disease; it is very contagious around the store especially on employees. Be careful, only buy what you need! not what you want. But one tip I have for you is regardless of where you work, make it your own, help people with what they need and they will come back. 

     Good luck!

      It's that time of the year again when different students, alumna, and other basketball fans gather in Araneta or in the MOA Arena, like spectators in a cockfight. Yes, that's right, I'm talking about the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 77! 

      If you don't know why the UAAP is such a big deal for us Filipinos, it's because it is that one time of the year where we support the universities and colleges we come/came from or want to go to, in the sport that our countrymen love. You could say that it's where we show our ultimate school spirit. On the day of the game, the arena is usually divided into two colors; this is how fans show their dedication and support for their school.

     Showing your school spirit at this time of the year has never been more important to us Filipinos. Showing school pride will be seen during the months of July to September. Students, employees, alumni, and mere fans of universities fill the streets and halls with their school's colors and seals. If you plan on going to games to cheer for your school or even when you just feel like it, here's how you can show your undying love to your alma mater while still being fashionable.

- Kim Alivia xx
collages made using polyvore.com

      Fashion before the 00's was everything we needed and more. Those generations pioneered so many trends that are still influencing how people dress today, and these were greatly shown in movies and shows through various teenage girl characters. Whether they have shopped 'til they dropped or killed a few people, somehow these characters still have impeccable taste in clothes.

       Here are some of those iconic girls with outfit ideas to match:

Sandy from Grease (1978)

Carrie from Carrie (1976)

Allison from The Breakfast Club (1985)

Veronica from Heathers (1988)

Corey from Empire Records (1995)

Cher from Clueless (1995)

Debbie from The Wild Thornberrys (1998)

Daria from Daria (1997)

- Reign Gonzales
Photo Source: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
collages made using polyvore.com

     The perennial dilemma for many girls today has always been waking up early in the morning, still half conscious to the actual existence of the real world in front of them, and deliberately excavating through their closets hoping to find a personally satisfying outfit. A pair of shorts could be a good option right? It’s hot outside. How about that wonderful crop top you just bought the other day? Seems to fit those pair of boots you’ve been dying to wear! Entering the school, you come across the most baneful of all teachers asking you change because guess what! It is not appropriate for school. What should’ve started as a gloriously sunny day has flipped so suddenly into a horrific tornado of bad luck, or probably unjust conclusion.

     Of course, this is just one side to the story of the debate over dress codes. Some people, usually those in academic councils, favor the idea of uniformity in clothing – or rather forming a set of rules that will govern the way students dress because of issues concerning distractions, modesty, and appropriateness.  

        We decided to weigh the pros and cons of dress codes in today’s society.

PROS

     Uniforms are a form of clothing that can help a perceiver identify a person to be a part of a certain group, organization, or culture. They are also  “effective symbols of codified rules and the internalization of those rules.” (Craik, 2009). These definitions in itself establishes a clear reason why it is necessary in academic institutions. Schools are places where discipline is demanded. So uniforms as being worn by students, in turn, may act as a concrete agreement signaling the student’s (or wearer’s) approval of such rules. Uniforms may also give off a sense of “equality” in that there is no pressure to look too fancy or too ragged since everybody is wearing the same thing. With dress codes, students will still understand that they are still residing in an academic institution where professionalism is still a primary focus.

     However, modesty and the avoidance of distracting clothing is still the most common idea raised by those in favor of dress codes. There are individuals who deem some pieces of women’s clothing as “too distracting” to their male schoolmates. According to Changing Fashion: A Critical Introduction to Trend Analysis and Meaning, “Ellis and Symons (1990) found that “men are more likely to view others as the objects of their sexual desires, whereas women are more likely to view themselves as the objects of sexual desire” (Lynch & Strauss, 2007).  So to solve this “dilemma”, students are often required to wear clothes that do not reveal too much skin. Moreover, in an article (High School Dress Code: The Battle for Keeping Up Appearances by Noelle Swan), Jean Kilbourne said that “while a girl’s choice attire does not grant anyone permission to assault her, it does impact on the way other’s perceive her”.

