When I was twelve, I wanted to be a fashion designer. I longed for the chance to create beautiful clothes – clothes that made people feel good about themselves and helped them express who they were. As I got older, the dream faded away, but I kept a love for clothing and what it can do to express yourself and make a difference.
That’s why I was so excited to be invited to Her Campus’ College Fashion Week in Boston last weekend. I invited two friends and together we headed into the city, to Space 57 at the Revere Hotel where the event was held. We planned to get there early, and we were lucky that we did – by the time the doors opened, the line was around the block!
Check-in was easy, and each of us got a Her Campus tote bag with samples and gifts from the event’s sponsors! My bag included pens, a notebook, some treats, and a body scrub from Frank Body.
College Fashion Week 2015
The space was packed with hundreds of college students, visiting different booths and trying new things before the fashion show! Each of the event’s sponsors had a special booth with samples and gifts. I was invited to attend the fashion show on behalf of one sponsor in particular – Monthly Gift, an upcoming period subscription service – so I was especially eager to check out their booth once we were signed in!
The Monthly Gift swag booth! – College Fashion Week 2015
Monthly Gift is an upcoming subscription service and period tracker app that allows users to track their cycles and have pads, tampons, liners, and chocolate sent to them when they need it. It’s founded by women with women in mind, and is meant to be convenient!
I love self-care and anything that makes my life a little easier, so I was am all about having what I need delivered to my house to avoid any late-night trips to CVS (or worse, having to ask a stranger in the bathroom if they have any period supplies on them). I also love that they will have an app, which lets me know where I am in my cycle, and I really appreciate that Monthly Gift is trying to keep their services reasonably priced. That and the fact that it’s all about convenience make it perfect for college students. It is expected to launch in January of 2016.
As an official sponsor of College Fashion Week, Monthly Gift had a big booth with gum balls, branded chap sticks, and hair ties with their hashtag, #areyougifted, on them. I was able to meet a few people from the company and check out their video area, where students could take cute photos with their friends and answer fun questions by a presenter.
The Monthly Gift interview booth! – College Fashion Week 2015
There was also an iPad station where attendees could enter their email to get updates about the Monthly Gift Launch. If you’d like updates yourself, you can sign up at Monthly Gift’s website or follow them on their Instagram!
Monthly Gift sign-up! – College Fashion Week 2015
After exploring the Monthly Gift booth, my friends and I tried out some of the event’s other areas. While I walked around and took photos, they got fro-yo and checked out the “Browfection Bar” from European Wax Center. There was also an official photo booth sponsored by Simon Malls, where we could pose with different accessories and the hashtag #foundatsimon. Because my friends are normal, they chose to pose with a vase and jewelry tree.
Goofing around with my friends – College Fashion Week 2015
Next were a few musical acts, including Boston University’s Dear Abbeys, and an up-and-coming singer named Teenear who performed her new song “Friday Night.”
The Dear Abbey’s performing – College Fashion Week 2015
Next it was time for the fashion show! Thanks to Monthly Gift and Her Campus, I was able to sit in the front row and my two friends were also given seats. The show was presented by the President of Her Campus, Windsor Hanger Western, and an editor from People StyleWatch. They walked us through five different “scenes,” each of which was representative of a different style that’s popular for this Fall/Winter season and can be worn in the classroom and around campus (or for a night out!).
From the feminine minimalism set – College Fashion Week 2015
The sets ranged from feminine minimalism (featuring lots of white pieces in soft patterns and materials, like in the photo above!), to 70’s inspired style, to a cool grunge-inspired look that featured lots of plaid and darker colors.
From the 70’s inspired set – College Fashion Week 2015
I had so much fun at the fashion show, mostly because it was something so out of character for me. While I love clothes, I don’t tend to be “trendy,” so it was really cool to get a new perspective on what’s going on in the world of fashion.
My favorite thing about the show, though, was something that I only realized later. All the models in the show were regular college students – not paid or professional models. The other bloggers who came to the event were college students, just like me. Monthly Gift is started, run, and owned by young women. And Her Campus itself was started when its three founders were all in college.
There was so much creative power and potential in that room. The whole event was for and about us – college-aged women and what we are capable of. I felt inspired and empowered to be there. I am lucky to be a part of a generation of women who have so many opportunities available to us, and I am honored to be surrounded by young women who take those opportunities and run with them.
This post was made possible by Monthly Gift and Her Campus. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Sara Laughed possible!
Oooo… Fun! I love free goodies, especially when they come in tote bags!
I giggled a little about The Monthly Gift; but Hey!, when a girl needs her chocolate, a girl NEEDS her chocolate.
What a fun event to get to go to!