Gisele just hit the big 3-0, but her new spread in September’s Harper’s Bazaar UK proves that she’s not yet past her expiration date (Heidi, on the other hand…). “The Body” works her usual magic in the cover story, flaunting her artfully tousled golden locks and peekaboo black ensembles for all they’re worth.

Sophia Neopitou-Apostolou styled this season’s trends to perfection on the Brazilian bombshell, putting lace details, sheer pieces and lingerie-as-outerwear looks on center stage. Chunky gold accessories and vertical lines (see: the railings and buildings in the shoot’s urban background) further accentuate the clothes’ sleek, body-conscious silhouettes.

Kirsten Trelenberg, a rising senior at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, is one of AKIRA’s Campus Representatives. Here, she gives us the inside scoop on her school’s style by way of two personal interviews with MSU fashionistas (and Akira fans!).

Students at Michigan State University have the opportunity to do most of their shopping in the MSU “downtown” area. Grand River, a very small fashion district located right across from campus, features mainstream clothing stores like Urban Outfitters & American Apparel and a couple of boutiques like Mad Eagle and The Refinery. Since our huge college town has such a limited selection of clothing stores, online shopping is a big deal for students who don’t like to look like everyone else. I decided to interview a couple of MSU students to see what their view on AKIRA Chicago is!

NAME: Emily Jacobson
AGE: 22
COLLEGE: Michigan State University Alumni ’10
MAJOR: Marketing, International Business

Emily is pictured in various pieces from AKIRA.

1) Define Chicago fashion.

Chicago is a smorgasbord when it comes to fashion. Everyone is incredibly unique in his or her attire.

2) What would you say your style is?

My style is always chic and classy with a little edge. I love the classic LBD, animal prints, costume jewelry, high-wasted skirts and (of course) a stylish pair of 4-inch platform heels.

3) What did you think of the AKIRA boutique when you first visited it?

I loved how a lot of the apparel was sorted by colors. It makes the store look so vibrant and it’s easier to find an outfit. Overall, the store looked posh and I knew I would be coming back for more!

4) What makes AKIRA different from other boutiques you have shopped at?

You can find something at AKIRA for every occasion and price range! It is my go-to boutique for my New Year’s Eve, birthday and Lollapalooza outfits. I also always find cute rompers, purses and everyday dresses there.

5) What are your favorite pieces from AKIRA?

Dresses, for sure! If it were up to me, I would wear a different AKIRA dress every day of the year. I love how they have every different color, print and fit imaginable.

6) What makes you a loyal AKIRA customer?

I love the people who work at AKIRA; they always pick out the best outfits for me and are so fun. AKIRA also has great discounts during your birthday month, and I love the hole-punch reward card. The glamorous parties and fashion shows that AKIRA always has are a blast too! Mainly, though, I just cannot get enough of AKIRA’s fashionable clothing and accessories.

NAME: Klaudia Jakubiak
Age: 21
COLLEGE: Michigan State University
MAJOR: Human Resources

Klaudia is pictured in various pieces from AKIRA.

1) Define fashion at Michigan State University.

Fashion at Michigan State University is definitely vibrant and trendy. But it’s also very laidback (it’s a college campus, after all).

2) What would you say your style is?

I consider my style to be trendy yet girly. I love to add a great pair of heels to every outfit I wear!

3) Have you ever heard about AKIRA, located in Chicago?

Yes, I’ve heard a lot of great things about AKIRA! Many of my friends told me about this boutique, so when I went to Chicago I made sure to check out AKIRA.

4) Have you ever shopped at AKIRA?

Yes, the last time I visited Chicago I went to AKIRA for the first time.

5) What did you think of AKIRA when you first visited it?

I was amazed at the selection and different styles of clothing they offer. Everything was extremely unique and I found exactly what I was looking for. Also, the employees were super friendly and offered great customer service.

6) What is your must-have item from AKIRA?

Well, that’s a hard question because I want everything! But I fell in love with a pair of silver studded wedges designed by Jeffrey Campbell (editor’s note: they’re called the Tick & are pictured above). They were so different and eye-catching, and you can definitely make a statement with those.

6) What makes AKIRA different from other boutiques you have shopped at?

I think what stood out the most to me was the array of dresses. Everything was color-coordinated, which made it super easy to find the color of dress I was looking for. Also, most boutiques I shop at don’t provide such great customer service. I was impressed when the stylist gave me her opinion on my selections and showed me all her favorites throughout the store because it gave me more ideas for outfits.

7) Will you continue to shop at AKIRA?

Yes, I will definitely continue shopping at AKIRA. Since I live in Michigan I don’t have the opportunity to shop there as much as I’d like, so I plan on shopping online at shopakira.com to stay on top of the latest fashion trends at AKIRA.

