Walking home alone at night can make any collegiette nervous, no matter how safe her campus or campus town is. We've all binge-watched Law & Order: SVU and Criminal Minds, and as much as we love them, these shows do not ease our nerves.

Collegiettes, you are not alone if you get spooked walking home late at night -- the creators of Companion, an app that will virtually walk its user home, developed this app in reaction to a stream of campus crime alerts. Companion allows a contact of yours to become your "Virtual Companion," who can monitor your activity as you walk home. After setting a destination, the Companion app will monitor if you suddenly start running, stray from your path, fall or have your headphones yanked out. If the app picks up on this activity and you don't respond to the in-app alerts in 15 seconds, then your "Companion" will be notified and your phone will begin to make loud, alarming noises. The continuous interaction between the app and its users have made it popular for college students across the nation, already having tens of thousands of downloads. 

As well as monitoring the walker's movements, the app allows easy access for the user to call the local authorities and campus security. 

While walking home with a group or having a safe designated driver is always the best option, Companion is providing a close second for any collegiettes that walk home alone. Take a look at how the app works, and download your Companion!

Whether you’ve been in one or not, you’ve probably heard that relationships are hard work, especially in college. We change so much in the four short years, and it can be tough to maintain a relationship with someone else who is changing just as much as you are! So, how do college couples do it? One word: compromise! Relationships are all about the give and take, and it’s important to be willing to compromise with your SO in order to maintain a healthy, happy relationship.

While compromising might seem like the obvious choice when it comes to where to go to dinner or what to do on a Friday night, there are plenty of other situations in which the decision to compromise (or not to) can be tricky. But don’t worry; when it comes to figuring out when to compromise and when to stand your ground, Her Campus has you covered.

What you should not compromise on

1. Your values

In order to grow from a relationship, you have to know what you want out of it and, perhaps more importantly, what you need out of it. “I suggest each person get clear about their own non-negotiables or deal-breakers in relationships,” says Kim Olver, author of Secrets of Happy Couples.“When you are not in a relationship is the time to consider your non-negotiables. What are the things you absolutely must have from your partner?”

Olver points out that everyone’s “non-negotiables” are different, and all are valid. You may decide that you value your religion and wouldn’t feel comfortable dating someone outside of it. You may feel that you value friendship above all else, and wouldn’t be happy dating someone who took too much time away from your girl friends. Your values are valid simply by virtue of being important to you, so don’t compromise on them!

For all those single ladies out there, now is the time for a little introspective soul-searching. Figure out what you would want out of a relationship and make a list. When you find yourself in a relationship, don’t allow that honeymoon phase to sway your resolve when it comes to demanding your non-negotiables. After all, they’re non-negotiable for a reason!

2. Your goals

It may feel silly, but dreams are an integral part of your identity. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of volunteering in Africa or studying abroad in Paris. Maybe you want to intern on the set of a TV show in Los Angeles or launch your own fashion line. When you’re single, you typically have more time and energy to devote to your dreams than when you’re caught up in the comfortable cycle of dinner dates and movie nights.

While it’s definitely possible (and ideal) to have a relationship that helps you grow towards your dreams, a relationship can become problematic if it causes you to choose it over your dreams.

“My best guy friend was planning on going abroad for the whole year this year,” says Megan*, a junior at Colby College. “But once he started dating his girlfriend, he realized he couldn't trust her and decided not to go abroad at all. In my opinion, this was a horrible compromise, if it's even a compromise at all.”

Putting your dreams off for a few months is one thing (say your SO is going through a family crisis and you cut your volunteer trip short a couple weeks to be there for him or her), but a relationship should never keep you from following your dreams indefinitely. You may feel that life with your SO is a dream come true, but don’t forget the dreams you had before you fell head over heels!

3. Your safety

This is a big one, collegiettes. “No one should have to compromise on his or her own safety,” Olver says. “If your boyfriend/girlfriend hurts you physically, it is time to prioritize yourself and get out of that situation.”

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, domestic abuse includes controlling whom you see, discouraging you from seeing friends or family, threatening you, physically harming you or forcing you into situations that make you feel uncomfortable. If you are experiencing any of these situations, call the 24/7 hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

Safety isn’t just limited to violence or emotional or physical abuse; it can also mean pressuring you into things you know are harmful. “We look for partners with the same values so we don’t compromise many of the things that are most important to us,” says Jay Hurt, author of The 9 Tenets of a Successful Relationship. “For example, if drug use, sex before marriage or any misogynistic relationship is a compromise to who you are, don’t do it. Any request that threatens your character is a compromise you should not make.”

If your SO is pressuring you into sex before you’re ready or trying to get you to try a substance you’re not comfortable with, not only are your values being compromised, but your health and safety are as well.

What you can compromise on

1. How you socialize

When it comes to where you go to eat or which party you go to on Friday night, compromise is the way to go. “You may have to compromise about how you spend time, including how much time you spend together, what activities you engage in together, whose friends you spend time with at a particular time, etc.,” says Dr. Mark Sharp, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of the Aiki Relationship Institute in Illinois. Obviously this will be much easier if you have the same friend groups or engage in the same activities, but if you don’t, a bit of compromise might be in order.

Maybe you decide that you and your SO will have date night once a week when you turn off your phones for a few hours and just enjoy each other’s company without compromising your other friendships and commitments. Rachel, a junior at the University of Kentucky, found carving out a specific time for her boyfriend to be super helpful. “We realized once we made focused time for each other, instead of worrying about what our to-do lists were, it made our relationship much stronger,” Rachel says.

In a loving relationship, you and your SO should be willing to make small compromises when it comes to how you spend your time in order to maintain a healthy balance.

2. Things that help you grow as an individual

Dr. Patrick Wanis, a human behavior and relationship expert, points out that just because something is uncomfortable, doesn’t mean it’s unhealthy.

“Compromise on something that will help you to grow and step you out of your comfort zone,” Dr. Wanis says. Just like stepping outside of your comfort zone by going backpacking through Europe or moving to New York City after graduation can be nerve-wracking but ultimately a positive growing experience, relationships can be the same!

You might want to see your out-of-state SO all the time, but compromising by sticking to visits every other weekend will not only help your relationship, but will also help you to grow as an individual, which is what good relationships are all about! Don’t be afraid of compromise just because it’s unfamiliar, especially if it can be a growing experience.

So how do you know if one of you is compromising too much in a relationship? “If one person is always getting their way the other is probably giving up too much,” Dr. Sharp says.

If your SO makes you feel guilty for wanting to stick to your guns, there’s a good chance you’re giving too much to your relationship and not getting enough in return.

