A League of Gentleman

gent·le·man

ˈjentlmən/

noun

1. 
   

   a chivalrous, courteous, or honorable man.

Photos by Turk Ismail

Spencer Sheehan

Age: 21/Junior

Major: Accounting and Management Information Systems Major

Hometown: Billings, MT

About myself: I am a tech and business guru. My ideal Sunday is opening the Wall Street Journal over a cup of coffee. I coach speech and debate at Sentinel High, and volunteer at places like the Poverello soup kitchen and Humane Society. Being well rounded is my goal. Work is not my life, so fun, fitness, and humor need to play together nicely in my schedule. Going along with well-roundedness, I have friends in nearly every major and many walks of life. It’s good to be focused, but you need to keep your perspective fresh, relatable, and realistic.

My Style:If my style were a person, it would be a Calvin Klein model on the series “Mad Men”. I try to bring together the retro and the new. Professional, yet modern and stylish.  

My Outfit

1. My JD. Fisk shoes are from the website MyHabit, a fashion discount site owned by Amazon. I bought them for the blue velvet and green soles, which really adds a splash of color to this otherwise traditional shoe.

2. The jacket is from Armani Exchange, made of nylon. It has semblances of a biker jacket, but in a more moderate and measured way.

3. You can’t go wrong with a black skinny tie, and they go with everything. I got it at discount from a not notable Amazon vendor.

4. I love this dress shirt from GUESS in Seattle. The dotted pattern looks granule up close, but from across the street it looks like softly changing shades of blue. It’s sort of a visual trick!

5. My jeans are from Calvin Klein. To be quite honest, I wear these all the time. They were only about $40, and extremely form fitting due to a 2% elastic material.

My involvement at University of Montana

1. I serve as a UM Advocate, which is a student ambassador to prospective students interested in enrolling at our university. I coordinate the community service activities this group participates in.

2.  I was recently elected as the upcoming Vice President of the Montana Information Systems Association. We volunteer for nonprofits, implementing solutions for their business issues, tutor MIS students, and host networking opportunities with IT professionals such as the Advanced Consulting Group, Google, or Microsoft.

3.  I’m a member of Beta Alpha Psi, the Accounting Honorary Society.

4.  Phi Delta Theta is the fraternity I am affiliated with.

Harold Whitford Jr.

Age: 19/Sophomore

Major: Fine Arts

About Myself: I am a 19-year-old American Indian from the Chippewa Cree Tribe.  I am a homosexual male.  I am currently an art major at the University of Montana and at the moment, I don’t have a specific art focus. I have always wanted to be a hair stylist, makeup artist, and clothing designer.  Isn’t that just the gayest cliché ever?  I love to sing, dance, and of course shop! I honestly have a shopping addiction. It is to the point where I have two walk-in closets full of clothes. I work at Hollister!

 I have a younger brother and sister. I am a very outgoing person who loves to be the center of attention.  At this point in life, I don’t feel like I should have to choose how the rest of my life is supposed to pan out.  So you might say I’m more of a “go with the flow” person.  I love elephants, tattoos, and piercings. If I could, I would start “Harold’s School of Beyoncé for Boys” (just a joke). Beyoncé is my idol and I hope that someday I could design outfits specifically for her. I’m destined to be famous one day, which is something I have said since I was a child, so...remember my name!

My Style: I don’t really subscribe to any one style.  Just like there is an array of colors, I have a wardrobe with an array of different styles.  One day I could dress in basketball shorts and Jordan’s, and the next I’m wearing a suit and tie. I love to push the limits of fashion and “gender bend” clothes. I don’t believe that any one sex should be able to “own” a specific piece of clothing.  If I can rock some high-waisted short shorts, then why not?  For all I care, call me a “hipster.”

My outfit 

1. O’Hanon Mills Placed Fair Isle Sweater from Urban Outfitters

2. Light blue denim OBEY Propoganda button-up from Tilly’s

3. Skinny fit jeans from Hollister

4. Brown suede oxfords from ColeHaan.com

My outfit and Who I Am:

This outfit represents who I am because I definitely love to dress in outfits that compliment the season.  The fall and winter definitely read to me as sweater seasons with lots of layers!  I chose this wool sweater because the base color is ivory, but also has a fabulous array of complementary colors.  I love to layer most outfits, so this denim button-up is just to add some contrast and bring out the colors. Since this sweater is so versatile (I can dress it up or dress it down), I wore denim jeans for a more casual look. Also, if I wore jeans or bottoms with a looser fit, the outfit would look sloppier and not as neat and put together.  If I chose to wear colored pants, like maroon or bright orange to compliment the sweater, the outfit would have a totally different attitude!  I ended with brown Cole Haan’s because the shoes complement the ivory sweater (and secretly my belt is brown and my shoes have to match my belts and accessories).  I believe in very simply outfits that catch the eye.  If you war four items and impress the most unimpressible person, then you have done your job as a fashion enthusiast!