There was a point in time at which I would’ve never—and I mean NEVER—taken style tips from Nicole Richie. I’m sure you know the Nicole Richie to which I’m referring, but just in case, here’s some visual evidence of her cringeworthy former self:

For years, her look represented the perfectly awkward storm of poor fit, too-tan skin and mismatched accessories. Then, in a flash, Nicole revamped her image and bowled over Hollywood with a swan-like fashion metamorphosis. Her quirky-chic ensembles made the weekly style pages with astounding regularity, impressing fans and naysayers alike.

Alas, her personal life wasn’t quite as put-together as her new-and-improved wardrobe; she endured an all-too-public up-and-down battle with her weight and got busted for driving under the influence in late 2006 (believe it or not, she’s still attending court-mandated driver’s education classes for the offense).

Shortly after her arrest, however, Nicole cleaned up her act, channeling her energy into a stable long-term relationship with Good Charlotte rocker Joel Madden. This relationship resulted not only in the birth of two little ones–could her life get any more picket-fence?—but also in the formation of a non-profit called the Richie-Madden Children’s Foundation.

Nicole’s newfound calm soon manifested itself in her career. Half a year after the birth of her daughter Harlow, she parlayed her reputation for boho-chic street style into an appropriately-named vintage-inspired jewelry line called House of Harlow 1960.

This collaboration struck the perfect balance between high and low, earning serious industry cred from the involvement of storied jeweler Pascal Mouawad and accolades from trend-obsessed bargain hunters. (After all, most of the collection tops out at $100—as Nicole says, “I like things to be eclectic and comfortable.”)

As of this week, AKIRA shoppers can get their hands on HOH goods online (can’t you just hear the collective squeal of excitement echoing around Chicagoland?).

It’s difficult to winnow down offerings that are already so spot-on, but if I had to pick favorites I would choose the following:

1. The Peacock Statement Ring, featured in the new AKIRA lookbook picture above: There’s nothing prettier than a real peacock’s splayed plumage—but this enameled version comes pretty darn close. I would pair this with a whimsically-printed blue dress and gold wedges—it’s strong enough to make an outfit pop.
2. The Gold Locket: I’ll admit that I’m a total sucker for any and all lockets—there’s just something so charming and antique-y about them—but you don’t have to share my level of obsession in order to love this piece. It’s sizeable without bordering on the obnoxious, and could work with a button-down and jeans or a silky maxi.

1. The Hatter Company’s Leather Buckle Hat, $19.90 - This natty tan fedora certainly makes a style statement, but its classic leather strap keeps it from looking overdone. Plus, you’ll only be slapping down a Jackson for this sucker–could the price point be any more reasonable?

2. AKIRA’s Beaded Neck Chiffon Top, $36.90 - This blousy tank draws attention to the universally-appealing clavicle area and features a peekaboo cutout back. It’s the perfect transition piece: skimpy enough for summer but dressy enough for fall.

3. Qupid’s Lacee Heel, $46.90 - These booties walk the line between edgy and girly–they would work just as well with a blousy top and dark jeans as they would with a banded skirt and structured top.

4. AKIRA’s Gathered Jersey Dress, $38.90 - Are you picking up on my current ardor for black? I’ve been wearing a few too many floral tube dresses lately–it’s time for some clean lines and monochromatic colors.

1. Julie Christie’s ice-queen chic in the 1965 film Doctor Zhivago. Christie’s already-otherworldly beauty is accented wonderfully throughout by jewel-toned dresses, chunky sweaters and generous layers of fur. No one has ever looked better traipsing through barren landscapes in below-zero temps.

2. The searing green and aged luxury of this abandoned Cuban mansion. I love that its backstory will forever remain in the realm of the imagination.

3. Blogger Karla DeRass‘ fearless approach to style. Who else would’ve thought to wrap a sash around one’s breasts and call it a day? Plus, her short haircut makes normally-inconspicuous details–diamond earrings, a vintage necklace, a peekaboo tattoo–take front stage.

4. Stewart Shining’s bright, sun-dappled shot of Devon Aoki lounging on a couch. This is how we all want to look on a dog-day afternoon: refreshed, breezy and elegantly rumpled.

5. Belgian artist Ben Heine’s half-drawn, half-photographed compositions. He’s been heating up the blogosphere with his Surrealist- and pop art-inspired work.

Kaylah Mathis, a rising senior at Ohio Northern University in Ada, OH, is one of AKIRA’s Campus Representatives. Here, she gives us the inside scoop on fashion on her campus.

