Meet LauraBlouse: TJ Maxx Jeans: PacSun Booties: TJ Maxx Necklace: Boutique in France Why do you feel that it’s important to have personal style? “Well...I feel like with style, it’s always a way to kind of express who you are and my personal style, in regards to where it comes from….I don’t necessarily have an inspiration. I just kinda usually go with whatever is comfortable. I don’t know….I guess I always go with a grungy look but with a modern twist and it’s sort of a reflection of my personality. A touch of girly-girl and grunge style. I don’t really have consistent style. I just go with whatever I’m feeling that day and it just sorta reflects my mood.” In regards to style, why do you feel that it is important to individualize yourself? “I guess…it’s kinda like a reflection of who you are. When you first meet someone and it’s a first-impression, your style reflects the type of person that people perceive you to be. So I think that it’s important to embrace your individualism and the fact that you can dress however you want and express yourself however you want.” What are some of your favorite stores? “I like H&M for basic stuff…. they have a really good basic section. I like some stuff at Urban Outfitters…. definitely clearance rack. If I see a shirt I like (there), I’ll wait until it’s on the clearance rack to buy it. And then…I also shop at Zumiez and Vans and stuff for flannels. And Forever 21 too – I’ll literally just walk through the mall and if I see something I like I’ll just head into the store – it doesn’t matter if it’s popular. (I’m always interested in) something that catches my eye or catches my attention.” What part of your style (makeup, shoes, etc…) makes you feel most confident? “I’ll probably have to go with jeans because there are just so many different types of jeans. You can have black or ripped…and, if you find a good pair of jeans that are really comfortable, you look good and feel really good. “ Do you have a favorite brand of jeans? “Yes, I do. I’m wearing them right now…they’re called Bullhead Denim Co. from PacSun. That is actually one of my favorite stores. You can buy me anything from there and I’ll wear it. I cut these jeans myself…” Are you a DIY girl? “I am, actually. I watch a lot of youtube videos on how to cut shirts…over the summer I’ll always just cut up my t shirts and I like it because it’s a t shirt but it’s cute and personalized. Plus ripped jeans are always more expensive so if you can just find a pair of cheap jeans…or even these jeans (the pair she's wearing): they had a stain on them and I just put a rip through where the stain was and now there’s no stain!” Tell us how you rip your jeans. “Well you have to make two parallel cuts that are horizontal and you pull threads that are vertical out from the threads that are horizontal. At first it takes a while to et it going but once you get it, the strings start to fall out. It’s just a matter of getting it started. (With ripped jeans) I usually don’t put them in the wash before I wear them so I get more use out of them and then they’ll sort of conform to my body.” What kind of shoes do you like the most? “Different types of boots…absolutely different types of boots. You can go with a cute wedged boot to take a casual outfit and make it more dressed up. You can go with all boots with a little buckle on it…and then you can go with combat boots. I also love vans though. Those are just my comfort shoes.” Obviously, you’ve heard my woes about the college application process, but your decision to join the Marines must have also been quite stressful. What drove you in that direction? “Well I always wanted to go to college and earn my degree. It’s something I wanted to do for myself to higher my education…and I still plan on earning my degree. I actually started the college process by applying to a few schools as a backup plan…I got into Rutgers and stuff but (eventually) I realized it was just like a giant money thing. It was just….you had to pay 50 bucks to apply and another 50 to send your SAT scores somewhere and once you got in you have to pay a deposit fee." “And in my AP Lang class we were watching a documentary on the raising prices of tuition and how the majority of students come out with this large amount of debt and college doesn’t ensure that you’re going to have a job once you graduate. The one thing it does ensure is that you are going to have a lot of debt. I figured….I’m already thinking about going into the Marine Corps and I still want to earn my degree and I figured why not join before college and they’ll pay for my education? I’ll have a world of experience and it’s a different situation where I’ll better myself in a new ways and push myself in ways that most people my age will never be pushed. I’m really happy with the decision I’ve made. “ I know you love to read so tell my about your favorite book! “Silence of the Lambs has been one of my favorite books for a long time now. I like it because I like dark books…that sounds kind of weird but they intrigue me. If the author writes well it’s easy to get lost in those weird alternative worlds. The psychological aspect of Silence of the Lambs is intriguing….how they analyze (everything)….and I’ve always been interested in psychology.” What do you enjoy being most involved in? “My favorite club is most definitely the Human Rights League. We do a lot of great work in that club and give a lot back to the community. We are currently raising money for ZONTA, it’s a R.A.V.E walk – R.A.V.E stands for rape and violence eradication – and we’re raising money to give back to the abused families and it gives them hope, which is huge. We do a lot of work here at PV…we spoke out about the transgender policy and how important it was to be passed and it’s amazing how it did pass... In the past we’ve battled racism in our own hallways, and we’re happy to say we’ve come a long way from last year…” “Throughout my life I’d love to stay active throughout this work. Even if it’s not a specific organization, if there’s anything going on in the area I’m living in at the time I’d love to just take part in it. I don’t know if I’ll be able to stay active in one specific organization, like I don’t know if the Marine Corps has extra curricular activities…I don’t really know how that works yet, so I’m not really there yet, but yeah….I definitely mean to stay active in any kind of human rights, civil rights etc... Everyone deserves that. Sometimes there are people who don’t necessarily have the voice to speak up and sometimes they need help to get their voices heard. “
Do you have any advice or something you’d like to sign-off by? “Just screw what other people think and do you. Just never listen to anyone else and do your own thing….no one’s ever going to be happy with you. You can’t please everyone so you may as well just do what you want. Don’t worry about what other people think.”