“Ask yourself, if your best friend was in your shoes, would you tell her to stay or would you tell her to walk away?” Hurt asks. You would never let your bestie be in a relationship in which she wasn’t appreciated, so show yourself the same love!

At the same time, there will undoubtedly be times when one of you winds up compromising more than the other. If your relationship is balanced and healthy the majority of the time, it’s a good idea to stick it out. “It's time to fight when you have been together a while (say, a year or longer) and most of that time things have been good,” says Dr. Seth Meyers, a licensed psychologist and the author of Dr. Seth’s Love Prescription: Overcome Relationship Repetition Syndrome and Find the Love You Deserve.

Just because you and your SO don’t agree on every little thing doesn’t mean you’re not in a healthy relationship. As long as you can grow as an individual while growing as a couple and you don’t feel like you have to compromise on your values and the things that are important to you, you’re in good shape, collegiette!

*Name has been changed.

She may not reside in Stars Hollow, but that doesn't make her insignificant. Paris Geller is hands down the best (and our favorite) character on Gilmore Girls, and we have plenty of evidence to back it up. Whether you have been a die-hard member of the Paris Geller Fan Club since the show's premiere, or if you are still binge-watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix, here is a list of 10 reasons why Paris is totally your spirit animal. 

1. You definitely share the same eating habits

2.  She, too, gets a little too nervous about playing the field.

3. Sometimes a little self-reflection is all you really need to find out where your friendships truly lie.

4. She understands the struggle of being a girl (and isn’t afraid to admit it).

5. She always has a witty comeback.

6. She gives the best love advice.  

7.  She will defend feminism all the way, especially to men.

8. Both you and Paris crave perfection, and won’t stand for anything less.

9. She knows that time is always of the essence, and sleep is always last on her to-do list.

10. And finally, both you and Paris Geller know what really matters in life.

Tampons aren't exactly the most glamorous thing you own and if you could do without them, you would. But not so fast! There are actually plenty of alternative uses for that box of Tampax—some of them more realistic than others. Here's our guide to a whole new kind of repurposing.

1. Personalize your room

The days of sheepishly concealing your tampons are over—now you can display them loud and proud as multicolored dorm decor!

2. Hang them from the ceiling

This chandelier, made entirely out of tampons, is perfect for when you're ready to graduate to a more—ahem—sophisticated interior.

3. Release your anger and frustration

We will NEVER get over the 1D split.

4. Filter mucky water

Totally not kidding—a tampon stuffed into the neck of a plastic bottle will clear up your water, according to Business Insider. Then all you need to do is boil it up to get rid of germs!

5. Stop your nosebleed

Method guaranteed by Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum.

6. Craft a unique Halloween costume

Who hasn't dreamt of shooting sanitary products at their cat costume-clad friends, amirite? Find the full instructions here.

7. Dress a wound

You already know that tampons are super absorbent, so it only makes sense that they would make fantastic makeshift bandages. Apparently, there's evidence of tampons being used to temporarily plug bullet holes!

8. Entertain your cat

Who owns yarn, anyway?

9. Accessorize

This season, swap your pearl earrings for some Tampax Pearls.

How will you repurpose your tampons, collegiettes?

Having a terrible professor in college seems almost like a rite of passage. In many cases you can see bad professors coming a mile away, whether it’s from their 12-page syllabi or their pompous attitudes during the first week of class. While many collegiettes might choose to drop the class the minute they sense their professor will be a dud, some of us aren’t so lucky—sometimes we wait past the drop/add period, and other times the professor is teaching a required course and we just can’t avoid him or her.

For those collegiettes who find themselves in this unfortunate situation, we’ve compiled a list of the different kinds of terrible professors you can have and how to deal with them.

First thing's first: Is your professor a bad teacher, or just hard?

It’s pretty easy to hate the professor who teaches our least favorite class or is critical of our essays, but does that mean that he or she is really terrible at teaching? Before you start hating a professor, determine if you’re having a tough time with the material, or if he or she really does stink at teaching.

Good professors who teach tough material tend to make themselves openly available during office hours, hold question-and-answer sessions when reviewing homework and give thorough explanations when you get an answer wrong.

However, your professor might really be a dud. See if he or she falls into any of these categories:

1. The Bad Explainer

If you’re sitting in a class you think you should understand but find your head spinning, you might be falling victim to The Bad Explainer. Bad Explainers usually use roundabout methods of explaining the solution to a problem, have disorganized lectures and don’t highlight key terms.

“I once had a stats professor who would go off on horrible tangents in class, and it was impossible to follow her reasoning,” says Iris, a junior at the University of California, Los Angeles. “Nobody ever understood anything she was saying.”

Professors who stink at explaining things might also be too smart for their own good. They think that if they understand the material, their students are bound to understand it as well.

Bad explainers are usually oblivious to the teaching sins they commit, which is exactly why they’re so tough to deal with. So how do we get a grip on the material?

How to handle this professor

Office hours, office hours, office hours!

When you meet for the professor’s office hours, make sure you have specific questions so your professor knows exactly what you need to know.

Does your professor regularly ditch scheduled office hours? Be proactive. Email him or even respectfully approach him at the end of class to schedule a time when you both can discuss the issues you’re having in the class. This way you can hold the professor accountable for making himself available.

If your head is still spinning even after meeting with your professor, try visiting a tutor. It’s always helpful to hear someone else explain the material and try to make it click in a different way.

Many colleges have students who work on campus as tutors: Students who have already taken certain classes tutor others in them. Try to get a tutor who has had the same bad-explaining professor as you so you can ask him or her for tips on how to survive the class. If the tutor was successful in the class you’re struggling with, he or she is the perfect resource to help you make it through the class with your GPA still intact.

2. The Busywork Assigner

The Busywork Assigner is much exactly what she sounds like: A professor who gives a lot of repetitive and/or stupid work rather than a few very meaningful projects. Do you find yourself doing a different version of the same assignment every week? Do you continue to do work and receive no feedback? Does the work you do seem below the difficulty level of the class? If so, you might be a victim of The Busywork Assigner.

“Last semester, I had a bio professor who gave the dumbest assignments and canceled class all the time,” says Rachel*, a sophomore at the University of Connecticut. “People would laugh at me for complaining about that, but honestly, it was such a waste of my money, and I really needed to learn about the subject for future bio classes.”

How to handle this professor

Busywork Professors are tough because they require you to have a certain amount of the “grin and bear it” mentality. While it gets tremendously frustrating to feel like you’re completing all sorts of assignments and not learning anything, remember: As dumb as the assignments seem, they still count toward your grade. Don’t sabotage yourself by neglecting them or giving anything less than 100 percent!