Involvement at the University of Montana:Just another student!

Brennen Cain

Age: 20/ Junior

Major: Resource Conservation and Political Science

Hometown: Whitefish

About Myself: I am a politically motivated individual who cares about sustainable environmental policy. I love voting and the political process as well as local food and products. My goal is to do research around water policy, and water rights. I also love coffee and simple, but tasteful style.

My Style: I often look like a dad from the farmers market. Chacos and jeans are my go to. But a nice pair of dark jeans and a button up are always an easy way to look good.

My Outfit: My jeans and boots are from a thrift store and my shirt is from H+M. The watch is a Target purchase.

Why this outfit represents me: It's simple, cheap, but looks good. The button up is loose fitting and very comfortable, which is how I like to live my life, casual but classy.

My involvement at University of Montana: I’m in a group called 1,000 New Gardens, which is a group that is dedicated to installing gardens around Missoula and encouraging people to grow their own food. I work at a non-profit, Forward Montana that works on empowering young people to be civically engaged. My job is to endorse progressive candidates, and get them elected.

Turk Ismail

Year: Senior

Major: Management Information Systems

Minor: Media Arts

Hometown: Alkhober, Saudi Arabia

My name is Turk Ismail. I’m from the east of Saudi Arabia, Alkhober city.  I have worked as a marketing representative for one of the largest shopping mall in the Middle East if not the world, Alrashid Mall. I’m an MIS major and media art minor.

My Outfit

Bailey said, "You look like Kanye West in this fur jacket!" I took it as a compliment! Most of us know Kanye dresses really well. He is known as a hip hop artist but he is a fashion designer as well. He has a lot of good songs! I love gold digger, I mean his song gold digger.  Anyway...

Jacket: Etsy.

Pants:  My favorite store of all time Armani exchange

Shoes:  Diesel.

Hat: Thrift shop

I really like this style. Fur jackets are always stylish. The main color is black but it’s nice to try to add a different color to your look. The black boots and the hat is completed my look.

Starch and Slacks

Photos by Turk Ismail

“Tomorrow for your presentations, dress business casual.” Immediately I am disappointed.  I mentally sort through my closet, throwing out almost everything. Nothing brightly colored, no leopard, and definitely no stand out jewelry. I can almost smell the iron heating up to remove the wrinkles from my starchy collared shirt. My mind goes to grey, black, navy, and white, the designated safe colors of the business world.  As a girl who greatly appreciates the value of neutrals, an outfit dominated by structure and dull colors leaves me yawning. I must abide by the unspoken rules of the professional world who demand the predictable business basics. In a field saturated with people dressed in the professional palette, how can a person stand out? The business students from Trendsetters at The U, use stylish and trendy pieces to create a unique look and catch the eye of a potential employer.

1) Add a printed blazer. The professional world is bossed around by blazers.  An easy way to add interest to your outfit while still maintaining the business look can be achieved through a patterned blazer. I chose this floral blazer from a consignment store as the focal point of the outfit.  The pattern creates interest and a unique twist without being overpowering or distracting.

2) Embrace a different type of material

Kelsi, a senior marketing student, embraced two trends for this outfit: a patterned blazer and different material.  Aside from adding interest with a striped blazer, Kelsi chose a nontraditional blouse.  Her chambray button up upholds the standard structure with an uncommon material.  The combination of the trendy denim material with the classic construction of the shirt is a perfect complement to business neutrals that break monotony.

3) Use statement jewelry and mix patterns

Mary, a senior management and international business student, sports two ways to diversify your business wardrobe: mixing patterns and wearing statement jewelry.  Both of these trends can be risky in a professional setting. Lucky for Mary, she does both perfectly and simultaneously! When mixing patterns, choose subtle prints. The patterns need to complement each other not overpower.  When mixing patterns, choose pieces that share similar color tones. Notice how Mary’s top and skirt are neutral colors but with two subtle patterns she looks stylish and far from ordinary.

To complete her patterned collaboration, she chose a nude beaded bib necklace. Mary’s necklace works with her outfit adding interest and not overpowering.  Choose accessories for your business outfit that does not distract or overpower.  You want your employer or client to see you, not the clanking bangles on your wrist.