0 Comments
Valley Guest of the Week: Meet Charlie: The Whimsical Writer Grade: Junior Shoes: Converse All-Star Jeans: Rude (Hot Topic) Shirt: St. John's Bay Necklace: Not sure/gift Jacket: B.A.D The Interview Why is it important to write? What solace or importance do you find in writing? "I’m going to try to word this in the least uncomfortable way, but writing is about being naked, for me. Not literally naked, but metaphorically, which sounds pretentious, and maybe it is, but writing is important, to me, because its raw. Writing, poetry especially, is a way of translating the abstract into the tangible, and being able to do that is a rewarding experience." "My goal is to move people with what I write, and to be able to express and evoke different emotions, so when that is accomplished it is a really incredible experience. I have always written to express myself, and I think, more importantly than that, I write to try to express universal feelings, things that everyone can feel. The real goal of writing is to bare yourself to people, but also give them a new sense of honesty with themselves." Tell us a little bit about the slam poetry you do. When did you first realize this was something you were interested in? "Near the end of Freshman year, someone sent me a link to Sarah Kay’s “B.” From that point on, I found some other poems of hers on Button Poetry, and it just sort of spiraled out of control from there. I started writing more Sophomore year, and I’ve been cultivating ever since. I think what really pulled me into slam poetry was the passion of it. There’s nothing quiet about slamming." "It’s radical, modern, and raw, and the honesty of it pulled me in. Being able to express opinions, experiences, and ideas – both personal and imagined – is something I don’t think I would have taught myself to do without poetry. Slam poets make up a very niche community, but a passionate and supportive one, and it’s an incredibly rewarding thing to be a part of." Who are your biggest literary inspirations in your life? What makes them so important to you? "This is going to sound really corny, but I think for the most part teachers have really shaped the way I write and the way I feel about writing. I’ve had a lot of really incredible English teachers, and I think that they’ve really helped me better myself as a writer, and have really fostered my passion for it." "As far as other writers with influences on the way I write, I think I am still forming my style, and it’s hard to tell who has shaped me the most. The distinct “voice” of slam poetry has really stuck with me, and there’s a lot of Beat influence in some of my writing, but I think it’s always changing. When I was in middle school, I wrote in simpler sentences, used obvious metaphors, and wrote clichéd Young Adult Fiction stories, because that’s what I was reading." "There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s different from the way I write now, and five years from now my writing may have a completely different voice. The inspiration comes from everywhere, and in such quantities that it’s hard to tell where from, exactly." We love short hair!! We know you love short hair! Tell us a little bit about why you decided to go for “the chop”. "Honestly, it was never a big deal for me. I knew from a very young age that I wanted short hair, but never really felt the need to act on it until middle school. It always just made sense for me to have short hair, and I’m glad I’m in a position where I can get it cut pretty much however I’d like to. The short hair is convenient, and it’s a big part of the way I like to present myself." Favorite stores? "H+M, Forever 21, and Old Navy are staples, but I’ve recently gotten much more into stores like CottonOn and Uniqlo. Uniqlo particularly has some really nice men’s shirts in odd sizes that are harder to find in other stores, that fit me much better. For people looking for great masculine-centered clothes, I would say Uniqulo and H+M menswear is the best." "Is fashion and the clothes you wear an important part of you? How so?" "My personal aesthetic is a huge part of who I am. When we talk about gender theory, it’s important to talk about performativity, or the way you take your internal sense of self and translate that into an external presentation. Basically, how you translate the inside of you into something people can see." "For me, controlling my personal aesthetic and being able to choose the way I look is a huge part of self-actualization and gender-validation. It’s harder for some than others to present to the world your internal image of yourself, but I think I am constantly getting closer to a presentation that makes me feel comfortable and one with myself. Clothing and fashion are a huge part of that presentation and what it says about me." I thought the fact that you carry a little notebook everywhere was interesting – would you like to comment on it? Why that instead of writing “notes” in your cellphone? "I was in Barnes & Noble with a friend when I first bought the miniature moleskins, sophomore year, and I immediately took to carrying one of those in my right back pocket and a pen in my left back pocket. It’s convenient if I need to give someone a note quickly or write something down to remind myself. Also, I’ve found that if I make