Teen Vogue Brunch // BTSS

This past Saturday I had the privilege of hosting a Teen Vogue Back to School party! Teen Vogue contacted me about hosting this event, where they would send a trunk full of products for myself and friends to try out. Upon receiving this email, I could not contain my excitement and started party planning right away! I decided to make this party a brunch at my house and to invite fashion forward girls who would definitely love this type of event. 

When the trunk came in the mail full of all of the products, I was not expecting such amazing brands, with plenty of each item! But I mean, it is Teen Vogue, so obviously it's all going to be great. The brands and products consisted of cash cards from Aeropostale, an ASOS bracelet and clutch, denim skirts from American Apparel, Barnana banana bites, tops from dEliA*s, leave-in conditioner from Hask, LeSportSac pouches, Maybelline mascara, Not Your Mothers style extender hair product, OGX shampoo + conditioner, Others Follow dresses and shirts, Pasta Chips, Parsons X Teen Vogue, Ryan Porter bracelets, Simple makeup remover and skin cleanser, Staples binders, staplers and folders, and Tampax. AH! All incredible products. I had been wanting a denim skirt for a few weeks, couldn't find the perfect one, and this one from American Apparel I am LOVING. I even wore it for the brunch! Pasta Chips taste literally like a bowl of pasta, um, YUM. You can't go wrong with any Maybelline mascara. And I am currently wearing my Others Follow pineapple shirt while typing all of this. I want to just say a huge thank you to all of these brands, and Teen Vogue, for allowing us to receive and try out the awesome products they sell. All of it is perfect for heading back to school, staying organized, and of course, looking your best. 

Saturday at 11 AM came faster than expected and I was so pumped for a fashion, social-media filled girls day! Each guest grabbed a tote from either Parsons x Teen Vogue or Aeropostale, and filled it with Barnana banana bites, mascara, a hair product, Tampax, AERO coupon cash cards, makeup remover, skin cleanser, Pasta Chips, and of course, the September issue of Teen Vogue Magazine-with gorgeous Ansel Elgort on the cover. For all of the clothes, school supplies, and jewelry, I chose to do a raffle and there was enough for each girl to win at least one item!

As far as food goes (because ya know I love talking about food), we had mini pancake stacks, doughnuts, omelette bites, and a yogurt bar. The girls enjoyed their food while mingling among each other. Plenty of pictures were taken in front of the chalkboard photo booth, on the instagram "drop" (to show all of the goodies!) and even outside. #BTSS (Back to School Saturdays) is the hashtag Teen Vogue created that is on every photo from each girl's party, as well as BTS events hosted at malls around the country. I created my own hashtag #teenvoguextaylorjean to be able to see all of my photos in one simple place. 

Another HUGE thank you to Teen Vogue for choosing me to host a back to school bash, for sending all of the products, and for this incredible opportunity! And thank you, of course, to all of the beautiful ladies who attended my Teen Vogue Back to School brunch. Check out my Twitter (@taylorgorskiii) and Instagram (taylorgorski) to see even more, as well as the hashtags #BTSS and #teenvoguextaylorjean.

City Dreams a Reality; Teen Vogue Fashion University

 This past weekend I had the insane opportunity to travel to New York City for Teen Vogue Fashion University. Fashion University is a 3 day event hosted by Teen Vogue where you attend fashion, editorial, or business seminars by some of the top people in the industry. Around 500 students from all over the country, even a few international students, are selected to attend. I choose the editorial/social "major" and was able to hear some amazing individuals speak, learning unforgettable lessons. The Teen Vogue headquarters are located in One World Trade Center, so classes were up on the 34th and 64th floors...a completely breathtaking view of the city.

 Friday night was a kick-off party at Express in Times Square. As soon as I walked in, Elaine Welteroth, the beauty and health editor of Teen Vogue, was standing right in front of me. Ah! She is such a sweetheart and took the time to talk to all of the girls individually. Express had a photo booth, mocktails and sweets, a lash bar, and DJ Chelsea Leyland blasting great music for all the students to enjoy. Seeing everyone dressed in different outfits, expressing themselves uniquely, was so cool in itself. The editors of Teen Vogue were all walking around mingling with us, answering questions, and it seemed everyone was having a fabulous time, myself included!

 After a short sleep (how does one possibly get enough sleep in the greatest city in the world) it was time for a full day of classes. We each received an Express tote bag filled with goodies. Each room had huge full length windows that were fogged up from the rain. It seemed as if I was floating in the clouds in the best dream possible. I can't get over how incredible it is that those who work at Teen Vogue get to go to work every day with an unreal view of the city, doing what they love! The following are the seminars I attended on Saturday:

Michelle Phan, beauty youtuber who recently launched her own makeup brand
Black Frame, a PR agency who works with Kenzo and Rodarte-just to name a couple
Kristen Joy Watts, the art and fashion director of Instagram (loved her!)
Aliza Licht, DKNY PR girl who told us all about the launch of the Cara Delevingne collaboration
A panel of Teen Vogue Editors, lead by Editor-in-Chief Amy Astley
Mickey Rapkin, the writer of Pitch Perfect
Each speaker had something new to be heard...notebooks and cameras were out and in full force. Jessica Simpson, Zac Posen, and ManRepeller are just a few of the other great speakers that were there, as well. I never wanted the day to end. Being surrounded by creative, motivating, positive individuals was so magical and I left feeling oh so inspired.

Erika Bearman, Oscar De La Renta PR Girl, was the keynote speaker on Sunday morning. She is stunning and full of wonderful, empowering words. We received Oscar De La Renta perfume and pink bengals, ooh la la! As we were leaving the seminar, a certificate was given to us and we had officially graduated from Fashion U. After heading back to the higher level floors to take more pictures (when you're in a room full of bloggers, photographers, and fashionistas, pictures are constant!), Teen Vogue Fashion University had come to an end. Thank you to Teen Vogue for hosting such a wonderful event that I will never, ever forget. Meeting people with the same interests as me from all over the country, while learning about the industry from influential leaders (IN NYC!), is an experience like no other. I write this post with the biggest smile on my face and already want to be back reliving every second.

 "Indulge and purse your passions." -Amy Astley, Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue

"Don't compare yourself to other people. Whether it's freckles, curly hair, or curves, find what makes you stand out and accentuate it. Confidence will turn heads quicker than any lipstick." -Elaine Welteroth, Beauty and Health Director at Teen Vogue