The only thing that surrounds us Klondikes at Ohio Northern University is cornfields, cows and a whole lot of room for creativity. ONU style alternates between fashion-forward and comfort-oriented, depending on the occasion. Students step out in their finest when they go out on the town, but when they’re headed to class, they pull on sweatpants, hoodies and athleticwear. For the majority of the student body, Sunday casual extends into the schoolweek; only sorority girls dress up on Mondays. ONU wardrobes also vary according to academic major. For example, the musical theater students are more colorful and daring with their clothing selections, while the business students are more conservative.

Ohio Northern’s mascot is Klondike the polar bear, and the weather in Ada is not unlike that in said animal’s arctic habitat. Almost 90% of the female student body keep warm during the winter with a pair of UGG boots, a North Face and a matching hat, glove and scarf set.

As soon as it starts to get warm outside, ONU’s campus comes to life. Dresses, polos and shorts are all must-haves during the spring. People begin to rep their Greek letters and spend a lot more time outside on their Vera Bradley blankets. Whether students are out sunbathing, waiting for their next class to start with their friends or taking a midday jog, they have many opportunities to express their personalities through their clothes.

Although ONU is located in middle-of-nowhere Ohio, its student body is composed of people of many different cultures. Frequent fashion and talent shows featuring traditional saris, crepe-cooking demonstrations and African hymn performances give these students a chance to share their cultures with everyone else at school.

Once 5 PM on Friday rolls around, it’s the beginning of the weekend (AKA time to party hardy). As far as fashion, anything goes! The girls on campus love to look feminine with a touch of edge, while the guys just like to be comfortable.

Let’s not forget formals. When you’re in high school, you think your last chance to get dressed up is prom. Wrong! At school we have formals for almost all the major sororities and fraternities. These events take you back to that special day when you wanted to be best-dressed and have everyone compliment you on that fierce dress or banging shoes. And it doesn’t hurt to have a little eye candy on your arm while you’re strutting your stuff, either!

So whether you’re on your way to the semester’s hottest party dressed to impress, lounging around waiting for your next class to start, or biking around campus, you’ll never skip a beat on the dance that I like to call the ONU Fashion Shuffle!

Allison Doherty, a rising senior at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI (and twin sister of our previous guest blogger, Lauren!), is one of AKIRA’s Campus Representatives. Here, she gives us even more info on fashion at MSU.

Michigan State University is home to great sports teams (go green!), incredible academic & study abroad programs and a down-to-earth student body. Since MSU offers its Spartans a choice of 150 majors, its students have many different backgrounds and tastes. This versatility expresses itself in the campus’ fashion scene.

MSU is full of trendy, stylish and independent students. Even though the student body is almost 40,000, each Spartan keeps his or her style consistent and infuses it with personality. Most students’ wardrobes consist of trendy urban pieces. During the winter months, though, girls tend to fall into a uniform. This uniform consists of black leggings, a down North Face parka and the dreaded Ugg boots. Some girls like to accessorize with winter headbands and colorful scarves. I hate to admit that I do dress in this uniform from October to February (and even sometimes into March). It’s just so easy to pull this together as you’re rushing out of your apartment and taking on a blizzard outside.

Most students tend to do their shopping along Grand River Ave., which is a strip of shops on our main road through campus. These stores include the ever-popular Urban Outfitters and American Apparel. If you’re willing to spend a little more, then you can check out Mad Eagle, where they sell Frye Boots, cozy Alternative Apparel zip-ups and Free People tops. Mad Eagle also has jewelry and hair accessories for sale.

This coming academic year, I see the MSU trend of wearing moccasins and UGG boots shifting toward TOMs shoes, Vans and classic Converse. I also think that more people will be wearing Hunter rainboots with liners to keep dry and warm in the winter. From my own experience, wearing rainboots is a great alternative to wearing Uggs, which become sopping wet after five minutes of walking in the snow.

Overall, Michigan State’s style can be described as classic with a bit of a trendy edge.

Lauren Doherty, a rising senior at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, is one of AKIRA’s Campus Representatives. Here, she gives us the inside scoop on fashion on her campus.

Fresh out of the gate, we have fall. Everyone is excited to be back at school and Spartan football is starting (which  could mean only one thing: tailgate season). People start to sport their green and white while putting their own personal spin on a Michigan State T-shirt. This past fall, cutting your tee to make it off the shoulder was a huge trend at MSU; many girls would sport it with a tank underneath, a pair of cutoff jean shorts or leggings, and Nike Dunks or Havaianas.

Football season lasts well into November, but the dropping temps don’t deter MSU fashionistas. Spartan legwarmers to wear under Hunter boots were popular and a super cute way to stay warm and spirited, as well as Spartan headbands and slouchy hats.

