The STATEtorialist is a blog about Penn State, college sports, and fashion. Every week, Ben from The STATEtorialist will be writing a column for Onward State. If you like what you read, be sure to comment and read more at The STATEtorialist!


I’m not going to lie, I have a lot of clothes. So much, in fact, that the studio apartment I live in that is made for two people has two closets and two dressers full of my clothes. But even with my plentiful wardrobe, I never feel like I have enough of certain items. I’m all about re-wearing jeans because they seem to be more comfortable that second time around, but there are certain things you can’t pull out of the laundry basket and throw back on without feeling at least a little bit grimey.


So in the past few months I’ve been thinking and there are a few things I really wish I had an extensive collection of, and I like to think of these things as essentials. Read on for some items that you shouldn’t feel bad for overloading on.

The now infamous State Patty’s day is upon us, and people are flooding the stores downtown that did not agree to pull all State Patty’s merchandise. This has nothing to do with fashion, but in my opinion, long live State Patty’s Day and let college kids have their fun!
To the administrators opposing it: think back to when you were in college. Did you want people raining on your parade? Of course not. No one gave you trouble about sneaking into Beaver Stadium after the National Championship and carrying a goal post across College Ave.!


But I’m really here to talk about State Patty’s Day fashion. The holiday has a lot to do with what people are wearing. Shops downtown have a bunch of different types of clothing with a few standard phrases, like the classic “Kiss Me I’m Drunk.”


My advice is to go all out! Wear the best of the best printed tees from People’s Nation and get to McLanahan’s before it’s too late to get your green shotglass necklace. The more green this Saturday, the better. Rock your green to show your passion for our famous Saturday in late February/early March. From socks to hats, wear that green.


Last year I wore the traditional green PSU shirt, but I’m hoping people to get more creative this year. My choice this year was a shirt from the Phyrst that’s on display at Ernie’s Steaks (If you have green slacks, please wear them. The goal is to stand out. But not too much because of the increased police enforcement).


Long live State Patty’s and going overboard with green.

I ran into Dongju on College Ave. last week and couldn’t help but notice that gray peacoat. You see so many blacks and blues around (I’m guilty of conforming too), so it was nice to see something different. Then I looked down and noticed what I really loved about Dongju’s outfit; it was her shoes. I wish I could tell you what material they are, but what I loved about them is that they look so sturdy and classic.


Most of all, why the shoes make her look is how she’s wearing them. For some reason, a lot of dressier shoes look better without socks, and with the weather in the 20s that day, it took a lot of guts not to wear any socks. In the end, it paid off for Dongju. She’s rocking them in the best way possible, not to mention I really like the accent her green sweater gives to the peacoat.


Lastly, check out the buttons on her peacoat below. I like trying to notice the little things that make people’s outfits look unique, and I didn’t even notice this until I cropped the photo. The eagle and shield emblem on the buttons are awesome.

The STATEtorialist is a blog about Penn State, college sports, and fashion. Every week, Ben from The STATEtorialist will be writing a column for Onward State. If you like what you read, be sure to comment and read more at The STATEtorialist!


Today I was reading my favorite blog, The Sartorialist, and underneath a picture of someone walking through a blizzard in New York City, the author Scott Schuman exclaimed his disapproval of “The system” and how it kept him from being able to buy a pair of gloves. The system he is referring to is the one that makes everyone, specifically store owners, think that just because the holidays have ended, that spring has sprung (regardless what happens in Punxsutawney).


Clearly, if you look out your window, winter is still going strong, as it is in New York as well, and stores are in a spring fashion state of mind. Scott’s post got me thinking that while we’re still getting mounds of snow here in State College, my posts might as well still be winter fashion oriented, especially since stores like Harpers and Barefoot are putting their fall and winter stuff on sale right now.


Something that I never really thought about until recently is the uncomfortable, un-versatile accessory that is the dress sock. Does the prospect of socks pique your interest? Read the full post after the jump to find some good deals on dress socks.

Valley, Penn State’s life and style mag, recently launched its new home on the interwebs.


The design is simple and everything is easily found, but I’d expect something chicer from a life & style magazine. Old issues of Valley are accessible on the site, and blog posts with fashion tips and lifestyle observations are published on a fairly regular schedule. In our opinion, it’s worth a subscription in your RSS reader!

Whether you know it or not, in your dorm, apartment, house, bedroom, hole in the wall, or wherever it is that you sleep at night, you have a man-station. Its function comes out between your morning shower and leaving for the day. Having something like this is essential, because it’s your one stop before you go out the door. Ever since I dedicated a dresser in my room to all these essential items, I have yet to lose my keys, my wallet, my cell phone, or any of the other items on it. If you don’t already have this separate, set-aside, organized station, my suggestion is to make one – it makes starting the day a lot easier. Here’s some typical things to start with.