a note in my phone, its questionable whether anything will actually come of it, but by writing everything down in the notebook, I can have everything in one place." "I write down ideas I have throughout the day, things I want to look up, that people mention, and it’s almost like a diary. I can look back at notes and remember what I was feeling or thinking at the time, or what writing pieces those notes eventually grew into. I actually just started my fourth one of these notebooks, and I think it’s a fun conversation starter at the very least." Favorite book? "I absolutely love The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, I’ve read it three times now and every time I get something new out of it. It’s really an incredibly book." Any advice for aspiring writers who aren’t quite ready to share their work? "It never stops being scary, sharing your writing with others, but it does get a little easier. The important thing is to be open and honest in your writing, first with yourself, and once you’ve come to terms with and accepted that honesty within yourself, sharing it with others is easier. That fear can pass, just be patient with it, and make sure to understand it yourself first, that will help make sharing it much easier." Charlie, you are so amazing, and it was great spending so much time talking and working with you to perfect this interview. Definitely check out Charlie's poem, "On Writing". Stay Classy Valley,
Valley Gal of The Week: JaimeMeet Jaime: The Fashionable Foodie Grade: Sophomore Leather Jacket: Old Navy White Tank: Garage Booties: Aldo Libra Necklace: C. Wonder Belt: American Eagle Bullet Necklace: Market NYC Earrings: Bloomingdales Flash Tattoo: Threads Watch: Macy's (Anne Klein) Gold Bracelets: Victoria's Secret Snakeskin Wrap-around Bracelet: Tory Burch The Interview: Why do you love wearing this outfit? "I love wearing this outfit for so many reasons! First, it is super comfy. It is easy to throw on and is great for school. Also, it is chic and stylish but adds a flare of grunge. The high neck white tank with a little mesh at the top is cute and classy. The black jeans, leather jacket, and black leather booties add a bit of grunge and make the look more edgy." Who or what inspires your style? "I usually pay a bit of attention to top designers and fashion shows to keep up with the newest trends and styles of the season. Also, Pinterest is great for inspiration when I’m trying to construct an outfit. I love Kylie Jenner’s style as well and I look to my sister a lot for inspiration. She has great taste, and we always like the same things and share our clothes! Other than that, I really just shop for new outfits while keeping in mind the newest trends and adding a little of my own style to everything I wear!" Your favorite place to shop? "My all-time favorite place to shop is Gusset. It is a small boutique in the Palisades Mall, and it has EVERYTHING that I love. It is edgy but classy, and I love every item of clothing that they sell. My other favorite places to hit up when on a major shopping spree are Urban Outfitters and Gypsy Warrior." What do you love to do in your free time? "In my free time, I love to shop (obviously), cook, and play golf. Shopping is so relaxing and who doesn’t love buying more clothes to add to your masterpiece of a wardrobe? Also, cooking is so fun, and I love to experiment with unique flavors and combinations of all different ingredients. Lastly, when spring rolls around, you can find me at the tee! This will be the second year that I am on the PV Golf Team. I have been playing for a while now, and I try to rock a polo shirt as best as I can!" What fashion advice can you give to people who are looking to update their style? "If anyone is looking to update their style, my advice is to not be afraid. Don’t be scared to try new things, and if you don’t like it, it’s okay! Try something else. Developing your own style is a long process and takes a lot of patience. So, go from classy to floral to edgy to preppy until you find what fits you best!" How would you describe your style? "I think my style describes my personality. I would describe it as classy and sophisticated but edgy. I always dress with sophistication and class because it reflects my maturity and seriousness. On the other hand, my style incorporates grunge and edginess, which reflects my fun and SUPER outgoing side. So, basically my style can range from a cute baby blue dress to an edgy leather jacket." Who do you see as the ultimate Valley Gal? "The ultimate Valley Gal is someone who is a fearless role model to everyone. It is someone who is confident and is not afraid to wear anything. It is someone who can strut their stuff and not care who is looking. It is someone who can stand up for themselves and do the right thing. It is someone who cares for others. It is someone who exudes positivity and kindness. It is someone who inspires others and sees the best in everyone." And finally, do you have anything else you'd like to say? "All I want to say is be confident. Everyone is special and beautiful in their own way (I know it’s cheesy but it is TRUE). Be proud of who you are and don’t let anyone bring you down. Shine like the star you are and WERK IT!" Jaime, we'd like to give you a HUGE thanks for being so supportive of The Valley Gal. Your positive spirit and passion is truly what our blog is about - the students who read it. Click here and here to read the two awesome articles Jaime has written for us! Stay Classy Valley,
