-By Emily Bonsignore-

Picnic Day has a rich reputation. Going on its 99th year, Picnic Day is believed to be the largest student-run event in the United States. UC Davis students begin planning for this infamous day months in advance, practicing to perform their talents and strut their stuff. Speaking of strutting their stuff, this past Picnic Day hosted the 26th annual Fashion and Design Society Fashion Show, Threads in Motion. Set in Freeborn Hall, fashion design majors are given the opportunity to showcase their handmade, hand-dyed signature collections.

Designer Faye Lessler started off the show with her environmentally conscious collection. Lessler’s fashion philosophy and inspiration stem from social revolutions that used fashion as way to obtain social change in the world. Inspired by this century’s Green Revolution, Lessler used non-toxic vegetable dyes and upcycled old clothing to create earth friendly pieces that will eventually become standard practices in commercial fashion.

Rachel Law’s Hawaiian inspired collection was all about the details. After spending four long months pleating, dyeing and stenciling all of her garments by hand, Law described her experience as “the most rewarding feeling [to finish] and [see] all my outfits on the runway.” The traditional Hawaiian iconography brought a diverse beauty to the show.

To end the show was one of Davis’ most meticulous designers, Faizan Dar, whose edgy collection focused on color and structure. His quality, multi-layered dyed fabrics had an exotic, animalistic quality, with the strong shoulders adding a contemporary feel to the classic silhouettes. Every designer brought something new and creative to the runway, making for a chic Picnic Day!

By Emily Bonsignore

Our spring thus far has been quite fickle. From the 90 degree days to torrential downpours, even the blustery wind storms left me half tempted to lock myself indoors, rather than face bipolar mother nature. However, since all of us at some point must leave the comforts of our beds to endure the manic weather, we might as well do it in style. This means act like an onion and show off some serious layers. Long sleeves over T-shirts under coats and everything else in-between; take some tips from these handsome guys on how to show the weather who is boss!

David Ou
David Ou is no stranger to Submerge, and his style is so nice I had to feature him twice. David’s style is completely classic: tailored pants and fitted cardigans are suitable for any occasion. A big trend for men’s fashion this spring is one standout piece, rather than several articles competing for the spotlight. A striped long sleeve peeks its way through David’s simple layers, breaking up the solid neutrals and allowing his outfit to transform throughout the day.

Henry Li
Taking a more urban approach compared to David’s timeless look, Henry Li’s downtown vibe rivals David’s uptown attitude. Donning a sporty cargo jacket and beat up red converse, Henry’s outfit is perfect for a day of class or an excursion to the city. A color blocked gray and white T-shirt is a contemporary upgrade to any basic tee. Finish it off with a beanie for the cool mornings and nights, and you will be outsmarting the weather’s unpredictable personality in no time.

Springtime is all about renewal and rejuvenation. Winter slows us all down, and for a short while the cold and gray is nice, but there comes a time when we need to crawl out of bed and jump-start our lives again. We pack up our heavy winter clothes and bring lightness back into our lives. Although it is still not warm enough to be in full hot weather mode, the ability to walk to school in the morning without being bundled up in a huge, bulky parka has been refreshing. The street style on campus this week had elements of both spring and fall, making for a smooth seasonal transition.

– By Emily Bonsignore

Paola Capo-Garcia
Paola Capo-Garcia sported an earth-tone ensemble on a recent mild afternoon. When it comes to the transition from winter to spring layering is key. The mornings and evenings are still chilly and warrant a little cover up, but the afternoons call for cotton shirts and capri pants. To finish your spring look it is essential to have a unique pair of flats and statement sunnies.

Emily Yang
Emily Yang combines jewel tones and lace into this flirty spring look. Her nude and black lace top is right on trend for this season as countless American designers used the combo in their 2013 spring collections. A ruby skirt brightens up Emily’s muted top, but instead of sandals try a pair of oxfords in a contrasting color to give hip vibe to a simple outfit.

Divya Singh
Finally, Divya Singh’s cobalt blouse caught my eye on campus. Her look was classic and effortless with a pair of black skinnies and a quilted bag that made the blue pop! Any solid color blouse will wear well through all of spring and summer, because it is easily paired with high-waisted shorts and maxi skirts.

-By Emily Bonsignore
I recently went on a trip to Los Angeles and was lucky enough to experience some 80-degree weather. Unfortunately, this small taste of spring has left me wanting more. In my anxious anticipation for its return, I made floral crowns for exciting, upcoming spring events! Whether you are lucky enough to go to Coachella or, like me, will be sporting them at Davis’ Whole Earth Festival, these crowns are a sure way to brighten your day!