4) Throw a professional blazer over a dress.  Blazers, blazers, and more blazers! This item is the easiest way to look professional.  I’ve had this purple and grey dress for years! Alone, the dress is in between casual and business appropriate. By adding a basic black blazer over the purple ruffled neckline, the outfit is propelled to be presentation worthy.  Finally, to add a little character I chose my black and leopard wedges.  These shoes are appropriate with this look because the shoe is dominated by black and the wedges are relatively low. From the front the shoes are basic black, but from the side the outfit is enhanced with a touch of leopard print.

5) Add color.  Give your business professional attire a punch of color! Kelsi finds a balance between neutrals and color with this turquoise blouse and mustard yellow belt. She is able to express her individuality through the color while maintaining a business appropriate appearance. Again, use color to enhance not distract.  Make sure the colors you choose complement your outfit and personal style.

In the past, I thought boring and business casual were synonymous. Now, I am learning that fashion and business apparel can work together.  The key to achieving a stylish and professional appearance is to find a balance. Equalize your trendy items with the business basics.  Your outfit should look collected and professional while making a statement about who you are.  The rule of thumb for a stylish professional look is to enhance not distract. By implementing some of these Trendsetters at the U tips your fashion sense will stand out in a sea of suits!

Happy Halloween!

Here's a recap of the Halloween costumes worn by the members of Trendsetters at The U! 

Michelle wore pearls and fur for her 1920's Flapper costume.

Kelsi (middle) and her friends were fashionable zombies. 

Yoko (left) dressed as a mermaid and Ikumi (right) as Princess Jasmine.

Trendsetter Jocelyn (right) is looking forward to Christmas already in this elf costume.  Her friend Savanna sparkles as a circus ring leader.

Bailey wrapped up in a torn gauzy dress and stockings channels her inner mummy

Turk and Bailey enjoy their night out as a mummy and a G.I. 

Fall Fashion 101

Fall Fashion 101

Bailey Chauner

Autumn is my favorite time of year in Missoula. The air is crisp and I swear the smell of pumpkin lingers in the air. The golden leaves float off the trees almost hinting toward the snowflakes soon to fall. My scarves make their way forward from the back of my closet and my peep-toe wedges are swapped for knee high boots. However this fall, it’s camo, denim vests, and fur. A few months ago, the thought of these pieces made me cringe. Fast forward to October, and they’re hanging in my closet. So, what gives? A cool breeze rolled in bringing new fall fashion!

Photos by Turk Ismail

Our first trend is camouflage. While this trend may have made me fear the introduction of hunting gear as fashion, don’t be scared! Camo is chic. Kelsi embraces this trend casually with camouflage pants with a white tee, cardigan and ankle boots

Denim vests have made a huge comeback from the grungy nineties. A denim vest is a great piece because it adds interest to your outfit and can be dressed up or down.  I chose to dress up my denim vest with a long cream sweater, leggings, and a wide brimmed felt hat.

Leggings revolutionized modern fashion and now they are being updated! The latest leggings are patterned with flowers, tribal prints, camo and leather.  Michelle styled her floral leggings for a daytime and evening look.  She paired her leggings with a casual sweater and beanie for a cozy daytime look.  For evening, Michelle used her floral leggings to create interest when paired with a simple denim vest and black leather jacket.

Love or hate it, fur graced the runways this fall. And while real fur can be an ethical issue, faux fur is a perfect solution.  Fur is fashioned into vests, coats, and the lining on hoods and gloves to give an upscale accent to your outfit.  












This Fall, Pinterest pages are covered with over sized sweaters, especially with an tribal design. Over sized sweaters are extremely versatile with your autumn apparel.  The large knitted pieces can be worn casually with leggings or dressed up with a skirt. Aurora finds the perfect happy medium.  She chose to pair her over sized dolman sleeved sweater with a skirt and tights for a feminine look. Aurora makes this outfit applicable for everyday life with a pair of comfortable combat boots.

Jocelyn is wearing a thick, knitted, loose aztec printed cardigan.  This fall you can’t open a magazine without seeing this new style.  Again, this sweater is easy to style and very comfortable. Match this warm sweater with jeans, boots, or some leather leggings and you will be Vogue worthy!

In Montana, jackets are required to keep us from freezing.  However, just because our outfit might be covered, this doesn't mean we can't look fashionable. Yoko is wearing a wrap around trench coat.  This style is great because the coat is stylish, comfortable, and warm.

