OOTW: Thanksgiving Weekend

by Monday, November 28, 2016
Isn't it strange how every year we dress up for the holidays just to stand around the kitchen and eat? This year I suggested to my mom that we forego dressing up and showing up to our Thanksgiving dinner in pajamas...but she didn't go for it! I'm not sure why, she kept dodging my questions!, but I am going to try and convince her for Christmas though. Hopefully I'll get more people on my side to convince her this time around!

So because I had to dress up, I decided to do a series of OOTD's, or "Outfit of the Day"s for this past Thanksgiving weekend because it was quite eventful. These are my Outfits of the Week(end)! I have also included where I got my articles from if possible just to show that where you get your clothes from doesn't matter as long as you make it look good.








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Thanksgiving Parade

Every year my hometown has a tradition of putting on a local parade. It started at 10am but it gets packed so my family and I knew to be there by 8am to get good seats. It was a little windy and chilly so I made sure to keep warm enough with light layers. I almost wore heeled boots but I'm so glad I opted for my go-to brown boots instead because I ended up walking for hours to find a spot to sit!


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Thanksgiving Dinner

After the parade, I had plenty of time to nap and get ready for dinner! Since my mom shot down my PJs suggestion, I was going to go all out looking nice for dinner. I've always known Charlotte Russe was my favorite store (I just love their affordable selection!) but seeing it laid out in plain text that I'm dressed head-to-toe in CR is a little embarrassing! I should also point out that this outfit was recently purchased to be worn as my Halloween costume, so I wanted to get good use out of it a second time!

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Black Friday

I've never been Black Friday shopping, ever. But this year I really needed a sturdy, supportive backpack that could hold all my stuff because the 2 I had were falling apart! So I asked my grandma if she could buy me one I had been eyeing at Victoria's Secret PINK and she said yes. I figured going on Black Friday would be ideal because there would probably be sales that we could take advantage of. But I forgot that my grandma is a major shopaholic, so we didn't just go to one store! After 6 hours of shopping in purple high-heeled boots, my feet were killing me! I know I shouldn't have worn them, but they are my mom's boots and every time I come into town to visit, I always try to take advantage of the selection of shoes my mom has and wear them because I can't wear them when I'm back in Lubbock! The boots from this outfit are not the only thing borrowed though; the shirt and cardigan are both my roommate's as well! I absolutely love the edginess of the cardigan and t-shirt design. I'm notorious for borrowing people's stuff, no shame!

Photos by Louie Galaviz
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Friendsgiving

This year my sister decided to throw a "Friendsgiving" dinner for her close friends on Saturday. I knew it was going to be a more casual event than actual Thanksgiving, but I still wanted to dress up somewhat. Much like my previous outfit, the cardigan was borrowed from my roommate and the shoes and earrings were my mom's! I can't help it, I like to switch up my usual looks with different pieces I can't normally wear!


It was a great weekend visiting my hometown and playing around with different looks. In the past I never really wore cardigans but this fall they have really become a staple of mine. I'll probably continue doing OOTW posts for special holiday weeks!



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Student Feature: Sara Hunter

by Monday, November 14, 2016
This month's student feature is such a treat, I'm obsessed with her look. Sara Hunter is a freshman theatre acting major from a small town outside of Amarillo called Vega, Texas. What first caught my eye was her eclectic style, but the best part about her look was the confidence she rocked. Red Raider Runway is all about promoting everyone's individual style and showing that anyone can pull off whatever look as long as it's done with confidence. Sara's style not only exudes that, but shows that everything is not always what it seems...















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Sara shines in this bright red long sleeved shirt, with a black skirt and black suspenders/harness around her waist. Her cat-knee tights, flower choker, and hair buns completely play up the look while her black knot choker and gold strapped heels add just the right amount of chic to the balance the overall look. 
Photo by Virginia Fuentes

Sara said her style varies day to day from edgy, modern, grunge, 90s, etc. depending on what she's feeling like. Sara not only experiments with articles of clothing, but also wigs! She currently has about 20 wigs.


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Sara is not afraid of a pop of color! She is wearing a light colored shirt with a bright pink and purple ombre faded knee-length skirt; brightest of all is her long blue wig! Accessories like a flower crown, a fuzzy pink bracelet, and layered necklaces complete her look. 
Photo by Sara H.

When it comes to early morning classes, Sara had it all figured out. "Most days if I wake up late I throw on a wig, t-shirt, and jeans but I try to look put together. I plan an outfit the night before if I actually want to look nice the next day," said Sara. "It really depends on how I'm feeling that day."