If you’re nervous that you’ll be a beat behind after having this dud professor, reach out to other professors in the department to hear about what they think is important for you to know.

“I visited all the time with other bio professors I knew,” Rachel says. “I asked them what I will need to know and remember for future classes and asked them how I could master them.”

Especially if this class is a prerequisite for other classes, it’s important to make sure you’re up to speed by checking in with other professors in the department or with campus tutors.

3. The Unfair Grader

After spending hours writing that paper and handing it in with all the confidence in the world, you must’ve gotten a great grade, right? Not with The Unfair Grader.

Unfair Graders are usually found in classes where a lot of essays and subjective work are assigned (it’s hard to grade problems with a black-and-white answer unfairly, right?). They can dock your grade down because they didn’t like your writing style, your way of explaining a certain concept or even the sources you used throughout the paper.

Although Unfair Graders are most common in more subjective classes, they still exist in math and science classes!

“I had a super bad grader in one of my math classes, actually,” says Chelsea, a sophomore at Salem State University. “It wasn’t so much that he wasn’t fair in determining if my answer was right or wrong, but he consistently added up my score wrong to give me a worse grade than I earned.”

Beware of these! Careless and unfair professors should be the last reason why you get a bad grade.

How to handle this professor

Be proactive with The Unfair Grader and (respectfully) stand up for yourself. Take a look at the professor’s comments on a paper you got a less-than-stellar grade on and see if they make any sense. You might have been graded unfairly if the professor doesn’t provide an explanation for your grade, leaves contradictory comments throughout the essay or exam or shows that he simply disagrees with your opinion rather than thinks you wrote a bad paper.

If you still think you deserved a better grade, respectfully approach the professor with your problems. This doesn’t mean you have to be a grade grub, but if you genuinely think you wrote an A paper and you got a C-, you need to do something about it. Point out the highlights of your paper and ask the professor to clarify why exactly you got the grade you did.

If you’re nervous about approaching a professor about a grade, try doing it gently at first. Simply telling a professor that you’d like to discuss the paper you just got back or saying, “Hi, professor; I had a quick question about this comment you made on my essay,” are easy, nonthreatening ways to get into a discussion about your grade. If you enter the conversation in a relaxed and friendly manner, the professor is way more likely to listen to what you say. From there you can subtly begin to make your case for a higher grade by telling the professor that you think you did a great job of presenting a certain argument or explaining your thought process in organizing your essay.

If the professor doesn’t budge on the grade, ask him for a definitive list of things to improve on that will help you in getting a better grade next time. Holding the professor accountable for your improvement will make him look more critically and fairly at your next assignments.

If you have a professor who really stinks at grading (adds up the points wrong, marks correct answers as incorrect), you have to take the responsibility to stay on your toes.

“After the first time I caught a mistake, I added up my score on every single exam I took,” Maggie says. “I caught at least two other mistakes throughout the rest of the semester.”

Keep your own grade book in a spreadsheet so you can keep track of how you are doing in the class; you don’t want your professor to make a mistake in calculating your final grade, either, and this is a step you can take to prevent that from happening. Keep your syllabus to reference back to different grade values. Make sure your professor is weighing different assignments properly; you want to make sure that midterm you knocked out of the park is counting for that full 30 percent of your grade!

Hang onto all of your graded assignments, too. If you do end up having to contest a grade by taking it to a department head or an academic dean, you want to make sure you have all of your assignments in order to prove that you deserve the grade that you’re arguing for. Don’t let a professor get away with mistakes because you didn’t keep all of your materials!

4. The Rude Professor

A Rude Professor is the one who might be teaching you all the right material and in the right way, but when it comes to being a good person, she falls short. She tends to be disinterested in the subject or say inappropriate things to you throughout class.

“I had a horrible professor one year who never seemed to want to be teaching us,” says Ashley, a junior at Wake Forest University. “She always seemed distracted and would interrupt class to make personal calls or answer personal emails, which was frustrating because as students, we aren’t allowed to do that.”

Other professors make it seem like it’s their job to make you feel bad for not knowing everything in their discipline. “I once had this history professor who was so smart it was unreal,” says Kelly, a junior at Fitchburg State University. “He’d always make a face when you were answering a question wrong or [would] almost seem mad at you if you said something that wasn’t right.”

Rude Professors are hard to deal with but sometimes harder to avoid, so what’s a girl to do?

How to handle this professor

If a professor ever says anything crossing a certain line (such as making a personal attack or a politically incorrect comment), report him to the school’s administration immediately. Taking issues like this to a department’s chairperson or dean is the best way to make sure these kinds of negative situations never happen again. Although you’re a student, you’re still a person who deserves respect.

If a professor’s rudeness is more like a thorn in your side, turn the other cheek. This “turn the other cheek” method isn’t the most immediately gratifying, we know—when your professor rolls her eyes at one of your comments during a discussion, all you want to do is talk back to her. However, when you encounter a Rude Professor, you shouldn’t go out of your way to be equally as rude in return. Even if a professor’s tendency to answer personal calls during class irritates you, remember that she does have authority over you and controls your grade.

When all else fails, fill out teacher evaluations.

We’ve saved the best method of dealing with a bad prof for last—filling out completely honest teacher evaluations. The best part? This method works for any kind of bad professor.

“When I had that terrible history professor, I was absolutely brutal in their teacher evaluation,” Kelly says. “Even though I know this professor was tenured, I hope that my evaluation caused the department head to speak to her about what students thought.”

Just like turning the other cheek, simply filling out a teacher evaluation isn’t the most immediately gratifying thing to do to a crappy professor. Despite this, it’s probably the most effective thing you can do to make sure the professor changes in the future. Whether the professor reads the evaluations themselves or a review board does to determine a faculty member’s tenure, these evaluations are going somewhere, and if enough students speak their minds, eventually a positive change will happen.

Like we said—it’s almost as if everyone has to deal with a bad professor to make their college careers complete, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make things easier for yourself. What are your bad professor stories? Let us know in the comments below!

*Name has been changed.

New York Fashion Week has arrived, and we've got all the inside scoop—straight from the runway! Kicking off the prestigious fashion event was a runway show hosted by Lauren Conrad (aka our favorite designer, author, beauty guru and person). Amidst all the lights, cameras and action, we were treated to an exclusive sneak peek at Lauren's limited edition runway collection for Kohl's!