Wide brimmed hats are topping off lady’s outfits everywhere this fall. Made of suede, these sun hat inspired accessories can cover up any bad hair day or give your look a unique finishing touch

Turk gives us the only male look sporting a forest green button up and leather vest.  Leather is an undeniable trend this fall.  The material infiltrated fall fashion and shows up in entire pieces, such as this vest, or as small accents.

Autumn is a fantastic opportunity to experiment with fashion. The cool weather allows for your summer, autumn, and winter wardrobe to work together. With a touch of fur, a splash of pattern on your leggings, or a wide brimmed hat, your look is refreshed and guaranteed to be the envy of any fashionista.

Thrifty Shopping

Thrifty Shopping

Bailey Chauner

Most of us have used the phrase “broke college student” to describe our place in life.  Tuition, loans, food, rent, and gas accumulate to make list of never-ending expenses that stress out even the thriftiest of finance majors.  As students, we try to balance out these unavoidable expenses by getting minimum wage jobs. But even these jobs don’t seem to make a dent. Those of you who are lucky enough to obtain highly-appraised internships may even feel hopeless. We often find ourselves relying on an aunt sending a holiday card or mom sympathizing with a break up to get a little extra cash.  As students, we want this money to stretch as far and for as long as possible.  We want the two for one drinks on Thursday and the new blouse--so that maybe we can get those drinks for free.  How do we get both?

Thrift shopping is our answer. The Macklemore hit blasted from all of our cars at some point or another, but now it’s time to take his lyrics literally.  Missoula is a goldmine for thrift shopping.  With a simple Google search, a map of Missoula becomes sporadically spotted with numerous thrift shop locations.  And, with all the stylish people of Missoula, there are bound to be some secondhand fashionable finds.

As students, where do we even begin?  How can a person begin to sift through everything? Aurora, a thrifting junkie and member of Trendsetters at The U, helped me create a set of tips to help students search for stylish bargains to find success.

1) Take Your Time. Before going thrift shopping, make sure you have time to shop.  Thrift stores are overflowing with items and being in a rush won’t allow you the time to adequately sift and search.  Be able to pace yourself when shopping to look through the racks at individual pieces.  Finding the right item for you requires patience and time to look through all that’s offered at a thrift store.

2) Look in every size. Often times thrift stores can become unorganized and size smalls infiltrate the mediums and mediums land in the large section. Previous owners may have dried and shrank their clothes making the labeled “large” shirt actually a medium. Keeping a lookout for misplaced sizes or mislabeled items allows you to find the perfect fit regardless of the label on the rack or tag.

3) Try the Opposite Gender Section. If you're female, try out the male section. The male section is a great resource for oversized sweaters or flannel button ups. Oversized sweaters are trending this fall and you can find a ton of cute, stylish pieces for cheap. Men, you might be afraid to wander into the womens section, but, that XXL white crew neck tee shirt may be just the right fit...

4) Check out the accessories.  For the finishing touches of your outfit check out the accessories, especially belts. Belts from the thrift store to cinch skirts and dresses come in tons of great textures, metals,sizes and are exceptionally cheaper than a new belt at the mall. Thrift stores can be the jackpot for modern and vintage jewelry, scarves, and purses.

5) Try it On. Many thrifters are hesitant to try on an article of clothing.  Maybe they're afraid of the last person who wore the item or think fitting rooms in a thrift store are too strange.  Regardless, we encourage you to try on the clothes! This will ensure getting the right value for the money you’re spending. This will also guarantee you will arrive home without discovering a hidden pair of shoulder pads! If you’re uncomfortable trying on thrift store clothing, wear a t-shirt, tank top, or leggings that can stay underneath your possible purchases.

As a team, our Trendsetters attempted to master thrift shopping this weekend. We explored, examined, rummaged, rejected, and purchased some previously owned treasures. We took our newly bought pieces, and paired them with our personal wardrobe. Our Trendsetter Team successfully created a stylish and affordable look after thrifting. This proves, that as college students we don’t need to sacrifice style due to insufficient funds! Let Macklemore’s song ring in your ears as you use the Trendsetters at the U’s tips to discover the joy of thrift shopping.

Kelsi- vintage Beatles tee and lace up oxfords.  (Secret Seconds)

Michelle- sparkle sweater (Goodwill)

Bailey- denim blouse (Goodwill) and purse ( Secret Seconds)

Bloglovin'

Hello Readers! Our Trendsetter Michelle recommended we join Bloglovin'  This website is fantastic and are hoping it will launch our blog!

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