Valley Gal of The Week: LaurenMeet Lauren: The Vibrant Writer Grade: Freshman Sweater: Aeropostale Jeans: Forever 21 Boots: Kohls The Interview: How have you changed since coming into high school? Do you feel more independent? More able to express yourself? "I do feel more independent and more able to express myself since there are so many opportunities to do so. I feel like I'm not only discovering but participating in activities that I'm interested (in) more than I was in past years." What do you love so much about Pascack Valley? "I love all of the extracurriculars and how there is something for everyone. I also loved meeting so many new people." Did you find it easy to adjust when you first came into the school? "I did because I have friends that are older than me that had gone through this in previous years and I knew I could ask them anything and they would help me adjust." What are some of your favorite hobbies? "My favorite hobbies are writing and dancing. I am the managing editor on the Smoke Signal and have been on a competitive dance team for 7 years." We know that you're a part of our awesome newspaper, The Smoke Signal. What kind of things do think are important to write about? What do you find important about writing in general? "It's important to write about issues facing our school and the students in The Smoke Signal. For example, I wrote an opinion piece on freshman seminar and helped to change the program. In general, writing is a great way to express yourself and share issues facing your community or the world and the written word is important to get your point across and to change those issues." Who do you see as the ultimate Valley Gal? "I think independence is the most important quality in a Valley Gal. She needs to be able to express herself and isn't afraid to participate in activities she loves, regardless of if it's 'popular'." Any other thoughts? Feel free to share! "The Photo shoot was super fun btw and I'm working on getting that recipe for you!" Turns out, we couldn't get the recipe, but here's a super cute picture of Lauren holding the amazing oatmeal-raisin cookies she shared with us! Lauren, you know we love you-you're such a fun and inspiring young girl and the photo shoot was so cool! Thank you for sharing both your time and thoughts with us. Stay Classy Valley,
Valley Gal of The Week: ZaynabThe Interview: Why do you love wearing this outfit? "I love this outfit because it's super comfortable. I love wearing leggings because it make changing for gym so much easier - plus leggings in the winter keep you super warm." Who or what inspires your style? "I love using Instagram and Pinterest for style inspiration. I can just search up an item that I have and find an outfit to take inspiration from." Your favorite place to shop? "There's so many! Forever 21 is definitely my holy grail store. I love it because it carries a huge variety of styles. H&M is a close second - it's also super cheap. When I'm in the mood to splurge a little, Zara and Urban Outfitters are my top stores." What's your favorite trend right now for winter? "I'm really loving sneakers, plaid, and fur for the colder seasons. I love these trends because you can make them edgy or classy/preppy. Sneakers are super comfortable slip ons; roshe runs by nike and converse are all sneakers that can be styled different ways depending on your style. Plaid is so versatile; you can wear it around your waist for a more edgy look or wear it with a fur vest for a more preppy look. Depending on the color fur you can get a different look - black is more edgy (while) brown is more classic." What fashion advice can you give to people who are looking to update their style? "Definitely buy cheap clothes. When you're experimenting, you never know what style is going to last so never over-spend. Also... buy quality basics like jeans and basic sweaters because those will be worn very often." How would you describe your style? "I don't really have a set style. Sometimes it's more edgy/grungy but other times I can't help myself from a more preppy look." If you could raid anyone's closet, who would it be and why? "Probably the Jenner Sisters. I feel like among the two, they would have a variety to styles and pieces in their wardrobes which is just what I like." Because your religion requires you to cover yourself, how did you learn to find the balance between what was trendy and what was acceptable? What is your advice to other girls who are required to cover up and aren't sure how to make conservative fashionable? "Right now, oversized and high waisted (clothes) are super trendy so lately I haven't had a problem. The most important thing is to stick with what you're comfortable with. Style isn't something to set so play with it." Zaynab, your impeccable style and unique personality are what make you the perfect Valley Gal! Thank you for giving us the chance to photograph you. We hope this post will help inspire other girls that no matter what, you can always find ways to express yourself! Check out Zaynab's article on the leopard print trend here . Stay Classy Valley!