Similar to Lauren's previous collections featured at Kohl's her latest collection includes clothing, accessories and shoes. For Lauren, the process of assembling outfits and creating a fashion show was extrememly hands on. "There's a bit of fantasy involved in the runway," Lauren shared. "We were able to take chances we wouldn't normally take."

From flirty florals to spacious handbags, this collection is perfect for the typical on-the-go girl. "You’ll be seeing fresh fall florals, romantic reds, and even a pop of pastel," Lauren said of her very first runway collection. Her latest designs also embody the perfect combination of girly, chic, and classy (and we're officially obsessed). Don't believe us? Check out some of our favorite looks from the runway show! 

Lauren's debut fashion show also featured plenty of girl power from some familair faces. Lo Bosworth, Dylan Penn, Ashley Tisdale, Olivia Culpo and Chrissy Teigen all stopped by to support the talented fashionista! 

The best part? All the looks featured in the runway show can be purchased online at LCRunway.com! Better start shopping now, collegiettes—it's a limited edition collection!

As she continues on her whirlwind of a tour, Taylor Swift shows NO sign of slowing down. She played in Houston on Wednesday night, an event that essentially shut down the city. But that wasn't the only mishap the superstar faced during the course of the night—as she was sitting backstage, a fire alarm went off... but of course, that wasn't about to stop her.

In just another episode of "Taylor—She's Just Like Us!" the singer documents the experience on Instagram (because who wouldn't). An announcement plays in the background as a voice in the room—we're going to guess it's her mom—urges Tay to "put some clothes on." Obviously, Taylor isn't having ANY of it, and what happens next basically defines the struggle we face every single day when we're trying to get ready for class.

"I have clothes on, I have a robe on!" Taylor insists, defending herself by adding, "This is clothes, I'm covered!" Sure, we love a good style sesh as much as the next girl, but when it comes to our life philosophy, this pretty much sums it up perfectly.

Jay Z's Made in America is, first and foremost a music festival—but like with any other music event, festival fashion is also at an all-time high. From reflective sunglasses to sequined necklaces, we saw tons of statement-making looks in the crowd—check out our favorites, below.

1. Bold sunnies

Photo by Priscilla Andalia of Best Trends for Life

This outfit proves that when you only have five seconds to take your look to the next level, all it takes is a bright pair of mirrored sunnies.

2. High-waisted everything

Photo by Priscilla Andalia of Best Trends for Life

Crop tops and high-waisted skirts or shorts have been having a moment! Not to mention, this pairing is a festival fashion staple.

3. Statement necklace

Photo by Priscilla Andalia of Best Trends for Life

There's so much we love about this look (those bangs! The retro sunglasses!), but the real winner here is that to-die-for silver statement necklace, which can be used to dress up anything from jeans and a tee to a little black dress.

4. Matching two-piece sets

Photo by Priscilla Andalia of Best Trends for Life

Popularized by none other than Taylor Swift, the matching two-piece set is an of-the-moment outfit that every collegiette needs to try. Go for a girly crop top and dress, or a funky floral set like the one on the right!

5. Standout midi skirt

Photo by Liana Marie of Liana Marie Photography

Composed of all-American brands, this is the ultimate Made In America look! Get the look with this Sequin Camouflage Midi Skirt ($120), the Dagne Dover Tiny Tote ($175) and the Kale sandals by Restricted ($69).

Girl Meets World might not be quite as funny as its predecessor, but there’s no denying that the show’s got a lot of heart. From embracing your imperfections to standing by your friends to putting down your cell phone to have a real conversation every once in a while, Cory Matthews sheds light on a new life lesson every week (yes, Mr. Feeny would be very proud). In an episode set to air September 11, it is revealed that Farkle Minkus—Riley’s classmate and close friend—has Asperger’s Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. He struggles with his fear of being labeled as different from his friends and classmates.

Cory explains to his class that there’s only one label anyone should wear: their name. Disney Channel has stated that their intent is that “the storyline can spark conversation among kids and their families about the disorder,” diagnoses of which have become more common in recent years. They also consulted with experts to ensure that there was an accurate portrayal of Asperger’s in the episode. The best part about Girl Meets World is the large audience it is able to reach—both fans of the original Boy Meets World and the new, younger audience of its sequel are gaining a new understanding of the important issues the writers are choosing to address.

Okay, collegiettes. You all know that the new year means reuniting with your besties. It’s human nature to adhere to the status quo, sticking with the friend groups you started with as underclassmen. Perhaps you’ve refrained from breaking the ice with new people. Or maybe you’re a transfer student and you think you’ll have a hard time acclimating within a population that has already established friend circles! New year, new classes, new internships—make this year one filled with new people, too! If you’re looking for ways to broaden your social circle, here are a few ideas.

1. Say “hey” to the person you sit next to in class.

People in classes with you may have similar career-related goals, so you could become friends over hours of #struggles and #stuDYING. When you’re slaving away together until the AM trying to finish a project, some quality bonding is inevitable.

2. Dip your toes in a new club or organization.

Interested in cooking? Fashion? Music? Murder mysteries? There are people with similar interests! Unlike meeting people in class, becoming friends with people you meet in clubs should be even easier. After all, members are more likely to share your passion for murder mysteries than the girl who always dozes off in econ halfway through her breakfast granola bar.

Afsara Zaheed, a recent grad from Northwestern University, explains how her involvement in volunteer clubs helped her expand her social circle during her last two years of college. “As a commuter, and as a pretty introverted person, I didn't meet as many people in college as I wanted in general,” admits Afsara. “And once I had my core set of good friends, I didn't really seek out making new ones, but the groups really did allow me to expand my circle. Especially because with every passing year, new people (underclassmen) join.”

Speaking of new people...

3. Make freshmen and transfers feel at home.

This year, there’ll be hundreds or thousands of fresh faces trying to adjust to the culture of your university. People will always be looking for a welcoming smile and source of comfort. Hey—sounds like two things you can provide!

4. Go to lunch with your coworkers.

Coping with la vida broka can be more fun if you become friends with people you work with! It’s certainly more bearable to spend the day talking about Pretty Little Liars than to endure hours of awkward silence or empty “How are yous.”

5. Be a good neighbor.

If you no longer live in a dorm, you probably can’t rely on res life culture to create a cohesive friend group anymore. No worries—there’s plenty of friend-making potential in the realm of apartment life!

See if you can establish a connection with your neighbors. Your acquaintanceship (yes, it’s an actual word!) may start off with running into each other in the laundry room. Perhaps you’ll ask your neighbor to borrow her flour for those chia seed muffins you’ve been dying to bake. Who knows—in a few days you could be having heart-to-heart convos over those muffins.