• The Classic Keys, Wallet, Cell Phone
• Cologne
• Glasses (if applicable)
• Important miscellaneous items that you need for the next day
• Picture of mom (just kidding, but if you tell her it’s there she’ll love it)

So the next time you lose forget your keys, can’t find your iPod, or are begging a professor to let you run home and grab that paper that you left at home, go home immediately, clear off a dresser, and fill it with the essentials. If you already have one, tell us. What’s on your man-station?

Not only is it still snowing as if winter has no plans to go anywhere, but it’s coming down out there more than it has in years. To much surprise, instead of marking up certain items, I’ve noticed a lot of stores downtown having big sales, some of which are things that could definitely come in handy in light of Snowpocalypse ‘10. Read on for a list of just a few of the things going on downtown that I noticed on my walk home the other day.

The STATEtorialist is a blog about Penn State, college sports, and fashion. Every week, Ben from The STATEtorialist will be writing a column for Onward State. If you like what you read, be sure to comment and read more at The STATEtorialist!


Every time I pass by Harper’s men’s clothing store on College Ave., I look at the same item in the window, but never walk in and peruse the store, because from word of mouth I know there’s nothing in there that’s really affordable. Well I finally inquired about the price of the Lambswool Penn State “S” sweater that’s been in their window for as long as I can remember. Turns out it’s $158. Needless to say, us college kids are strapped for cash. And when I say strapped for cash, I mean the selling your plasma and working jobs we hate kind of strapped.


So what are the fashionistos and fashionistas of Happy Valley to do when it comes to looking good and saving money? Read on to find out.

Valley, Penn State’s life and style magazine, is currently searching for its Spring 2010 cover story. Apparently they can’t really find someone to write about. Maybe they’re lazy? Maybe it’s just what I like to call passive research, where you let the research come to you. For example, my U.S. Cultures term paper topic was about how hippies changed modern perceptions of drugs and sex, chosen because VH1’s “The Drug Years” and “Sex: The Revolution” were on that week. Maybe they’re trying to make it into some sort of contest?
For their Spring 2010 issue, they’re looking for a female undergraduate …

Feeling sexy? Don’t have a way to put it to good use? M.O.O.D. Magazine is looking for 12 hot guys and girls just like you!
This student-run magazine will feature 24 hotties on the cover of its January 2010 issue.
Find out more!

Michelle, on College Avenue across from Old Main.
After a brief hiatus, The Natty Nittany is back! This week we feature Michelle who is sporting an awesome fall themed ensemble. I’m absolutely in love with the skirt, it just screams fall, and as Michelle put it, today’s one of the last days you’re going to be able to wear a skirt, so you might as well. The wool coat she’s wearing has great shape and is just the right length for her, hitting just at the hips, not too short, not too long. But my favorite piece of the ensemble is …

Abby. Photographed by Melanie outside the Corner Room.
It’s been a long time since we’ve featured a girl on The Natty Nittany (not since last April, actually), but that doesn’t mean that Abby is on here just because we needed to shrink the gender gap. Abby has a great look, pairing a fun sun dress with a long sweater, she makes her style fit the in-between feeling that is fall. But as excellent as her dress and sweater pairing is, it’s really her boots that make the outfit. Bright red cowboy boots? Awesome. Also, you can’t see it in the picture, but …

Andrew. Photographed by Melanie on the Corner of College Ave. and Allen St.
We’re now a good 2 weeks into Fall, which mean that it’s time to bust out scarfs, herringbone vests and exercise good use of layering. This is exactly what Andrew does here. I’m a big fan of tan cotton jackets and jeans, they compliment each other very well. Speaking of the jeans, they fit well, they are worn but obviously weren’t bought that way. His pairing of the skinny tie with the v-neck t-shirt and herringbone vest is excellent, a healthy mix of casual and formal. Add a …

Zachary. Photographed outside the Nittany Bank on College Ave.
In the triumphant return of the Natty Nittany, I present you with Zachary. I ran into Zachary looking exceptionally sharp outside the bank. At first I didn’t take him to be a college student, but when I asked him, I discovered that he’s a graduate student working towards his MBA in Smeal. I noticed that he had a great look on for September, herringbone is perhaps one of my favorite fabric patterns and is perfect for fall. Who cares that fall doesn’t start until September 23? I wore a sweater today comfortably, …

Mike.  Photographed in Atherton Hall.
It’s hot outside – something foreign after surviving this semester.  There’s no reason to abandon fashion in favor of that “tan” you’ve been working on all weekend though.  Mike exhibits the beauty of simplicity perfectly on this gorgeous day.  A blue oxford and a dark colored pair of chinos (they’re not pleated, don’t be afriad!) is always a winning combination when it comes to casual campus wear.  His sneakers match flawlessly (Onitsuka Tigers anyone?!) and by tucking in the shirt he elevates the outfit to a totally new level of class.  Rolling up the sleeves and …