Issue date: 9/15/09 Section: Opinions

New York City was infiltrated this week with blue lips, mile-high teased hair, stripes, ruffles, sequins, patterns galore, sequined boots and red-hot platforms for New York Fashion Week.

But what walks the catwalks of Eastern is a stark contrast. By week four, most students have stopped caring about what they wear to class - no need to impress anymore.

The scene of a Charleston Fashion Week with the average college student is often T-shirts, sweats, hole-filled jeans, flip flops and tennis shoes.

The extremes of fashion would be "fashion week," with the polar opposite being the college student style - or the fashion weak!

Models and designers put hours upon hours of pampering and pruning into each day of fashion week. In that one week, they spend more hours than the average college student probably spends all year.

Let's find the middle ground between the two extremes. The middle ground doesn't have to come at the high retail prices of Zac Posen, Lacoste, DKNY or Jason Wu.

Here's a few ideas on how to keep up with fashion on a budget.

Thrift stores

My sister found a vintage Dooney and Bourke bag for $5 at a thrift store once, so I will always attest to the power of the thrift store.

Spences, 722 Jackson Ave, Charleston. (217) 345-1469

Community Thrift Store, 655 Castle Dr?., Charleston. (217) 348-8362

Twice is Nice, 1100 18th St?., Charleston. (?217) 348-5803

Goodwill, Mattoon, 1102 N Prospect Ave., Champaign. (217) 356-4021

Catholic Charities, Mattoon, 4217 Dewitt Ave., Mattoon. (217) 235-0420

Cheaper Retail Stores

Although the quality may not always be the best, the prices usually can't be beat.

-Forever 21, 2000 N. Neil St. #495, Champaign. (217)366-8284

-Charlotte Russe, 2000 N. Neil St., Champaign. 217-359-4090

-Old Navy, E. 800 Tuscola Blvd.,?Tuscola. (217) 253-3465

-Target, 2102 N. Prospect Ave., Champaign. (217) 355-3325.

-Wal-Mart, 2250 Lincoln Ave., Charleston. (217) 345-1222 (Even this monopoly can, on occasion, have trendy stuff.)

My call to arms:

Take pride in what you wear to class, and put a little extra time into your next outfit. In the professional world, what you wear provides the basis of how people perceive you.

This summer, I had an internship with a professional newspaper, The Kankakee Daily Journal, where we had a relatively strict dress policy.

No jeans, no tennis shoes, no T-shirts, no pants above the knees. Slacks, button downs and dresses were acceptable.

But why wait until we enter the professional world? Why not look our best now? The professors and students you meet now could become networking possibilities. The impression you make today will last tomorrow.

Emily Zulz is a senior journalism major and can be reached at eazulz@eiu.edu or 581-7942.

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