CONS

     Dress codes are oppressive to a certain point, especially to female students. They restrict freedom of expression to begin with. Although yes, schools try to mold their students into becoming well-rounded, decent, and professional individuals, destroying the mere individuality of their students dissolves the goodness of their goals. Most people disregard the fact that schools are still a place where one not only grows mentally/physically, but also emotionally on a personal level. The idea of what seems to be modest or immodest varies for every person, so setting a basis or set of rules that will restrict people into clothing themselves with whatever they want is oppressive, one-sided, and politically abusive.

     With regards to the issue that some women’s apparel are distracting, Ruthan Robson relayed in an article (High School Dress Code: The Battle for Keeping Up Appearances by Noelle Swan) that this idea “First implies that all boys are heterosexual, and also that girls bear the responsibility for how boys act and respond to their sexuality”. It is quite unfair that women cannot dress the way they want to out of fear or blame that their male peers would do something inappropriate. It is also unfair that some of those who favor dress codes immediately generalize all boys to be incapable of controlling bad behavior that may lead to rape and other incidents of the same sort. In this aspect, dress codes promote the rape culture, as well as slut-shaming. Why are women often burdened to strictly change what is innately beautiful for them while men aren’t strictly told to change for the benefit of women?

     Another point: some dress codes are simply impractical, or worse, are downright ridiculous. Why will you ask your students to wear long sleeved blouses and long skirts when it’s a hundred degrees outside? 

✿Bea Ticsay✿
Sources
Craik, J. (2009). Fashion: the key concepts. Oxford: Berg.
Lynch, A., Strauss, M. (2007). Changing fashion: a critical introduction to trend analysis and meaning. Oxford: Berg.
1 | 2 
Photo Sources 1 | 2 | 3 

The Schedule

     This may be a bit tricky considering that school work will already occupy more than half of your brain and you won't even be able to remember your own birthday but try to recall when you last wore something. Because after a while, people won't even remember that you own a peach blouse or what day you wore it on. It would be smart to repeat an item 2 months after you initially used it but this rule is still flexible and we'll explain why later. If you're planning on wearing the exact same outfit (meaning the exact same shoes + bottoms + top combo) then I suggest you wait for about 3-4 months.


Season After Season

     There might be an unwritten rule on only using seasonal pieces for the right season (eg: never using your fall jacket during the spring time) but actually, it's very savvy chic to break this rule. The Philippines may only experience two seasons but this is still very much applicable. For example, if you have a sweater that you normally only use during the cold months with jeans and flats, you can still wear it during the warmer months by paring the item with shorts and some sandals. It's not about when you wear it, it's about how you wear it.

The General Rule

     Mix and match your clothes so that they won't look the same. That's all there is to it. 



- Victoria Urrutia
click photos for sources

      Do you ever just look back on how you were in elementary or high school and remember how ridiculous you dressed? Some might blame their parents for picking out their clothes back then but we all have made quite unique fashion choices back in the day. It’s safe to admit that we all kind of dressed weird in the 00’s, especially when every year there was a new trend in school. Everyone wanted to join in on the fads and soon enough, these trends became an epidemic to pre-teens and teenagers.

     Here are some trends you might remember from your younger school days:

     Before the term “Jejemon” was even coined, shutter shades were what kids were raving about. They come in all sorts of colors and sizes. Kanye West probably started this trend but for real, who looks good in shutter shades except for Yeezus himself? Come to think of it, the sole purpose of these were just to make you look cool. Other than that, they’re pretty useless.

     I am way beyond guilty with this trend. These were popular especially to those who were in a alternative/pop punk band phase. There’s nothing more fun than showing your love for your favorite band by wearing a nice ass bracelet with their name on it. What’s cooler is that no one cares if you covered your whole arm with these, that just makes you an even more hardcore fan.

     These bracelets were once popular in the 80’s but came back around in the early 00’s. Rumors quickly spread that these are actually what some call “sex bracelets” and every color had a specific meaning to them. And if someone else breaks your bracelet, you have to do whatever the color of it indicates you to do with that person. This is in no way true, though. In the end, jelly bracelets are just another fashion trend.

Here are the rumored meanings of each color if you’re interested in knowing: x

     I have no idea why everyone had sneakers like these back then. Luckily, I never asked my parents to buy me a pair. I do remember kids showing these off whenever there was a casual day or whenever they were feeling extra rebellious and would wear them in P.E. class. It’s like the more outrageous your sneakers are, the better. I also feel like these are the kind of shoes people who dance hip-hop would wear. So either everyone was enrolled in a hip-hop class back then or everyone pretended to be. 