Maybe you’re getting a head start on looking for a place to live next term. Definitely check your university’s housing website or Facebook page for postings from students looking for roommates! You’ll meet new people, find a place to live, and hopefully pay less in rent since you'll be sharing a place with someone else. If you already have a place, try posting an ad for a roommate search. Again—smaller rent payments and a new person in your life!

6. Make connections with friends of friends.

Your best friend takes you to lunch with one of her friends from Russian Lit. Turns out the Tolstoy fan is also crazy about your favorite class at the gym—cycling! If your bestie gets along with someone, there’s a chance that you will too!

7. Go places alone or with a small group of friends.

Not having a set friend group leaves you open to meeting anyone, anywhere. Detaching yourself from a clique makes you more approachable and leaves you with a greater opportunity to start a conversation with others.

“It sounds weird,” says Iris Goldsztajn, a senior at UCLA, “but sometimes I'll roll out to a party without my entire girl-posse and meet lots of people that way!”

8. Be a good listener.

When you find yourself with a group of acquaintances, pay attention to how often you direct the conversation back to yourself. We know—life is stressful so we usually lean towards talking about our own latest challenges and hardships. But how often do you show interest in your acquaintances’ lives by asking questions? If one of your acquaintances talks about something important to her, will you remember it in the future? Paying attention to personal details someone discloses to you is a surefire way to make and keep friends!

9.  Compliments, compliments, compliments.

We’re not saying you should be a kiss-up, since it can seem inauthentic. But compliments are a great way to not only brighten up someone’s day, but brighten up yours as well! When someone receives a compliment, she is likely to remember the person associated with it. It’s a great thing, because it makes you more approachable and known by lots of people!

10. Be your(awesome)self.

You might have had this mantra pummeled into your head as you grew up, but the words perpetually ring true. The best thing you can do to become friends with people you actually like is to take off the mask. Don’t try to please people so much that you cannot filter out who your good friends will be!

Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People makes us aware of this simple change we can introduce in our friend-making endeavors: “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get people interested in you.” Show concern and care for others instead of constructing an elaborate public image of yourself.

11. Keep an open mind.

Be open to the possibility of meeting people in the places you’d least expect!

Now that school’s back in session, we collegiettes are busier than ever! It’s no surprise that lugging around our gym gear, laptop and textbooks all day is downright exhausting—not to mention uncomfortable.

Instead of trying to jam your life into a flimsy backpack only to have the straps break on you a week later (awk!), revamp your back-to-school gear with both style and functionality in mind. We’ve teamed up with Aer to give one lucky winner a super sleek and efficient Fit Pack to help kick the school year off on the right foot!

Designed for an active lifestyle (and a busy collegiette), the Fit Pack can store both your gym and school essentials in neat little compartments without adding any extra weight or bulk. This Fit Pack does it all, fits it all and looks great in the process. Ready to rock it to class (whether it's yoga or Spanish 101) this semester? Enter to win now! 

Aer Fit Pack

Just a mere two months or so after the US Supreme Court ruled same sex marriage constitutional, and opened the door for more tolerance of the LGBTQ+ community, an incident at a high school in Jefferson County, Missouri proves that acceptance might be farther away than we think.

Lila Perry, a senior at Hillsboro High School, faced an unthinkable display of rejection when she tried to use the girls' locker room during gym class. Seems pretty innocuous - all she wanted to do was use the locker room she felt most comfortable with. But because Perry is a transgender teen, well over 150 of her fellow students walked out of the school in a defiant gesture of disapproval. 

Perry, who claims that the walkout was based more on "bigotry" than any possible discomfort they claimed to be experiencing, soon after dropped out of gym class for her own safety. 

The fact that something like this is still happening in 2015, after the country expressed vehement approval for same sex marriage, is appalling. It only goes to show that while gay and lesbian individuals in the US have enjoyed more support in recent years, trans persons continue to remain marginalized in society. They have not experienced the same popularity in the media, be it movies, television series or even the news (how often do you see reports of trans hate crimes versus gay hate crimes?). While this tide is beginning to turn with stars like Laverne Cox, more attention needs to be paid to the plight of this traditionally oppressed population. If a senior girl can't even use a locker room in her own high school without being publicly shamed, we clearly aren't even close to being an equal society for all. 

The school has given Perry the option of using a "gender neutral" bathroom, but she isn't settling for less than what she believes is her right. As she explained, "I wasn’t hurting anyone and I didn’t want to feel segregated out. I am girl, I shouldn’t be pushed off to another bathroom."

Perry didn't face shunning from everybody: some 30 to 40 students came to her aid and formed a counter-protest, something that Perry greatly appreciated. And just yesterday roughly 100 people attended a rally called #LiftingUpLila in the town to get behind her cause. 

We can only hope that this means Perry might just get what she so rightly deserves, and on a larger scale that this event might shed light on this predicament.

Majors. Dorms. Roommates. Campuses. Internships. College will probably be one of the most exciting times of your life, but when you're a high school student, the prospect of choosing the college that is right for you (and getting in!) can be beyond nerve-wracking. How do college experiences vary between big state schools, Ivy Leagues, small liberal arts colleges and technical schools? How will college be different from high school? What tricks of the trade can help you make the most out of these next four years?

Fear not, pre-collegiettes! Her Campus has teamed up with McDonald's to answer all of your burning questions during a two-session live “College Confessionals” webcast series featuring undergraduates from 4 different campuses and moderated by Her Campus co-founder Annie Wang (that’s me)!

During each of our two one-hour long webcasts, you’ll hear from real students who currently attend Harvard University, University of California Los Angeles, Stony Brook University and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They’ll share their experiences and demystify what college is all about. We’ll cover topics including the application process, campus life, academics and how college compares to high school.

Our two webcasts are scheduled for 8-9 PM EST on September 13, 2015and7-8 PM EST on September 23, 2015. We’ll be using Google Hangouts to stream the webcasts, which means YOU can submit your own questions in advance for our collegiette panelists to answer! Simply create a Google+ account and send your questions through the broadcast pages, located here for our September 13 webcast, and here for our September 23 webcast. Here’s how:

• Once you’ve created your account, navigate to either of the event pages (September 13, September 23)
• Click “Q&A” in the top right corner of the webcast screen
• Click “Ask a new question” in the bottom right corner of the pop-up screen
• Type in your question!
• If you see that someone else has already asked your question in the question feed, simply click the plus sign (+) within the question box to indicate that you also want this question answered. The number next to the (+) sign indicates how many people have liked it. The higher that number is, the more likely it is that I (Annie) will select that question to ask during the webcast! 

