Issue date: 5/30/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment

It is mind blowing to think that this is my final article for the year. It feels like it was just yesterday that I started this column, unsure of what direction I should go. A plethora of questions raced through my mind leading up to the first issue. Should it focus on high fashion or affordable fashion? Should I give style advice and nothing else? Should I tackle either men's or women's fashion or both? Finding a primary focus proved harder than I thought.
Then one morning as I was selecting an outfit, it came to me. Instead of choosing just one topic, I would make it a column that varied from week to week. I figured this would allow for endless options and maximum creativity.
I am glad I decided on this method. It allowed me to tackle a myriad of topics throughout the semester and opened my eyes to a world of possibilities. It also gave me the opportunity to develop my voice, which I feel has matured. My first articles had a certain sarcastic snap to them that I was unsure about. Yes, it was amusing, but was it me or a character I was portraying?
As time passed, I could feel a shift happening. I stopped forcing myself to make people laugh and instead wrote from my heart. The result is the honest, true voice that now exists in my articles. While I still enjoy using humor, it is now all my own and not influenced by others.
I also found myself drifting away from instructing people on how to dress and instead took a more open-ended approach. I researched current collections in stores popular among college students, gave examples of a few pieces that were both stylish and versatile, and left the rest open for interpretation. I also made sure to quote the price and explain why it was justified. This proved to be a recipe for success.
Over winter break, I found myself up late one night rereading my articles. I was proud of my work, but I felt like it was time for another change. I had become too comfortable in the topics and styles I wrote about, and I needed to spice things up. For the spring semester, I decided to add a bit more luster to my pieces. I wrote an article on affordable designer bags, the gorgeous spring collection at American Eagle, and even spring shoes for men. The response was positive, so I decided to make my boldest move yet.
After attending the Lady GaGa concert, I thought it might be interesting to talk about her unique style. I documented each outfit she wore and explained the concepts and materials used. I also talked about her as an artist and what she represents in the pop music scene. I heard nothing but positive feedback from my peers, which lead me to write about another celebrity.
The Hannah Montana Movie was about to hit theaters and her wardrobe was far different from the show. I found an interview online with the costume designer for the movie and wrote a piece comparing and contrasting the fashion from the show and the film. I thoroughly enjoyed how multi-faceted this new concept was. I plan to do more with it when I return in the fall.
This past year at The Comment has been a wonderful, enriching experience. I have learned a great deal not only about myself, but also about working as a team. It is great to have a staff that is more than willing to review my work and give honest feedback. I look forward to returning in the fall with fresh, new ideas and possibly a new direction for Simply Style. I wish all my readers a fabulous summer. Have fun in the sun, and remember, style is everything!

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