college «American Eagle Outfitters Blog

Meet some of our new #AerieREAL Ambassadors! These girls are college students across the country who will be sharing the #AerieREAL love on their campuses all year long, from girls’ nights to body positivity events to shopping parties. We brought 10 of our 41 new ambassadors to our HQ for a full day of fun. Get to know these #AerieREAL girls below!

Erifili

Geosciences and Policy double major, Pennsylvania State University

“My role model is conservationist, biologist, naturalist and author E.O. Wilson. He is a world-renowned biologist who engineered the landscape for conservation, but most importantly he coined the term and lifestyle of biophilia, the love of life and all living things.”

Reilly

Marketing major, University of Wisconsin-Madison

What she loves most about herself? “My resilience! I’ve faced some major obstacles in life thus far, and I am so proud of myself for having the resilience to bounce back, turning a negative into a positive, and continuing to grow with each and every experience!”

Follow @erif_lily & @ryekoch on Instagram

Amanda

Applied Kinesiology major, Rutgers University

Quote she lives by? “The grass is greener where you water it.”

Role models? “Emma Watson OR Stone. I can’t choose!”

Alexis

Textile Brand Management and Marketing major, North Carolina State University

“I love my tenacity. College has shown me some truths about the world and myself. A lot of those things were hard to process, but I surprised myself with my strength. I think that all women are tested at one point or another and in these moments, we all have a decision to make: to get up, or to get up stronger.”

Kaitlin

Developmental Psychology major, University of Pittsburgh

Daily mantra? “’Think positive and positive things will happen.’ Such a simple quote but has literally helped me become the most optimistic person.”

Follow @mandagaglio, @miss_roston & @katilinmorriss on Instagram

Michelle

Strategic Communications major, The Ohio State University

Plans after college? “I would love to do social media marketing or fashion merchandising!”

Nikita

University of Connecticut

“I am #AerieREAL because my strength is unwavering, because I am always growing and learning to love the things about myself that I once thought were flaws, and because I am unapologetically me.”

Follow @michelle_nagy & @nikita.roy on Instagram

Savanah

Public Relations and French majors, Boston University

“To me, #AerieREAL is about honesty. It’s about being true to who I am and the woman I hope to be. I’m #AerieREAL because I refuse to waste another minute pursuing someone else’s idea of happy. I’m living my happy.”

Lidija

Marketing major, University of Maryland

Quote she lives by? “If you really want something, you don’t stop for anyone or anything until you get it.” — Blair Waldorf

Role models? “Iskra Lawrence and Sophia Amoruso.”

Jordan

Graphic Communications major, Clemson University

Can’t leave home without… “Headphones/earbuds, my wristlet (it has my ID and everything), and EXTRA spearmint gum.”

What makes her #AerieREAL? “Living authentically and unapologetically ‘me.’ I’m not what society thinks is beautiful all the time, but I’m exactly who I’m supposed to be, and that’s what the Aerie girl represents.”

Follow @svnhmry, @lidijajurovich & @afro_jane on Instagram

To end the day, the girls all signed our #AerieREAL promise, a commitment to empowering all girls to feel good about their REAL selves, inside and out. Be sure to come meet our new ambassadors this year and help us share the #AerieREAL love!

Tags: #AerieREAL Ambassador, #AerieREAL Brand Ambassadors, #AerieREAL Girls, Aerie, AerieREAL, Ambassador, Ambassadors, college, Fall, Girls, Students, Summer, University

MAKE YOUR SPACE YOUR HAPPY PLACE
Styling tips & inspiration for transforming your dorm or apt with the new AEO APT collection: Feel like you’ve hit a wall in styling your apartment? We’ve got you covered. And your covers. Let’s start in your sanctuary, the bedroom. You want your bedroom to be a reflection of you, so we’re providing some ways for you to make the most of your space, no matter how small.

BEDDING IS EVERYTHING
The focal point of a bedroom is, well, the bed. You spend a lot of time there. It’s your snooze spot, your snack spot, your chill spot, and most importantly, your sleep spot. Make it yours by mixing and matching sheets and comforters to get a set that makes you want to spend the morning in bed (more than you already do). Whether you prefer a cool, morning hue or a darker, eye-catching print, your comforter should do the job of pulling everything in the room together so you can focus on catching all the Z’s you please. Try and incorporate a textured duvet to add subtle depth to the room, it’ll make sure you’ll always wake up on the right side of the bed.

GOT A BLANK SPACE, BABY?
Don’t be afraid of blank space, white walls are your friend! Open it up by avoiding darker paint colors that tend to give the illusion of a shrinking room. Instead, juxtapose a bold patterned boho tapestry against a blank wall to elongate and lighten up the space. Throw it over a bedframe to keep a clean look while not sacrificing the colors you love. If patterns aren’t your thing opt for a cityscape or nature scene that allows your bedroom to be your place to escape. Don’t let your walls confine you, give yourself more room to daydream.

LIGHT IT UP
You can’t go wrong with natural light, but when that doesn’t suffice you need lights that provide a warm and fuzzy wakeup aesthetic that doesn’t feel artificial. String lights are the perfect wall accent; hang them over your bed to get the right lighting for any mood, or bottle them up on a bedside table for a free-spirit, firefly aesthetic. You’ll get a soft glow ideal for mellow mornings or Saturday nights in.

PILLOW TALK
There is no such thing as too many pillows. Afraid your bed is boring? Liven it up by adding a printed or textured pillow to the mix. A great graphic or text decal can add just the right amount of fun to a room without being over the top. Throw it anywhere, whether it be on a bed or a chair or even the floor. Extra pillows mean more comfy, more cozy, and more you.

CLUTTER CONTROL
Less is more, especially in a smaller space. While your bedroom should be an expression of you, sometimes keeping it simple is the best way to go. Pick a few of your favorite photos to hang on a wall chain to add some personality to a bland corner without looking sloppy. Try not to crowd nightstands and shelves with unnecessary knickknacks, instead grab a staple candle or mug and keep the rest of the mess hidden in a vintage storage unit. A clean space is a happy space.

Whoever said that size matters was wrong! The room you’ve been dreaming about doesn’t have to stay a dream, make it a reality with AEO APT. Show us how you style your space with AEO APT using #liveinaeostyle on Instagram & Twitter.