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While this outfit seems muted with a white cut off crop top and pale jeans, Sara expertly contrasts it with black lipstick, a black choker, and heels, and Sara still manages a pop of color with green tipped hair. 
Photo by Virginia Fuentes

"I used to watch shows like 'What Not to Wear' with my grandma when I was growing up. She took me shopping and inspired me to like fashion as well. Now I take inspiration from cosplay, Instagram, Youtube, and Pinterest," Sara said. I asked what advice she had for others trying to cultivate their own style and she encouraged everyone to draw inspiration from everywhere. "If you see something you like, keep it in mind. Try making mental maps of your clothes based on what theme you're going for to create new looks," she said.


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Going for a darker look on a colder day, Sara is wearing a black leather vest over a dark red long sleeved shirt and black skirt. She is wearing patterned tights and black studded boots. Her accessories include her staples: a wig, short white cropped hair, a flower crown, a tattoo choker and a decorative septum ring. 
Photo by Sara H.

Fall is Sara's favorite season so layers are essential and part of her usual looks. She says the layers build up depending on how cold it is that morning. 




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Sara struts in a cut off tee, her favorite jean jacket covered in pins and buttons, a choker, dark blue jeans, and strappy clogs. Her favorite article of clothing is her jean jacket, pictured above. "I added all of my pins, buttons, and awards so it feels really personalized." 
Photo by Virginia Fuentes

Sara mixed certain staples with unique pieces like her wigs to keep things fresh yet casual when she wanted to be. Her ever-changing style shows that no one has to confine themselves to a certain style. It is all about wearing whatever you feel comfortable in and owning it with confidence. Hopefully her style can inspire others to take more risks while dressing up on campus!

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Student Features: Around Campus

by Wednesday, November 09, 2016
This past week I decided to snap pics of various Red Raiders I saw looking cute around campus just to showcase all the stylish students we have at Tech!

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Sara Sanchez; senior; double major in English and Electronic Media & Communications; Austin, TX

Sara would describe her style as "kind of bummy." She likes to look cute but still dress for comfort. Kudos to Sara for managing to stay comfy and casual while still looking cute!


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Bianca Anzures; senior; Criminology major; Corpus Christi, TX

Bianca said she doesn't really have a favorite store because she's been on a budget and can't shop as much as she'd like, but lately she's been going to Charlotte Russe and Plato's - which is smart if on a budget because those stores are always budget friendly with their sales!


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Celeste Roberts; junior; Education major; Round Rock, TX

Despite the gloomy weather throughout the day, Celeste wears an oversized plaid dress and a jacket to navigate through campus in the cold weather.


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Raquel Roulin; senior; Public Relations major; Sugarland, TX

Raquel said she actually wears this dress backwards because the original front has a straight neckline and she felt it wasn't adding enough to her look, so she switches it over to the back for a v-neckline. What an innovative idea!


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Hanna Elmi; junior; Marketing major; Arlington, TX

Hanna is wearing an oversized white t-shirt as a dress with a cut made on the collar for a small v-neckline. She paired the dress with a green flannel shirt and white sneakers. Stylish and adjustable enough for the changing weather!


This is definitely something I would love to do again whenever one specific student is not being featured. So if you would like to be featured on Red Raider Runway, please email redraiderrunway@gmail.com or use the hashtag #RedRaiderRunway on social media to be found and have your post shared!! Please follow RRR on Twitter and Instagram at @RedRaiderRunway and subscribe to the website to receive notifications when a new post is made!
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This Or That?: Eyeliners

by Friday, November 04, 2016
When it comes to eyeliner, finding what works best for you can be a little frustrating and overwhelming. Trying to do a cat-eye can result in raccoon eye makeup if you're not using the right product. So I've compiled a small guide to help differentiate the types of products in order to decide which would be best for you.



















Liner Pencil
Pictured: Sumita Eyeliner Pencil

Let's start with the basics - eyeliner pencils were my go-to since I was an angsty teen. If you're going for the dark raccoon look, or making broad lines, this is the eyeliner for you. But if you're trying to do a fine point cat eye then this type of liner is not your friend. The point is too thick and dull for any sort of precision tip, no matter how many times you try to sharpen it to its finest point. Plus, if you don't have a sharpener, you're SOL. Sometimes I will use a pencil liner to draw the initial line on my eyelid, then use a more precise liner to finish out the tips of a cat-eye wing, so that's always an option. And sometimes cat-eye just isn't your thing so you don't have to worry about fine-tips!