     These are still pretty popular today, but do you remember those ones with the really weird print on them? Even if your school didn’t have air-conditioning, you’d still try to make your hoodie work. And don’t deny that you always got excited whenever you had computer class, because that meant your newly bought hoodie, which you’ve been dying to show off, would somehow be useful for about 45 minutes of the day.

     What better way to stand out than wearing bright colored pants? Some of you might remember forcing your mom to buy you tons of jeans in different colors whenever she goes to Divisoria or the department store. Of course with a pair of bold bottoms, you’d balance the outfit out with a white or black plain top, and with what shoes? Your chunky shoes from Zoo York, of course.

What trends do you remember when you were in elementary school? 


- Reign Gonzales
click on photos for source

     Not too sure on what to really bring everyday? Or maybe you're just sick of always having a messy school bag. Well then worry no more, because here are some guidelines regarding your school bag. Remember that these are merely suggestions so if you have any more tips, comment them below!

The Bag

     Invest in a good school bag. That might mean spending a few more bucks than you usually would, but it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to go all out either. Brands like Jansport, Herschel, and Crumpler are great since they're heavy duty (which means that you won't have to worry about your bag straps snapping) but at the same time, they're still very stylish. Try and stay away from some fashion backpacks since they're probably more focused on aesthetics rather than quality, and you don't want that for your school bag. 

Backpacks

• YAY: you'll be able to bring anything and everything that you need without bringing an extra bag.
  
• NAY: it will entice you to bring more than what you actually need.

Oversized shoulder bags

• YAY: easy to carry and access items.
  
• NAY: a big no-no if you have back problems.
  

Canvas tote bags

• YAY: the lighter matierial means a lesser load plus it'll be easy to wash and dry.
  
• NAY: again, carrying a heavy bag on one side is really bad for your back.
  

The Essentials

     Remember that you're going to an academic institution to learn so only bring what you absolutely need. These things will get you through your school day without having to lug around an entire suitcase.

• NEVER EVER FORGET YOUR WALLET AND ID.
  
• Invest in a good umbrella and make sure you take care of it. It might seem useless in high school but trust me, a good quality umbrella will save your life in college.
  
• Fillers/thin notebooks or a binder will do the job since note taking is very important but you only really need a few pages.
  
• A planner will be your best friend in college since professors rarely remind you about deadlines and schedules. iPad and iPhone calendars work, but nothing beats an old school day planner.
  
• Your pencil case should include: 2 black or blue pens, 1 red pen, at least 2 pencils, highlighters, paper clips or holdback clips, scissors, and correction tape/fluid.
  
• Most people take grooming kits for granted but this is probably the most important part of your school bag. Check out Marian's Beauty article on what you should have in yours.
  
• A water bottle will not only save the environment but it will also save your wallet when you need a drink after running around the campus.
  

The Way

     Now that you have the items that you need, the question is how will you organize everything?

• DO spend a few minutes organizing your bag the night before so you won't stress out or forget anything in the morning.
  
• DON'T dump everything in your bag, because it will only give you a hard time finding something and you might even break something.
  
• DO have an accordion folder/envelope or even a large flat pouch to keep all your handouts and papers clean and neat.
  
• DON'T leave your water bottle, trash or snacks overnight in your bag.
  
• DO only bring the assigned books or readings for the day to lessen the load of your bag.
  

- Victoria Urrutia
click photos for source

     I am a magnet of uncertainty - lets just put it at that for the moment. When given the option to choose between two colors, I flash an unsettling grin, stare at the options for quite a significant span of moment, awkwardly shrug and say “I prefer any.” When given the option to choose between two school bags, one military-inspired, the other a blue handbag, I once again stare undecidedly for the longest time. What do I even choose? I mean, I am supposed to stay with this bag for a couple years or so, so okay I have to choose a really good one right? ….So which one???? Call this attitude too “aesthetically-conscious”,  or just the cold case of “hugot”, I often had apprehensions about my choices and the mere action of choosing. I worried about not being able to appreciate something for a long time, I worried about choosing what is wrong, I worried about reaping unkind consequences from my choices. Even by the smallest, seemingly insignificant of all things, I often worried. So I guess it seems predictable that once I was faced with the business of choosing a course to take up in college, I was one of the millions who knew nothing of what they wanted – or rather, one of the millions who convinced themselves to deny what they wanted.

