When Scoutmob was on the hunt for summer interns, we stumbled upon a curious soon-to-be grad by the name of Allie Bashuk. She had style. She had grace. She had a blog that just so happened to be about style and individual grace when it comes to college campuses. What started as a style blog for UGA in her undergrad years (as she was sick of the style-plague of UGG boots and Fratastic apparel), has launched into similar sites for college campuses across this great nation. Call us a little biased, but we think it's pretty awesome. And let's be honest, that kind of self-motivation is pretty impressive for a kid right out of college. So as a new school year starts, we wanted to share Allie's story with all you college kids that can dig the style/music/culture/creativity of your own campus. And maybe just maybe you can share with Allie on TheCampusStyle.com:
SCOUT: How might people know you?
ALLIE: In a previous life, I was known as the “UGA Style girl” and since relocating to Atlanta after graduation, I got the golden ticket of internships and have been enrolled in Scoutmob 101, the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn the ins and outs of one of the most creative start-ups in Atlanta. Shoo, the world. My experience has been completely organic, seeing as I’ve just been thrown in there and learning the hard way. My time at Scoutmob is teaching me that with a quality product, a creative team, and a supportive web of networking, success exists even in a rocky economy.
SCOUT: Aww, shucks. We're blushing. So tell everyone the concept behind The Campus Style.
ALLIE: Getting a job straight of college is harder than ever. TheCampusStyle.com trains its contributors for things you can’t necessarily learn in a classroom. We are providing college students the opportunity to explore their inner-entrepreneur, helping them develop skills in networking, marketing, PR, all the while discovering what drives and motivates them to represent their own campus' style. While they're studying and surveying all the things that represent "style" at their school and sharing it with their peers on a daily basis, they just so happen to be developing the skill sets of a real-world go-getter... and becoming this generation's cultural-savants.
We are currently working to add an E-commerce site for student designers to sell their goods, as well as a podcast/DJ mix for college bands and artists to stream on our podcast. So it's going to be all-encompassing cool like that.
SCOUT: Sounds like the kind of job I'd like to have. Not sure if I'm "stylish" enough though. Speaking of, describe your personal style?
ALLIE: My mood is my stylist. And lately that would translate as colorful, bright, bohemian. And usually paired with high-top sneakers. If it’s a good day, maybe even frilly socks… just staying so fresh and so clean.
SCOUT: Yep. That sounds like the Allie we know and love. Right down to the socks. So tell us something we don’t know about you?
ALLIE: My pinkies are abnormally small: with a ruler, they reach out to a solid 1.8 inches. They will make your normal human-sized hands look like those of The Hulk, and give your fingers an instant ego-boost. They're also a fantastic conversation starter.
SCOUT: It's true; your pinkies are tragically tiny. But we still love you no matter what. Considering you're now a pro at combing the streets of Atlanta for curious finds, we want to know what some of your favorites are:
ALLIE: I basically spend my free time wandering around the city, attempting to not get hit by cars. I’m a fan of people watching in Little Five, being a kid at The Land Trust, yard art in Cabbagetown, the Krog Street Bridge, The Ruins, Bellwood Quarry, and I love beautiful street art, especially The Paper Twins.
SCOUT: Favorite shops?
ALLIE: All things local and unique: Young Blood Boutique & Gallery, Kudzu, Highland Row Antiques, Rag-O-Rama, Veronica's Attic.
SCOUT: Other Atlantans who influence you?
ALLIE: The entire Scoutmob team, Kyle Pease, Paris Rouzati (GT student and co-owner of The Campus Style), Andre 3000, Mr. Martin Luther King - I believe he had a pretty legit dream.
SCOUT: Inspirational people indeed. Especially those first ones. So what does the future hold for Miss Allie Bashuk?
ALLIE: I plan to continue launching style sites for as many colleges as I can get my grubby little hands on, working for the Scoutmob team, and helping my friend and mentor Michael Lachowski to bring Young, Foxy & Free (an art, music, fashion, photography, design magazine in Athens, GA) to Atlanta by Winter 2011.
SCOUT: And one final Shameless plug for all your on-goings?
ALLIE: If you’re in college, make the most of your time and get involved with your campus style. It'll enrich those so-called "Best Four Years of Your Life," I swear. And if you’re all adult-like in the real world, check in with the styles of your Alma Mater... or encourage high school kids to use the site for prospective colleges. It definitely gives a little slice of life view that college tours and brochures could never quite do.
Follow @TheCampusStyle on Twitter and visit the website here.