Then, sign in to the webcast at 8 PM EST on September 13, 2015 and 7 PM EST on September 23, 2015 and hear your questions answered live! We’ll be covering the same topics during both webcasts, so feel free to attend whichever session fits your schedule better!

Her Campus is proud to be partnering with McDonald’s, a company that has demonstrated its support for high school students pursuing higher education through programs like the McDonald’s Education Workshops for Asian-American students and now, Her Campus’s College Confessionals! In addition, McDonald’s has awarded over $56 million in scholarship funds since 1985 for pre-collegiettes everywhere through the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) scholarship program. These scholarships are offered to students with financial need who have demonstrated academic achievement, leadership and community involvement, which means ambitious pre-collegiettes like you are just who they’re looking for! Plus, several of the scholarships are also specifically catered toward minority applicants. Think you might be eligible? Learn more about the Ronald McDonald House Charities scholarships.

Excited about our College Confessionals webcast series? We are, too! Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #MyInspirasian and tagging @McDonalds and @HerCampus.

Lastly, don’t forget to submit your questions to our College Confessionals Google Hangout event pages anytime leading up to each webcast, and we’ll see you there!

We all know many cosmetics aren't made with the best ingredients. But the most toxic one of them all? Nail polish. Most nail polishes contain the "toxic trio": formaldehyde, toluene and diputyl phthalate. These toxins are known to cause irritation, headaches and fatigue. Recently, there has been a huge shift toward natural and organic makeup—nail color included. So we've rounded up some nail polish brands that are 3-Free (made without the above toxins) and a lot healthier for your nails.

1. Acquarella

This water-based polish comes in 49 amazing colors and will run you $16 a bottle. It may be pricier than your standard drugstore polish, but this one is also cruelty-free, non-toxic and contains no nasty fumes.

2. Sumbody

CEO and founder Deborah Burnes is a skincare expert who creates products designed to "feed the entire sum of every person." All products contain locally-produced ingredients and are preservative-free.

3. RGB Cosmetics

Aiming to combine green beauty and luxury cosmetics, RGB creates polishes that are 5-free, vegan and gluten-free. The company was awarded "Best Nude" and "Best Green" by Allure, along with several other beauty awards.

4. Nubar

After his family was affected by cancer, Noubar Abrahamian wanted to create high-quality nail products that were safe. Keeping the quality of regular polish, Nubar is both vegan and cruelty-free.

5. Priti NYC

The word 'priti' has many meanings in Sanskrit including out of satisfaction, with love and pleasurable sensation. These eco-friendly polishes fulfill all of these meanings by being 5-free (void of the three toxins mentioned above, plus formaldehyde resin and camphor) and vegan.

6. Piggy Paint

Melanie Hurley, mother of two, realized how toxic the polishes she was using on her children when a few of the paints "ate" through a foam plate. She decided to create a hypoallergenic and cruelty-free polish that is safe for both children and pregnant women.

7. Scotch Naturals

With the intention of creating a good-for-you polish, the minds behind this brand knew that unfortunately, a water-based nail polish wasn't ever going to work. So instead, they got to work with a ton of research and development, and Scotch Naturals was born. We are obsessed with this nature-based, odorless, biodegradable and paraben-free polish!

8. SpaRitual

SpaRitual polishes are vegan and 5-free because the company wants their products to be good for people and the planet. Not to mention that color experts have hand-blended each color to create superior coverage and shine.

9. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

OCC polishes were made with editorial manicurists in mind, so colors are modern, densely pigmented and fast-drying. But the best part? They're 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free, so no harming of animals in the making of this product!

10. No Miss

These colors are cruelty-free and, as a bonus, include UV inhibitors to protect your nails from the sun. They are also moisturizing, chip resistant and super glossy!

What brands will you be trying, collegiettes?

College apartments are notorious for being dirty and small, which are two very unfortunate things for young women like ourselves who just want to feel fabulous at home. Not to mention the fact that it’s hard enough living off more than ramen noodles on a college budget, let alone decorating an apartment to our liking. Once you’ve taken care of the essentials, how are you supposed to be able to actually decorate your apartment? Well, we have three letters for you: DIY. If you’re moving into your new apartment or trying to update your old one, here are some perfect tricks and tips to upgrade your apartment!

1. Create more storage

Any apartment can start to feel cramped when you and your roommates are trying to fit all your belongings in a tiny space. Not to mention studio apartments can literally feel like living in a box. Finding creative and simple ways to give yourself more storage space will do wonders for you and your humble abode. This clothing rack idea from Apartment Therapy is super easy to do and can help when we all commit the cardinal sin of over-packing, because, let’s be honest: A. We will never learn our lesson, and B. We obviously need a different dress for every weekend out.

Supplies:

• Rope
• An old curtain rod
• 2 hooks
• Hot glue gun

Directions:

• Glue the rope so that it wraps around the rod to cover the full surface.
• Screw 2 hooks into the ceiling (make sure they’re secured).
• Knot the rope in a loop at your desired length and hang it from the hooks.
• Slide the rod through the loops, and voila!

2.  Use unconventional seating

No one wants ratty old couches that smell like booze left behind by the former tenants. But it’s also insanely expensive to buy new furniture for an unfurnished apartment. That’s why it’s time to get the creative juices flowing and think outside the box (and by box, we mean your dinky little apartment)! Couches made out of up-cycled palettes are an awesome fix that will suit your budget. You can personalize a DIY couch, like this idea from HomeJelly, way more than some tan leather couch you’d get at Target (no hate, Target; we still love you). They even allow for plenty of storage space beneath for books, movies and whatever else your little heart and your littler apartment desire!

Supplies:

• 6 wood pallets (get from old warehouse or grocery store and see if they’ll give any away)
• Sandpaper
• Paint
• Paintbrushes
• Cushions and pillows
• Flat brackets and screws

Directions:

• Sand down pallets, especially edges and corners, so that the surfaces are smooth.
• Paint pallets the desired color and let dry.
• To secure the pallets, screw a flat bracket onto the top and bottom pallets (on each end), and then secure another onto the top front and back of each pallet group to secure them together.
• Cover with cushions and pillows.
• Enjoy your cozy new couch!

3. Make your own headboard

If you’re anything like us, your bed is probably your best friend, significant other and home sweet home. That’s why you gotta show it some love (and that doesn’t mean breaking the bank). Crafting your own headboard is an awesome way to revamp your bedroom and give your bed flair. The possibilities are endless and can be as extravagant or as simple as you want. No reason you need to go splurge on some fancy bedframe, or worse, suffer through a hand-me-down covered up with carvings of, “Kate loves Bill” and, “Randy wuz hereee.” Try this idea from Mr. Kate.