Introducing Our First Ever Valley Guys!
The Interview: Why do you love wearing this outfit? Luc: "Comfortable, yet classy. It's right above casual but not close to formal which makes it perfect for a school environment." Josh: "I love wearing this outfit because it makes me feel good. Jeans are always my go-to bottoms, and I the top is one of the first things I pull out of my closet." Who or what inspires your style? Luc: "I would have to say Neil Patrick Harris or Daniel Craig. Neil Patrick Harris likes the same type of formal clothing as I do. On the opposite spectrum, Daniel Craig dresses to the nines while staying casual and comfortable." Josh: "My style is inspired by whatever is trending during the season. For example, with winter coming up, I'm wearing a lot more sweaters and other long sleeved apparel." Your favorite place to shop? Luc: "Macy's. They have everything from $5 t-shirts to designer suits. They cover every aspect of the clothing industry." Josh: "My favorite place to shop is Men's Wearhouse. You can buy some quality suits, and great casual wear too." What do you love to do in your free time? Luc: "In my free time, my father and I like to play billiards." Josh: "In my free time, I like to read. There's nothing better than sitting down on the couch, turning the pages of a hard cover novel." What's your favorite trend right now for fall? Luc: "My favorite current trend would have to be cardigans with a shawl or lapel. I do not own one but I just really love the look." What fashion advice can you give to people who are looking to update their style? Luc: "Try out everything. There will be times where you will be made fun of and you will look stupid. If you can deal with the criticism, you will eventually find your style." Josh: "If you want to update your style, it's not completely easy. You will have to deal with people looking at you differently for a while until they adjust to the change." How would you describe your style? Luc: "I would say I have the fashion sense and facial hair of a young Hugh Jackman." Josh: "My style is pretty common among teenage boys, but I feel like my shoes help me to look a little bit different." If you could raid anyone's closet, who would it be and why? Luc: "Scott Disick. He cant't dress poorly." Josh: "If I could raid anyone's closet, I would choose Colin Farrell. Not only does he have great style, but he also looks good in his clothes too." Who do you see as the ultimate Valley Gal? Luc: "The ultimate Valley Gal is someone who dresses to impress. However, they do not do it to impress others but to, instead, by happy with themselves." Josh: "The ultimate Valley Gal doesn't have to be pretty necessarily. They just need to be confident and own what they wear." And finally, Do you have anything else you'd like to say? Luc: "I want to thank Serena and Rachel for making Josh Cohn and I the first ever "Valley Guys". It was an honor and a great opportunity!" Thank you to Luc and Josh for allowing us to have our first ever Valley Guys! You two are so awesome! Stay Classy Valley,
Valley Gals of the Week: Meet Kelsey: The Spunky Gymnast Grade: Junior Sweater: Gap Jeans: Abercrombie Shoes: DSW (Bucco) Meet Lauren: The Classy Fashionista Grade: Junior Sweater: H&M Dress: TJ Maxx Necklace: Forever 21 Shoes:Steve Madden The Interview: Why do you love wearing this outfit? Kelsey: "I love wearing this outfit because i love the fall color of the sweater and it is so cozy to wear." Who or what inspires your style? Kelsey: "I love making up my own style and getting inspiration from my friends and Pinterest." Lauren: "Celebrities like Vanessa Hudgens and Lauren Conrad. Also, people I see walking around in school/in public!" Your favorite place to shop? Lauren: "Definitely forever 21 and Urban Outfitters." What do you love to do in your free time? Kelsey:"I literally have no free time but I love doing gymnastics and on my off days i absolutely love to unwind with yoga." What is your favorite fall trend? Kelsey: "My favorite trend for fall is definitely the comfy sweater and boots look. I'm always cold so this is perfect for me!" Lauren: "Thick sweaters and knee high socks." What fashion advice can you give you people looking to update their style? Kelsey: "Don't be afraid of change: if you want to change up your look, go for it! be yourself." Thank you to Kelsey and Lauren for letting us take such gorgeous pictures of them for this weeks' "Valley Gal"! Do you want to be featured right here? Scroll up until you see the box titled "Valley Gal Submission" where you can get the chance to be featured on The Valley Gal! Stay Classy Valley,
