Now that the fourth week of classes has officially begun, most U of M students are lives are filled with reading, homework assignments, papers, exams and of course, the never ending rain. With all the time you’ll be spending in the library staring out the window at the bleak grey sky, you deserve a break.  Why not take it with SHEI? Here are some of our favorite articles published on the blogs that we regularly read.  Hopefully they can divert your attention from your twenty-page poli-sci paper and the fact that you will have to wear rain boots again tomorrow!

Our first pick is How Street Style Changed the Frontier of Fashion Photography by the writers of NYMag’s The Cut.  This article explores the evolution of both street style and fashion photography.  It describes street style’s trajectory from an egalitarian form of self-expression to a mode of celebrity self-promotion. The fashion industry is dynamic and has experienced a great deal of change since the advent of new forums that discuss it, like fashion blogs.  It is interesting to think about how an established art form like fashion photography can change to fit these new mediums.

Conventional Fashion Photography. FrancoiseDubois/ Wikimedia Commons

Up next is Worth it: Pretty & Pampering Lip Balm on Jezebel.  The “Worth it” articles on this diverse blog feature products that Jezebel writers find that are actually useful.  It helps that the blog isn’t being paid for or endorsed by any of the brands they write about.  This particular article caught our eye because it claims that E.O.S Lip Balm is superior to other brands primarily because of its unique design, describing it as “pseudo-luxurious”. This got us thinking about the impact of branding and packaging on our own preferences.

Our final feature is a street style picture from The Sartorialist.  In an example that is contrary to The Cut article, this girl exudes glamour with her structured blue dress, dark nails, flats and quilted leather bag.  We like her because she embodies transition from Summer to Fall.  Her the dress is ideal for warm weather, but its structured silhouette and thick material are wintry.  Her dark nails are a winter trend but her sandals are summery.  She reflects our current state of mind.