Pros:
+Covers more surface area quicker
+Easy to remove if you mess up (in comparison to the other types)
+Easy to apply on the waterline

Cons:
-Dull tip
-Not good for precise, thin tips
-Smudges easier

Additional tools needed: Sharpener

Liquid Liner
Pictured: Sumita Liquid Eyeliner; Wet N Wild H2O PROOF Liquid Eyeliner

Possibly one of the most intimidating eyeliners is liquid liner. I was scared to touch this product for years before I finally gave it a try. I'm not going to lie - it takes lots of practice to get the hang of it. But damn do you look good once you do. As soon as I nailed the liquid liner stroke, my eyeliner compliments spiked tremendously. The key to liquid liner is to start off as firm as possible and make sure you have a steady hand. If your hand shakes, it will show up on your lids in the form of bumpy, wavy lines.
Finding a good eyeliner that works for you can be tough depending on the type of brush you like. Some liquid liners have a longer, more flexible brush that allows for curvier flicks, while other brushes are a little firmer and allow for more control. I have one of each, both pictured. The Wet N Wild liner brush is more flimsy, so I know if I'm going to be using it, I gotta roll with whatever the brush wants and it's generally going to look a bit more dramatic. But if I want a more specific cat-eye look or a smaller tip, I will use the Sumita liner. Both are good, personally.
Liquid liner also lasts the longest then all other liners, in my experience. But it can start to get flaky if left on too long and is stubborn to take off, even if not water proof. But trust me on this, if a liquid liner says it's water proof, you better have some makeup remover wipes handy to clean up any mistakes because a little water is not going to make it budge!

Pros:
+Most dramatic looking
+Long lasting
+Finest tip precision
+Dries matte

Cons:
-Unpredictable
-Not forgiving
-Stubborn to remove
-Flaky

Additional Tools Needed: Confidence

Gel Liner
Pictured: Estee Lauder Gel Eyeliner; Ecotools Brush

I love gel liner. I think it's a great medium between a pencil and liquid liner. In my opinion, gel liner is easiest and it offers the most control out of all the options. You need a small brush to apply it. Because you're using a small brush, it offers maximum control and precision. The brush is both thick enough to make good broad lines, and small enough to make precise tips for a wings. It's the best of both worlds. The key thing is to make sure you have a good brush because that can make or break it!! Just make sure you don't lose the brush otherwise you can't use your product either.
Depending on which brand you get, the liner can either be super easy to remove (aka very smudgy) or nearly impossible to take off. My absolute favorite gel liner was from Mary Kay, but it came with a terrible brush applicator that constantly dried up and I hated it. But it was SO water and smudge proof, I could literally wear the same coat for days and not have to reapply once, or have a single smudge out of place!! The gel liner I use now is Estee Lauder and they have a really great brush, but their product also smudges a lot easier, so it's a give and take.
The worst part about having a gel liner is that the product itself can begin to dry out so it gets harder to apply it on your brush and onto your lids. But overall, I think gel liners are so great, especially for those trying to work on their cat eye look but haven't felt brave enough to try liquid liners yet.

Pros:
+Easy to apply
+Easy to apply on waterline
+Offers the most control
+Covers a good surface area quickly
+Versatile
+Fine precision
+Dries on matte
+Certain brands can be 100% Smudge/Water Proof

Cons:
-Needs a good brush
-Product can dry out

Additional Tools Needed: Small brush applicator


Finding the right eyeliner for you can be a trial and error. I still find myself switching out different types because there is no one perfect one. Sometimes I like to mix my products together to get the best effect, like mentioned above with my pencil liner. I'll usually draw on my cat-eye with a liquid liner for a big wing, and then use the pencil to line my waterline for a darker, more dramatic look when I'm going out. Otherwise I won't line my waterline at all for a "daytime" look. Or if I want to go less dramatic and have more casual wing, I'll use the gel liner for every day use.

But at the end of the day, wings are not the end-all be-all of eyeliner. Sometimes wings may not be your style. Like my roommate, no matter how thin we used the liquid liner, we felt the winged look just didn't suit her, so she uses the pencil to line her eyes, sometimes just the top, or just the waterline (or both), and it suits her just fine. Don't think that you need any product that doesn't serve its purpose for your style.



Coming Up next time on This or That?: Eyebrow Products!
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