1) Everything you need can be purchased at your local craft store, and all for under $10! You will need floral wire, floral tape, scissors and an assortment of silk flowers of your choice.

2) The next step is to cut all the flowers from the larger stem. Make sure to leave a little stem attached to the flower so you can later attach them to the headpiece.

3) To make the headpiece, wrap the wire around your head to desired tightness. I wrapped mine three times around for stability reasons. Don’t forget to twist the ends together and secure with floral tape.

4) This step is the fun part! You get to arrange your flowers. I wanted mine to be a bit more like a bouquet, so I stacked the flowers to get a bunchier feel, but the style is completely up to you.

5) To attach your flowers take small pieces of wire and wrap them around the stems to the headpiece. To prevent the wire ends from poking you wrap with floral tape.

6) Finally, “If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.”

By Emily Bonsignore

College is synonymous with freedom. From the people you choose to be your friends, the activities you become involved with or your political stance on pending issues, in college there is no one to tell you what to do. And as for fashion, well, the same rule applies. While yoga pants and sweats are the unanimous favorites among most college kids, some students choose to step out of the comfort zone and experiment with style. You have the once in a lifetime chance to try exciting new trends without running the risk of breaking any dress code. With the first weeks of school in full swing, I spotted some of the most stylish students at UC Davis.

Liana Hsu

A huge trend that hit the summer like a tidal wave was the high-low skirt. Somewhat of a clothing mullet, the skirt is knee-length or higher in the front then swooping back into a maxi length. Liana Hsu is simplistic and chic with her beach-inspired white frock. Despite the official beginning of the fall season, Davis is still 90 degrees– upsetting for those who are eager to wear cozy sweaters and coats. Liana pairs her dress with some strap-y leather sandals and delicate jewelry, creating an easy, breezy look on a busy school day.

Nicolette Lacson

Burgundy and dark wine colors are big for fall and are definitely eye-catching colors. Nicolette Lacson’s dark magenta sundress stood out amongst the sea of T-shirts and shorts. This dress could work for so many different body types. With a cinched waist and flounce-y skirt, it will surely flatter the best parts of you. The button and pocket details add a preppy flair, as do her Sperry Topsiders and oversized cat eye sunglasses. For all those Davisites, a note of caution: It is near impossible to bike in a short dress; stick to walking!

Christine Young

Yet another popular trend that is continuing into the fall season is sheer fabric. From shirts to dresses, grandmother’s slips are being thrown out to reveal what lies underneath. One of the more risqué looks is showcasing your brassiere beneath a sheer blouse. However, if you are not quite ready to reveal all of Victoria’s secrets, then try something a bit more appropriate. Christine Young does a sheer black, maxi skirt and underneath wears a short opaque skirt. This is revealing without being provocative. You still get to show off your legs without feeling completely exposed. With a buttoned up, collared blouse and a pendant necklace, Christine certainly knows how to keep it classy.

A simple defining piece can add a uniqueness to any look. A singular twist to a classic outfit is enough to turn a humdrum guy into an urban gentleman. I find men’s fashion more fluid from season to season in terms of continuation of trends, as opposed to the ever-changing women’s fashion. Here are a couple of stylish gents I spotted this weekend!

Kyle Mitzel rocks an all earth tone look while doing some weekend thrifting in Midtown. The foundation of his outfit is elementary consisting of a rust colored T-shirt and pair of olive shorts. However, a few distinctive details make this look eye-catching. First, Kyle’s T-shirt is reminiscent of sedimentary rocks, an apropos visual for his earthy ensemble. Have an interesting focal point when it comes to basic tees, a cool graphic can certainly change the look of an outfit. Kyle goes sockless, an ongoing trend with penny loafers for casual occasions. Finally, tortoise Lucite wayfarers, an acrylic plastic trending in both men’s and women’s fashion accessories, top it off. Mix classic pieces with contemporary trends to achieve an expert look.

While on a late night coffee run to Weatherstone, I spotted Nick spending his evening doing the daily crossword. I was impressed by his confidence to mix patterns, which is one of my favorite trends. Nick’s mixing is subtle, just a pop of plaid over his striped sweater is perfect for a casual weekday night. If you are hesitant to mix patterns, do not be timid. Try simple patterns, such as polka dots and stripes in similar color schemes at first and as you become more comfortable try bolder, brighter prints like paisleys and florals. To keep the patterns the focus keep the rest of the outfit understated as Nick does. A classic pair of blue jeans and a silver wristwatch completes the look.

-By Emily Bonsignore