Valley Gals of the Week: Meet Kelsey: The Fun-Spirited Fashionista Grade: Junior Shirt: Francesca's Jeans: American Eagle Boots: Nordstrom Why do you love wearing this outfit? Kelsey: "I love this outfit because it is comfortable to wear and really easy to throw together!" Caroline: "It is so comfy to wear, but looks put together without me trying too hard." Who or what inspires your style? Kelsey: "Celebs are my biggest style inspiration, but I also look at magazines and fashion blogs for inspiration as well." Caroline: "Cher Horowitz from Clueless and Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl." What do you love to do in your free time? Kelsey: "In my free time my favorite thing to do is dance." Caroline: "Online shop, go to the mall, watch Netflix, yoga, and play with my dog Angus." What's your favorite trend right now for fall? Kelsey: "My favorite fall trend has remained the same for a while, I love vests, boots, and scarves." Caroline: "Tartan has always been a favorite and I’m loving that it is in trend now because it is so easy to find good pieces. Also, it is so versatile, you can make it really grungy or really preppy (which is how I wear it)." What fashion advice can you give to people who are looking to update their style? Kelsey: I would look at best dressed celebrities and also go on Tumblr, Pinterest, and Wanelo for the latest trends. Caroline: "Just to stay true what you like and don’t try to wear something just because it is “in”. Also, don’t feel obligated to fit into a certain fashion category. If you are still having trouble, places like Nordstrom and Topshop have free personal stylist that can help you find your own style!" How would you describe your style? Kelsey: "My style definitely ranges day to day but overall I would say its girly." Caroline: "Classic/Preppy." If you could raid anyone's closet, who would it be and why? Kelsey: "I would probably raid any supermodel's closet because they have the best brands and the latest trends." Caroline: "Cher Horowitz from Clueless, her closet is computerized and amazing." Who do you see as the ultimate Valley Gal? Kelsey: "I think that the ultimate Valley Gal is someone who is confident in themselves and doesn't care what other people think about them." Caroline: "The ultimate Valley Gal is someone with a good attitude and personality; you can be as fashionable as ever and own the best things, but if you have a pretentious attitude, no one is going to have respect for you and no matter how designer your outfit is people aren’t going to care. Always have a good attitude because people will like you (and your outfit)!" Thank you to Caroline and Kelsey for making this week's "Valley Gal" section so incredibly fun to do! Stay tuned for next week! Stay Classy Valley,
Valley Gal of the Week: AshleyMeet Ashley: The Singer With a Sweet Side Grade: Junior Jacket-Macy’s(American Rag) Shirt-New York & Company Jeans- American Eagle Boots-Nordstrom(Enzo Angiolini) Necklace- Free People The Interview: Why do you love wearing this outfit? I like this outfit because it is perfect for the fall and keeps up with the way I usually dress. These are my favorite fall boots, and I feel like the outfit almost has a rustic feel. Who or what inspires your style? I get my style from a little bit of everywhere! Just from even people watching or seeing mannequins in stores, I find inspiration for outfits. However, I always wear what I like. I never buy clothes just because “everyone” is wearing them if I don’t particularly care for it, besides maybe my UGG stage (haha). Your favorite place to shop? I love to shop at H&M, Urban Outfitters, Free People (when I have the money), and Macy’s! What do you love to do in your free time? I like to spend my free time hanging out with friends, singing, reading, watching Netflix, and, of course, shopping! What's your favorite trend right now for fall? I love all the oversized, long sweaters. They’re so comfy and so easy to throw on and make a cute outfit! What fashion advice can you give to people who are looking to update their style? You could get inspiration from others around you, but always wear what you like! Usually many stores, such as the ones I listed earlier, keep their clothes updated to what is currently in style, so anything you like would be great to wear! How would you describe your style? I would say I have a very mixed style! Often I tend to dress more Boho, but I definitely have some edgy and preppy outfits! If you could raid anyone's closet, who would it be and why? I would love to raid fictional Gossip Girl character, Serena Vander Woodsen’s closet! I love the way she always looks chic, and often bohemian, on the show! What girl wouldn’t love to look and dress like her?! Who do you see as the ultimate Valley Gal? To me, a Valley Gal is someone who is confident with themselves in all aspects, not just in their clothes, and makes the best of everything. She should not be afraid to express who she is and own it! Thanks Ashley for allowing me to photograph you and share your insight on the blog! Stay classy Valley,