Sacrificing style for snow? Not at Michigan State. When the leaves start to fall and snow begins to appear, North Face down jackets and Ugg Boots follow suit. This look is a uniform for most girls during the brutally cold winter months. If you want to survive a long walk to and from class, you must own a down jacket and Uggs. Pairing Uggs with leggings is extremely popular. American Apparel (located on State’s campus) makes a great pair of heavy winter leggings that keep your legs toasty and chic. Once jackets unzip in class, girls can be seen wearing warm hoodies from American Apparel & lululemon athletica and chunky sweaters from Urban Outfitters. Free People headbands and hats from Mad Eagle (a local boutique) are also an easy way girls can stay warm and trendy.

Once the weather thaws out, style starts to flourish. Jean cutoff shorts and sundresses were popular all over campus this past spring as daily class attire. State students loved to pair their strappy flat sandals and TOMS shoes with shorts or leggings. As far as going out, tight high-waisted skirts with printed tanks are always a great option. This past spring, lace was huge on campus; Spartans tucked their lace tops into skirts or wore them loose with jeans. Wedges made a comeback this past season at State. Wedges dress up a pair of jeans and a tee with ease, adding height without the discomfort.

TOMS Printed Rec Slip-On, available at shopakira.com

AKIRA Lace and Pleats Top, available at shopakira.com

Aryn K Layered Jersey Zip Skirt, available at shopakira.com

Dollhouse Fiza Gold Espadrille Wedge, available at shopakira.com

Overall, Spartans love to dress up and sport the latest trends by night but remain laidback and comfortable by day.

Beth Liebler, a rising junior at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, is one of AKIRA’s Campus Representatives. Here, she gives us the inside scoop on fashion on her campus.

As a Hospitality and Tourism Management major, I never paid much attention to who was wearing what on campus and which people were wearing the latest fashions. Now that I am involved with AKIRA, though, I have been noticing what people are wearing more and it has made me really think about the types of fashions I see on campus during the school year.

I attend Purdue University in Indiana. Purdue is home to about 40,000 students during the year, so fashion at this university is all over the place. We have a major Greek system here at Purdue, so one style you will see a lot is the preppy style. If you see a guy in khaki shorts, a polo and Sperry Topsiders, then chances are they are part of the Greek system. Sperrys are a very popular fashion trend with students of both genders, whether or not they are in the Greek system. They are comfortable, stylish, and go with any kind of look. A lot of the times you will see girls wearing yoga pants, a white V-neck and a pair of Sperrys. They are all-weather shoes and are very good for the rain. You will also see men wearing basketball shorts and T-shirts with their Sperrys.

Another big fashion statement among the women on campus is leggings with longer American Apparel V-necks or longer sweaters. Girls like to dress very comfortable and cute but not too dressy, so the American Apparel T-shirt look with leggings and Sperrys or flats is a popular look at Purdue. During the day, you will notice that most people dress casually and comfortably. Not a lot of students get dressed up in skirts or dresses to go sit in a classroom.

Nightlife at Purdue is a very different story when it comes to fashion. Girls change out of their comfortable leggings and into high-waisted skirts, tanks and heels. Whether it is tight-fitted or flowy, the high-wasted skirt is a big fashion statement at my university. Girls love to pair their skirts with flowy tops that go over the top of the skirt or fitted shirts that tuck into the skirt. Belts are a big style here as well. Guys’ style at night is the pretty much the same as it is during the day. A polo shirt, khakis or jeans and Sperrys is mainly what you will see around the campus bars or house parties.

1. Classytrash of Chictopia in a loose vintage jacket and Jeffrey Campbell’s Mariel wedges (available at shopakira.com). She says she’s “looking lazy” in this shot–but if that’s lazy, we’re all screwed. I love her expert mix of patterns and solids, loose and tight, retro and cutting-edge.

2. Katy Perry at Toronto’s ETalk show in a fringe-front dress and studded cutout heels. A spot-on interpretation of the one-shoulder trend–and the heels give her great (foot) cleavage.

3. Tricia G. of Lookbook in a prairie-chic ensemble. She manages to look pretty, folksy and sexy all at once–is that even normal? Bonus: You can snatch up her strappy Michael Antonio wedges at shopakira.com.

4. Rumi Neely of Fashiontoast in a trippy long-sleeve mini, lethal geometric pumps and jet-black sunglasses. Out of the world, huh? To top things off, she designed the dress herself.

5. I had to give a shoutout to the guys–this is Alexander G. of Lookbook (from the Land of Lincoln, no less) in a bold all-black look. One commenter hit it on the mark when he branded Alexander a “male Mary-Kate”.

P.S. So it’s not an outfit…but amazing, nonetheless. On the hands of British supermodel Agyness Deyn. (Wasn’t I just raving about neon nails?)

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