Fashion and Film: Stylish Ideas for Halloween Costumes

Halloween at college is generally filled with the pressure for young women to dress up as "slutty [insert occupation]."  But who wants to be limited to the usual crew of firefighters and nurses?  Scarlet Style offers some fashionable alternatives from our favorite films for those who dare to stand out in the crowd.

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1.  Rachel, played by Sean Young in Blade Runner

Rachel, a human-type robot known as a replicant, completely owns the retro-futuristic style of Ridley Scott's Blade Runner.  To channel her neo-femme fatale look, don a black dress with heavy shoulder pads and put your hair back in a prim bun.  To finish the look, carry a cigarrette holder and wear heavy red lipstick. 

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2. Marie Antoinette, played by Kirsten Dunst in the film of the same name

Marie Antoinette was the original material girl--her penchant for dresses, shoes, and wigs was extraordinary.  While this costume requires extra effort (a dress and powdered wig), Rutgers is sure to be in awe of you.  Another idea is to gather several friends to also dress in period costume, to serve as the "royal court."

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3. Patricia, as played by Jean Seberg in Breathless

For a more easygoing costume, adopt the joie de vivre of Patricia, the female lead in Jean-Luc Godard's New Wave film Breathless.  Patricia's style is easygoing as she and boyfriend Michel are on the run from the cops.  All you need is a pair of dark skinny pants, flats, and a tee shirt which bears the logo of the New York Herald Tribune (available online).  Easy, non?

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4. Trinity, as played by Carrie-Anne Moss in The Matrix trilogy

For those who want a "tougher" Halloween costume, consider the style of Trinity.  The badass from the future wears black like its going out of style, often in the form of leather and PVC.  To replicate her look, simply don an all-black, leather-heavy ensemble, slick your hair back, and sport a pair of sunglasses. 

--ZS

Modern Gothic--Outside Scott, College Ave

Silvana  Ostafi

Boots--Frye, Dress--Shopbop, Vest--Target 

Designers Discuss: Monica Lee

As part of our organization's mission, Scarlet Style aims to find and interview creative-minded Rutgers students who have an avid interest in fashion. Monica Lee, a senior at Rutgers, spends her spare time designing and creating clothes for herself and her friends. We can't thank her enough for creating time out of her busy schedule to have an email correspondence with us. Check out the interview below!

1. How did you first become interested in fashion design?

I first became interested in fashion design because my mom sewed a lot, so I started to make purses at a young age. Then, at school, someone stole the first purse that I made. Upset but determined, I wanted to make purses and other things that were different and personalized to my style so that if they ever wore it, I would know I made it. That event evolved into my passion for design, creativity, and a more distinct style.


2. What items or pieces of clothing are your favorite to make?Why?

I think dresses and tops are my favorite to make. Tops are fun because many times, I like to be environmentally friendly, and grab clothes that I already have and make a new top out of it. Dresses are fun to create because they are nice to wear and the fact that dresses can change from casual to sophisticated with a different material.

3. Where do you find the inspiration for your pieces?

I think people and fashion are the usual inspiration for my pieces. I was recently inspired by a friend because he was fascinated that I could create clothing. That motivated me to create a summer dress and a tube top over the summer. In general, my family is inspirational because they always motivate me to be creative, productive, and to have fun. Fashion is also a factor because many times I would find something I like in a store, or online. Because the price is too high or I don't feel like spending the money, I'd take that piece as an inspiration and go out to buy something to similarly replicate it.

4. What do you plan to do in the future with your talent for design?

I'd love to start my own business maybe with accessories in the future, and maybe branch out into clothes. But for right now, I'm using it to give back to the community. I'm going to show my pieces at a charity benefit concert/fashion show this fall semester that is sponsored by my club organization, Unite for Sight.

5. How do you feel about fashion at Rutgers? What would you like to see happen?
 
I feel that fashion at Rutgers is very diverse. I think it's great that there are so many different styles at this school. I would like to see more people who design their clothes make it public to the Rutgers community so that everyone can appreciate it and maybe get inspired.

--MA

Blue Crush-- Outside Scott Hall, College Ave

 

Carlton Harris
Entire Outfit- Goodwill

Retro Stylin'--CAC Quad

Kim Bowers

Headband--Stolen from sister, Ascot--Ann Taylor Loft, Trenchcoat--GAP, Dress--Heritage, Tights--Kohl's, Shoes--Marshall's

Special Announcement!

Scarlet Style has a lot planned for this upcoming fall semester and we are in need of extra help in the fashion fields. This is a great chance to add something creative to your resumes! So if you are interested in any of the positions below, please contact us by email scarletstyle@rocketmail.com or facebook! Thanks, and we hope to get a lot of enthusiastic new additions to our team!

POSITIONS NEEDED:

Models
Writers
Designers
Fashion entrepreneurs
People who can sew/have sewn garments
People who have made jewelry/bags/other accessories

Again, contact us at scarletstyle@rocketmail.com if interested!

Transition your style: Summer to Fall

The transition from summer vacation to fall semester has always been synonymous with the changing of the seasons. With the first day of classes a mere few weeks away, the time for back-to-school shopping has arrived. But with so many new trends and popular items crowding the shelves of stores nationwide, it becomes difficult to stay in your budget especially after splurging on your summer wardrobe. And what are you going to do with all those new summer clothes you just bought two weeks ago? You surely can't afford to just put them away and buy a whole fall wardrobe, especially on a student's allowance. Don't start stressing yet though because Scarlet Style as always is here to provide you with a practical(and chic!) solution.

Here are some pictures and tips on how you can incorporate your summer fashion into your autumn style.

Summer dresses- Light, airy dresses are a must for summer, but they can also be worn in the colder temperatures with cute wintry accessories. In fact, wearing your bright, bold summer dresses in the autumn makes you look fresh in a crowd of neutral, dark colors.

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Shorts- Shorts have been deemed as a must-have item to have in one's summer closet. However, in the past few years, fashionistas worldwide have been experimenting by using them for their fall/winter wardrobe. And the result? A chic and sophisticated look with a hint of sexual appeal.

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Skirts- Because of the popular preppy school girl uniform, skirts have become an all-year round staple. If the Gossip Girl look really isn't your style, you can still wear your skirts with dark hued tights, and incorporate your own style to the outfit.

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Tank tops- Cami's and tank tops are absolutely an essential necessity for the fall. Because fall is all about layering, you can use your printed and solid tanks to act as the first layer, and begin adding wintry touches to it one layer at a time.

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General Rules:

• If the summer piece you are incorporating into your autumn style is full of bright and vivid colors, make sure to balance it out with muted neutrals and dark shades.
• Don't be afraid to be bold and mix and match different textures and patterns!
• Have fun with your clothes!
  

--MA