Valley Gal Special: Mrs. Mattessich has been teaching English here at Pascack Valley for fifteen years. Her positive, upbeat attitude and originality were only a few of the reasons why we wanted to make her a Valley Gal! To read more about this inspiring woman, scroll down! Can you tell us about the course you are helping to teach during Pascack period? "The name of our course is called Sisterhood and Society. Basically, a bunch of teachers got together to see if they thought there was a need for a class like this and everybody agreed…it stemmed in part from the student reaction to the dress code last year and how things blew up and the word rape culture was being used a lot in the media…I just felt like it was sort of a hostile environment for women nation wide and we were trying to discuss how that was effecting the girls in our school. It just really took on a life of its own and it has been just as beneficial to us as it has been (I hope) for the girls." What is your favorite thing about Pascack Valley? "So when I went here, which has stayed true, I hope now, I felt that my relationships with my teachers were super important - it made me want to be a teacher, it made me love learning even more, it took school to a whole new level – how open and enthusiastic and fun and friendly the teachers were and how they really took us under their wings –that is its strong point and not every school is like that." "This is also my favorite thing as a teacher, but it was not cool to be as school spirited as it is now – so for me it is really cool that we have the valley cup and the causes that are associated with it...it's just such a positive thing. " What do you love about teaching? "I feel like I have the best of both worlds in terms of…I get to go to work but I have a lot of creative control and I can kind of run my own show despite having to…listen to the organization at large...I just get to have fun. I think being around young people keeps you young and gives you a new perspective on things. It keeps things very real for you and doesn’t let you get as bitter as you can become in other jobs where you’re dealing with a lot of negativity." What does the Valley Gal mean to you? "Someone who is positive, enthusiastic, energetic…seeks to build community, not break it down and also really exudes confidence… (someone) that is not afraid to stand on her own but hopefully is also a leader to others who would want to follow...all for the greater good." Can you name a time where a person or event at Pascack Valley has changed your perspective for the better? "I have experiences like these everyday, either because a student makes me consider a viewpoint or an interpretation I hadn't considered or reveals something about his/her life that is enlightening, or because a colleague and I have a great, challenging and interesting discussion that reminds me why I love my job." What do you find so important about expressing your style/fashion in general? "My daughter goes to Catholic preschool and she has to wear a uniform…pretty much every day when I get her dressed I think to myself, 'Would uniforms be better if we had them in public schools?' And the other day I was like…you know what, no, because students, especially teenagers, are always going to want to express themselves and work around whatever restrictions are there…and I think there is so much power in (self expression)...you know I love my high heels and putting on a really banging pair of heels. I feel a little more professional, a little more dressed up at work... it makes me sort of rise to the occasion…and I just think it can be part of confidence." "Like Ms. Marchiano’s makeup class she is teaching, it's not that you have to wear makeup to be beautiful, but if you feel like you can (increase) some aspect of yourself and that gives you a little more confidence, I don’t know why anyone would be against it. So for me, its all about just making me feel my best…in whatever role I’m in, because as soon as I go home, I’m in sweatpants, and I’m in mom-mode and I’m being very active and I don’t have time to be tripping over my heels…so that puts me in that zone. " And because we knew how much she loved them, we had to ask what her favorite pair of heels were! "They’re really high, but really comfortable purple heels, and I have ones on order that are all fall flowers, it's like a print, so they may become my favorites. And when I do wear flats…I do stick to my Tory Burch's." Stay classy Valley
|