As consumers, we all have our "go to" brands. Whether that be J.Crew, Patagonia, or whatever, we all fall into the trap of shopping within our comfort zone. Trust me, I fall into "pattern" as well. It hasn't been until recently that I came to the realization that my closet is too homogeneous. For someone with an abundance of clothes, I find myself staring blankly into my closet looking for something to wear (this is more so on the weekends or dressing up for certain occasions). I try and figure out why this is, and can never seem to find a logical conclusions. That is, until recently.
Despite all of the current trends and collection pieces that I own, I still find my wardrobe to be kind of bland. But, now, I realize why this is. I fall into the trap of buying clothes that I feel comfortable purchasing. I seem to use the excuse that an item is "practical" or "I'll wear this way more frequently than I will that other sweater (the one with plaid and a hood)." Or, on a more macro level, I'll go into J.Crew or the Gap when looking for something new. This, however, is the problem. I need to branch-out of my typical shopping patterns and begin to buy items that I don't have. Items that cannot even be considered "similar" to something else in my closet.
This is what I am urging others to do as well. I'm not saying that you have to spend more money than you normally would, but just seek out different brands, ones that you would normally look past. I feel that this is a great way to keep your wardrobe looking fresh and exciting at all times. Saving you from that moment where no matter what you put on, it will just look the same anyways. And, with the holiday season upon us, this is the perfect time to ask for something bold. Something that will have you standing out in the crowd when second semester rolls around.
--Michael Bloom
I love the biker feel with the studs and buckles. I don't have anything like them. 
So, the holidays are creeping up fast. What better way to celebrate than with a ugly sweater holiday party? It's become somewhat of a college tradition; almost like a competition of who can find the best ugly Christmas sweater. I always find myself at a mad dash to find something fun to wear and I normally have more than one holiday party to go to so I never want to repeat the same sweater twice. Last year I randomly decided to search ebay.com and I hit the jackpot! As I started the type into the search box "ugly..." the drop down menu filled it in for me, "ugly Christmas sweater". I instantly got excited, I guess I should have thought that ebay would have a market for this kind of fashion. Right now there are almost 5,000 different ugly sweaters to choose from. They offer all different styles of styles from turtlenecks to v-necks to cardigans, almost anything you can imagine. Some are simple and some go overboard with funkiness. Some even have bells that jingle as you walk. The more creative you get the more fun you will have celebrating the holidays before Christmas break. You don't want to be the one at the party in a boring red turtleneck because you couldn't find an ugly sweater. There is no such excuse with what ebay has to offer!
Another cool thing on Last.fm is the events. Based on your area and what you have been listening to, Last.fm will create a list of events in your area including all the artists you like. Its a great, easy way to find out what shows are playing nearby.