Supplies:

• Tapestry/fabric
• Hammer
• Nails

Directions:

• Secure tapestry on the wall behind your bed using nails. (Tip: Use fewer nails to make the fabric hang more loosely.)
• Nail the hanging fabric along the ceiling above the bed at your desired length.
• Enjoy your fashionable little cave/headboard! 

4. Make a mug mural

Kitchens in college apartments can be a little lacking when it comes to storage. It can be hard to find a place for everything, and pretty soon things start to get cluttered, dishes pile up in the sink and you just eat Easy Mac for a week until you can address the wreckage that is your kitchen without running off scared (okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration). Showcasing your coolest and cutest mugs is one way to not only make room in your cabinets for your other dishes, but also decorate your kitchen without causing you to spend all of your hard-earned pennies.

Supplies:

• A thin slab of wood
• Hooks
• Nails
• Hammer                                                            

Directions:

• Scatter the hooks in rows across the wood, leaving space for your mugs.
• Mount the piece of wood on your desired spot on the wall (preferably at eye level for easy access).
• Hang your mugs and admire your new functional and fashionable mug mural!

5. Skip the frame

Washi tape may or may not be God’s gift to college students. It’s seriously awesome and perfect for decorating your walls without permanently ruining them. There’s nothing landlords love more than keeping your security deposits because of the tiny holes all over the wall from your decorations. That’s why instead of hanging pictures and paintings, you can (and should) literally just print them out, tape them on the wall, and frame them with this wonder tape. You can even use the tape itself to make designs to break up the monotonous white walls you were stuck with.

Supplies:

• Washi tape (you can purchase it at any craft store in the scrapbooking section for around $5 a roll)
• Ruler

Directions:

• Using the ruler to keep things straight, frame your pictures.
• Tape in patterns and designs.
• Go wild and let your creative side out!

6. Make your own shelves

Dressers and bookshelves can be expensive, and most apartments are unfortunately not stocked with shelves where you can put all of your things. So instead, it’s beyond cheap and easy to make your own shelves. If you have an old ladder lying around at home, all you need are some wooden boards, and you’ve got yourself plenty of space to put books, movies and plants—even the TV if a TV stand is out of your budget. The best part is that you can adjust the shelves to whatever height you need to fit your things. It doesn’t get more convenient that that!

Supplies:

• Ladder (preferably wooden)
• Wooden planks (can be recycled from an old bench or purchased)
• Hammer and nails (optional)

Directions:

• Open up the ladder and place it against wall in your desired location.
• Place the planks through ladder rungs, leaving hangover wood off the edges for balance.
• Nail the planks to the steps if you want to secure them for heavier objects.
• Stack your new shelves with your favorite reads and décor!

You should love coming home to your apartment, and nothing will make you feel more at home than cute decorations and an organized living space. Not to mention you’ll still have money in your wallet to spare, so maybe splurge on those shoes you’ve been dying to get (shoe obsession is a real thing, but the first step is acceptance). Good luck with making your apartment just as fabulous as you are!

It’s that time of year again--when your Facebook feed is full of people’s posts bragging about their university’s ranking in US News’ annual list of best colleges. The latest edition, which has become very influential in creating and reinforcing the reputations of many schools, was released early this morning. The rankings have become increasingly more specific over the years--there’s actually now multiple lists, such as: “Most Innovative Schools, “Best Value Schools,” “Most Campus Ethnic Diversity” and “Most Students Studying Abroad,” among others.

The main rankings, “Best National Universities” and “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges,” are based on 16 categories, including graduation rates, freshman retention rates and acceptance rates. As in past years, Princeton is once again the top university, while Williams College has maintained its place at the top of the list of liberal arts colleges. Princeton has also been named “best value” university (Amherst College is the best value liberal arts school, according to US News).

Here are the Best National Universities:

1. Princeton University
2. Harvard University
3. Yale University
4. Columbia University (tie)
4. Stanford University (tie)
4. University of Chicago (tie)
7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
8. Duke University
9. University of Pennsylvania (tie)
9. California Institute of Technology (tie)
10. Johns Hopkins University 

The US News rankings are highly respected and very influential on the general opinions people form about schools, but it’s interesting to think about the limitations of trying to quantify how “good” a school is. The rankings do not include schools that specialize in a particular area, such as the arts or engineering. It also seems like freshman retention rates are used as a means of studying the happiness levels or quality of life of students, but is that really an accurate way of measuring something so subjective?

Colleges and universities are all so different from one another, and everyone is looking for something different out of their college experience. Do you think a school’s ranking on a list really gives an accurate picture of how good it is? (You can check out the complete rankings here).

Each fall, we turn to the same colors: deep jewel tones, dark grays and of course, our go-to black. But we decided it’s time to change it up a little bit and spice up our wardrobes with the new shade taking the fashion world by storm: Nude! Read below to check out the seven pieces that every collegiette MUST have in her wardrobe this fall.

1. Pointy-toed pump

Neutral pumps are essential for any wardrobe. They are both versatile and dependable; use them to dress up your favorite pair of jeans, or rock them with that sexy dress you've been saving all summer! Check out this Steven Madden Varcity Pump ($90) for a sultry yet sophisticated look.

2. Wear-everywhere cardi

Both comfortable AND cute, cardigans are basically the best thing ever! This London Draped Cardigan from Tobi ($52) can be added to almost any outfit, and its light shade creates the perfect autumn look that will not go unnoticed.

3. Flattering fedora

Whether you're having a bad hair day, or just want to add some flair to your outfit, this Rag & Bone Floppy Brim Wool Fedora ($195) is a great fall accessory to spice up your life!

4. Curve-hugging midi skirt 

This Classic Knit Pencil Skirt from Forever 21 ($9.90) is both affordable and chic. The nude color adds a touch of class that is just incomparable, because—let's be real—everybody has a black skirt already.

5. Chic ankle boots

PSA: Boot season is quickly approaching, collegiettes! This year, opt for a pair of neutral ankle boots, like this pair of leather boots from H&M ($99), which you can rock with some cuffed jeans, a sexy skirt, or a killer dress.

7. Edgy anorak

No offense to leather jackets or anything, but there is a new coat in town –– the anorak! With its killer color (oh, and the fact that it has lots of pockets, a drawstring waist, and a hood) this Anorak Jacket from Tobi ($50) should be a staple in all of our wardrobes this fall.