     I’ve always been interested with the idea of fashion and as a young girl, I’d dress up my dolls, buy the quirkiest of all things girly, and after learning the basics of cross-stitching in 3rd grade, do my own versions at home. All these things enveloped me like second skin so I never seemed to consider it as “career”. When asked as a child what I wanted to be, I screamed veterinarian, or chemical engineer! Come the end of middle school, I stopped dressing my dolls, stopped cross stitching, and eventually, was washed from the idea that a legitimate career in fashion was feasible - but somewhere at the back of my mind there lingered this faint belief that it was still in the bounds of reality.

     When senior year finally stepped in, I took a leap of faith, and wrote a course related to fashion holding, then slowly releasing that meager possibility that I could pass into the course. When I finally was accepted into an esteemed university with the course of BS Clothing Technology, I became grateful beyond words! First day came in and as any freshman would feel, I was distraught by the idea of tripping in front of my new college mates, humiliating myself in front of the prof., or at worst being in the wrong classroom. Thank the Almighty the only bad thing that happened to me was being (reasonably) tardy. College, is yes, a totally different world from high school. But upon meeting students from the upper class coming from my course who openly stated millions of reasons why my course is the best course, I lost the feeling of being lost, of being a fish out of water, so to speak. I suddenly was filled with this rare feeling of belonging, of finally doing something proper. I was excited to jump into a choice I made.

     Am I still afraid of my future? Well of course I am. The future is the haven of all things uncertain. But what’s keeping me driven to get past these fears is the dream of one day waking up and professing that this is where I choose to belong, and that is for certain. 


✿Bea Ticsay✿
click photo for source

     When you're required to wear uniforms, standing out and being able to express yourself through your clothes may be a challenge - but not entirely impossible. Here is a list of some of the articles of clothing and accessories that you can easily modify when your school uniform is just too plain for your taste:

     
      What I loved about the "sweater weather" before was that I could try out all my sweaters that I barely use because I live in a tropical country.  It would dominate your uniform. Plus points if your PE bottoms would match. You could go to the mall without changing anymore.

     
     My school wasn't strict with the bracelets on our wrists. Don't wear the all out bangles and really noisy charm bracelets that will surely distract your teacher and your classmates. Loombands, friendship bracelets, a Cruciani one (which I love) would be awesome.

     
     I'm not telling you to go buy a really a expensive pair of glasses just to spice up your school uniform. But I do know some people who do wear glasses just for the heck of it. If you'd like, buy some fake and cheap ones. I'm pretty sure the school doesn't restrict their students from wearing certain glasses, just as long as they aren't that outrageous.

     Earrings are also one of the few things that you can control when you're required to wear a uniform. Most schools only allow stud earrings but don't fret - adorable stud earrings are literally being sold everywhere in sets of 2 to 20. You can even try to wear a mismatched pair for added uniqueness.

     
     Black leather shoes may be the mandatory pair of shoes for all the schools that require uniforms, but no one said that the Mary Janes is the mandatory design. The black leather shoes comes in all shapes and sizes (oxfords, flats, loafers, moccasins, etc) and as long as it doesn't have an outrageous design and you follow the heel height requirement, you're pretty much free to wear anything!

- Anna Cayco and Marian Plaza
click photos for sources

     
     There is always that alluring prestige that comes from receiving an education. The skills acquired while studying in school bring an individual thousand steps up to the ladder of social recognition and career development. With the business of fashion being as lucrative and as competitive as ever, receiving an education from the most prestigious institutions of all is the key to success, but is a road full of hard and precious work. Read on and see where some of the top designers were schooled before they got big!

Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, Kings Cross, London N1C 4AA, United Kingdom

66 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011

200 Willoughby Ave, New York, NY 11205, United States

✿Bea Ticsay✿
sources: 1 | 2 | 3 
photo sources:
central saint martins 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 
parsons 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 
pratt institute 1 | 2