WHAT'S IN MY BAG: ART SCHOOL ESSENTIALS

I have been wanting to do a "What's In My Bag" post for a while now and figured it would be a fun twist to do a what's in my bag (well technically, backpack) post with an art school spin! Aside from the basics such as your phone or wallet of course, here are eleven essentials I carry around as a student at Parsons!

1. Intel 2 in 1 Surface Pro 2

This device has been quite handy for school for me! I used to hate lugging my heavy laptop to class all the time but now I can opt to take my Surface Pro which is a ton lighter. The fact that you can use it as a laptop too with the magnetic keyboard is another plus for when I want to be able to take notes! As part of my drawing classes we are also required to have tablets for doing digital illustrations. Most students bring their laptop and a tablet you plug into it, but I can actually draw directly on this thing with the tablet pen it comes with so I am quite happy that I have no more back pain :) In my downtime, some of my other favorite things to use the Surface Pro for is Skyping friends and family, or reading e-books.

A closeup of some of my doodles. I love that you can draw in so many different mediums!

2. Sketchbook

You should never go to class in art school without a sketchbook or notebook (and don't be that person that has to ask someone else to rip out pages from their own sketchbook because you didn't bring anything to draw or write on!) Sketchbooks are especially important to have when a great concept or design idea pops into your head and you need to record it right away.

3. Your favorite things to draw or write with

My pencil bag staples are as follows: black Sharpies (thin and thick), a black felt tip pen, a super thin Micron pen, cheaper ball point pens (for note taking), a set of graphite pencils in varying hardnesses, an eraser pen, a big eraser, and a good sharpener. While I normally end up taking a lot of other things to my drawing class such as sets of oil pastels, watercolors, or colored pencils, these are the things I like to carry around for everyday use.

4. Blick Mesh Zipper Bags

These are cheap, super durable, and it's great that they are transparent so you can see everything you have :) I like to get these in a variety of sizes.

5. Masking tape

I know this one seems really random but I've actually found this to be extremely handy in all my fashion studio classes: design, illustration, and construction, so I like to have it on hand at all times!

6. C-Thru Grid Ruler

THIS IS MY FAVORITE RULER OF ALL TIME <3 I have been a loyal user of these rulers ever since I discovered them 5 years ago. It's so easy to use when making marks on fabric because of the transparent grid, and also doubles as the perfect straight edge for tearing paper neatly.

7. Granola bars (Or other easy to bring snacks!)

At art school, 6 hour studio classes are the norm. This semester I have two 6 hour classes, and three 3 hour classes. I have yet to encounter a class that is less than 3 hours haha. You will definitely become hungry and you need to keep your energy up to function throughout the entire class period.

8. Bandaids

I definitely accidentally hurt myself doing my projects more than I would like to admit. As a fashion design major, seam rippers pose a particular threat. Let's not mention the stories I have heard of students hurting themselves on accident when using Olfa knives or working on sewing machines. Simple papercuts can cause you more of a headache than you expect too! You could end up bleeding onto a garment you are working on or onto one of your drawings... so always be prepared with bandaids!

9. Hand sanitizer

This one is kind of a given for any student, but even more important when you live in a city where you may use the subway or bus a lot to get to and from school! It's so easy to get sick when everyone is touching the same handrail on the subway, or the same door handle to get into the classroom.

10. Reusable tote

I always save the reusable tote bags I get from shopping at stores such as Urban Outfitters and these are perfect to fold up and keep in your backpack or bag to help reduce your use of plastic or paper bags. I love using these to carry around any more fragile projects such as sculptures or garments that I might not want to stuff into my backpack.

11. Reusable water bottle

Because honestly, why constantly spend money on bottled water when most schools have special water fountains for refilling your own water bottle? Reduce your plastic use and also spend your money on other more worthwhile things such as school supplies or transportation :) Also, thanks to my boyfriend Chris for giving me this water bottle! <3

I hope you guys enjoyed getting a peak into my backpack, which is from Urban Outfitters in case any of you are wondering and has lasted me so far since the beginning of last year! :)

#spon: I'm required to disclose a relationship between our site and Intel This could include Intel providing us w/content, product, access or other forms of payment.

NYFW: CHARLOTTE RONSON

For New York Fashion Week this season, I had the chance to take part in a fun project with Chictopia and Charlotte Ronson! From visiting her studio and seeing what a model fitting is like, getting to interview Charlotte herself, to going to the Lincoln Center to my first fashion show, and getting to hang out with the Chictopia team, there were so many things I feel very fortunate to have gotten to be a part of! I took so many photos throughout the experience and am excited to be sharing them with you guys.

Above are some of my favorite photos taken at her beautiful studio, and below is my interview with Charlotte for those of you who'd like to learn more about her as a designer and her newest collection. And thanks again Charlotte for taking the time out of your busy day to be a part of this interview!

What sets the Charlotte Ronson girl apart? 

I would describe my girl as feminine but with a tomboy twist. My pieces have an oversized and boxy fit, yet are still flirty at the same time. I aim to create easy, feminine, and sexy pieces that any girl can roll out of bed and put on, and can effortlessly transition from day to night. My clothing is very wearable and while nothing feels too precious, everything is still fun and new.

What general direction did you want to go in with your Spring/Summer 2015 collection, and what were some of your inspirations? 

This collection is inspired by the idea of the daydream so I wanted to work with a feminine and pastel color palette, while maintaining a soft but moody edge in the overall collection.

I was also inspired by Kim McCarty’s watercolor portraits—her work has a flow and uncertainty to it, yet she still manages to maintain a sense of focus in her pieces. Her work fits in perfectly with the theme and feel of a daydream, and I am excited to incorporate a daisy print she created for this collection too.

Do you have a favorite look in your SS15 collection in particular? 

Each piece is fun and original in its own way so it’s hard for me to pick just one, but some of my favorite elements are the daisy and cherry blossom prints, as well as the perforated scuba pieces.

What are the biggest challenges in getting ready for a show? 

All of it—but luckily I have a big team working for me who is passionate about what they do, and also knows how to keep track of priorities and what can wait. As always, some things you don’t expect to happen will come up, but that makes the overall experience more fun.

And what is the most rewarding part in putting together a show? 

Seeing everything you put your blood, sweat, and tears into finally come alive. Putting together a show also gets my entire family in town too, and I have a big family! It’s really great to be able to share it with them.

Below are photos I took from inside the Lincoln Center and also later on at Charlotte's show. The models would rotate every few minutes so it was easy to see every single look. I really love the polka dot print pieces in the collection!

Above are some more photos to sum up my overall evening that day. For my outfit, I wore a houndstooth top from the Charlotte Ronson x JCPenney collection. The Charlotte Ronson x JCP collection is a great alternative for those of you who want to add some Charlotte Ronson pieces to your closet at a more affordable alternative. Some of my own recommendations are the scalloped camis or this floral print sundress! <3 For dinner, I got to go out with Libby and Catlyn from the Chictopia team, as well as Christine (the awesome vlogger and blogger whom you guys may also know as xteener) who were all so kind and fun to be around. I had a veggie burger with sweet potato fries which was the perfect dish to end a great night.

Hope you guys enjoyed this post about my NYFW experience! Let me know what you guys thought of this photo diary and if you'd like to see more in the future :) Happy Fashion Week to you all!