8. Suede It-bag

Purses are a girls best friend, and the easy-to-carry nature of a crossbody bag—especially one in the of-the-moment bucket silhouette—makes it a GREAT item for any collegiette. Add a touch of suede into the mix, like this Kimchi Blue Suede Bag from Urban Outfitters ($49.99), and you will be set with a trendy and efficient fall must-have. 

A sorority at Missouri State University is opening its doors to transgender women. 

According to the Springfield News-Leader, Xi Omicron Iota sorority voted on August 30 to change its bylaws to accept transgender students who identify as female.

"Transgender equality is a hot topic right now and it's something everyone is paying attention to," says sorority president Danielle Marquard. "We have a lot of open and welcoming women in the chapter."

The change was suggested by another sorority member, Kara Venzian, and, according to Xi Omicron vice president Liz Lersch, it was warmly welcomed by the rest of the 75-member chapter. It was voted on and made public just days before the sorority begins its push for fall recruitment. The bylaw change went into effect immediately so that all interested students are welcome to attend upcoming meet-and-greet events this month.

"We just want to be as inclusive as possible to all women on the Missouri State campus," Lersch says. 

Xi Omicron Iota was officially recognized by the MSU Student Government as a student organization in 2002. The sorority is a local Greek chapter and is not affiliated with a national organization. 

If you're in need of some new music to help you get through your late night study sessions this fall, you're in luck. There are a bunch of new albums coming out from some of our favorite artists, and we've listed our top picks. Check it out:

1. Lana Del Rey, Honeymoon

Release Date: September 18

We loved Lana’s Ultraviolence (2014), and we’re so into “High By the Beach.” We’re anxious to listen to Honeymoon in its entirety, especially after hearing the much anticipated title track.

2. Chvrches, Every Open Eye

Release Date: September 18

The first two tracks off Chvrches’ second indie pop album have already been released, and we’re playing them on repeat. If you haven’t heard “Never Ending Circles” or “Leave a Trace,” you need to check them out. In case you couldn’t tell, we’re counting down the days until Every Open Eye.

3. Disclosure, Caracal

Release Date: September 25

The two brothers who make up Disclosure have teamed up with incredible artists, like Sam Smith on “Latch” (and again on “Omen”). Their 2015 release boasts even more recognizable names, from Lorde to The Weeknd. More people should be talking about Disclosure’s Caracal—so we're doing it, now!

4. Selena Gomez, Revival

Release Date: October 9

It seems like Selena has finally found her voice. We hear Revival will include more sexy tunes (a la “Good for You”) and we are not complaining. This fashion queen is becoming quite the pop star.

5. Demi Lovato, Confident

Release Date: October 16

We’re loving how fierce Demi is these days, and we definitely think her album title is fitting. She released the track list in the coolest way—with the help of her celebrity friends on Twitter—so we hope Confident lives up to the hype.

6. 5 Seconds of Summer, Sounds Good Feels Good

Release Date: October 23

We’re not sure if they can top “She Looks So Perfect,” but we’re eager to find out. Get ready to hear a lot more 5SOS once Sounds Good Feels Good hits the airwaves.

7. Carrie Underwood, Storyteller

Release Date: October 23

Carrie Underwood has always been a country superstar, and she has long been one of our favorite female artists. Her album Storyteller will reportedly be more laid back, but we’re still hoping for another angry breakup anthem like “Before He Cheats.”

8. Little Mix, Get Weird

Release Date: November 6

Perrie Edwards’ girl group Little Mix wowed us with “Black Magic,” and they’re releasing a second track from Get Weird on September 25. It’s called “Love Me Like You,” and we predict it will be a chart-topper.

9. Justin Bieber, TBD

Release Date: TBD

J. Bieb’s new single “What Do You Mean” practically broke the Internet, so naturally we can’t wait for his album to drop. Maybe it will make us cry, too.

10. One Direction, TBD

Release Date: TBD

We love One Direction, Zayn or no Zayn. We’re looking forward to this to-be-named album, especially since the boys will be taking a break next year (and we refuse to believe it'll be anything but a break). It’s going to be different, but hopefully in the best way.

11. Ryan Adams, 1989

Release Date: TBD

Taylor Swift’s 1989 was one of our favorite albums of 2014… and, like, ever. Now, singer-songwriter Ryan Adams is putting his own spin on Taylor’s album. She approves one hundred percent, which has only amplified our excitement. There’s no information as to when the cover album will be released, but as far as we’re concerned, the sooner the better.

12. Ellie Goulding, TBD

Release Date: TBD

We’re obsessed with “Love Me Like You Do,” so we’re looking forward to a whole album of Ellie’s love songs. Her voice is gorgeous and her tracks are well produced. We’ll be waiting (not so) patiently for the album’s release.

13. The Band Perry, TBD

Release Date: TBD

Country-pop sibling trio The Band Perry impressed us with “If I Die Young,” “Better Dig Two” and their newest single, "Live Forever." We’re excited for their third album, and we’ll go into it with an open mind.

14. Grimes, TBD

Release Date: TBD

We’ve been expecting Grimes’ follow up to Visions (2012) for a while now. We love “Genesis” and “Oblivion,” but we need some new music from her. The whole process has been very secretive, but Grimes’ album will finally be released this year.

It's going to be a fantastic season for music, and we can't wait for these albums in particular!

Desert. Post-apocalyptic. Warrior.

These were all words used to describe the beauty look at Rachel Comey. Since models were of all ages and backgrounds, the beauty team paid attention to their individuality when prepping them for the show, in perfect unison with the way Comey designs clothing.

Using PHYTO products from Beauty.com, lead hairstylist James Pecis created texture in models' hair, which was then twisted into an updo of various knots and curls that exemplified the warrior look but that Pecis says is also perfect for a chic summer look or even a wedding.

Romy Soleimani designed the skincare and makeup looks for the show using Jurlique and bareMinerals products from Beauty.com. For skin, soothing Jurlique products were applied prior to makeup for balance, redness reduction, firming and correcting. There were three different makeup looks, including an inky "graphic and messy" black-lined eye, an eye tightly lined with peach on the top lid and black on the bottom, and a blue-shadowed eye with a dark black corner. Lips were lightly muted with a little foundation over lip balm.

Nonie Creme's Colour Prevails were the manicure spotlight, featuring custom blends of two colors, a muted mocha and a green-grey, both with a slight shimmer. Like the rest of the beauty choices, the colors worn were individualized depending on the model.

The result was a canvas of a woman to be reckoned with after the fire.