Category: Fashion & Retail

Categories
Arts & Entertainment Fashion & Retail Food & Beverage music Social Media Student Life at VC

Coachella 2026

My top 3 that made it unforgettable & my Top 3 I wish never happened

The group minus two

Top 3 that made it unforgettable

1. Friends

This was my first Coachella, and I couldn’t have spent it with better people. Being able to experience the festival with close friends was truly an unforgettable experience, as some of them were also experiencing it for the first time.

2. El Moro Churros
  • Coachella Announcement by El Morro
  • IG post by el Morro
  • personal picture

I was obsessed with these churros, and obsessed is an understatement. There are a couple of people selling churros and other snacks at the festival, but what attracted me the most about this one was their setup, which seemed like a little store. The churros were 4 for $20 or 2 for $12. The first day, I got the four pieces of churros twice because the way they are freshly made, soft yet crunchy, and had a dipping sauce, just made me hungry. On the other two days, I only got the four pieces of churros once, but got my friends to get them too. They are a churro company based in Mexico City, which was amazing to learn, as well as their opening a shop in LA.

3. First Latina Female Headliner
  • Karol G
  • All female mariachi
  • J Balvin
  • Becky G

Karol G is the first Latina female headliner at Coachella, and although this may not be big for some people, it is for my Latin community. I think she definitely delivered a great performance, bringing out some of my favorite Latin artists like Peso Pluma, Becky G, and J Balvin. She also brought out an all-female mariachi group, which was such a cool twist to her performance. I really do wish everyone I knew could experience this one night as everyone around us singing and dancing and just having the time of our lives.

Top 3 that I wish never happened

1. Waiting 3 hours to get a shuttle back home

It’s the night of Justin Bieber’s performance, and as we imagined, it was really full. I think it was the fullest set out of three headliners, and going back home at the same time as everyone was no joke. We had been at the festival for 8+ hours at this point, and I was excited to go home as I was tired from all the walking and my back had been hurting. When we got to the shuttle line, we realized we were towards the end, but didn’t think much about it until time started passing by. An hour went by, then another, and during the last hour, I checked the time, and it was 4:15 in the morning when Justin had ended his performance at 1 a.m. Thankfully, the shuttle came shortly after that, and I slept on the way home but didn’t get home until 5 a.m. I was in disbelief and told my group I hated Coachella and would not go on the last day.

2. Caring about the outfit

I took black boots the first day of the festival and instantly regretted it. I checked my Oura ring during the last set, and I had already gotten over 18k steps. I obviously didn’t learn my lesson because I wore boots for the last day as well, knowing my feet were super tired and I was probably going to get blisters. Why did I do it? I did it for the sole reason that it made the outfit put together. I was so worried about my outfits being cute that I forgot to pack comfy shoes. I also didn’t take into consideration that from all that walking and heat, my feet were going to swell up a bit. Are the pictures cute? I like to think so, but definitely not worth it, so the next time I go back I’m definitely dressing comfy.

3. Leaving my homework until the due day

This one is a no-brainer. The night before, I had gotten home at 5 a.m., and I knew my assignment was due that day at 10p.m. I had to make sure I woke up early to get it done, as I wasn’t sure how long it would take me to do. Thankfully, one of my friends helped me by making my breakfast as I worked on it, so I didn’t lose time. I have a recording section on the assignment, which always takes me a million times to keep it within the time frame, plus our other friends were starting to play loud music, and that’s when I hated myself for waiting. I got it done with only 1 hour left to shower, find the right outfit, do my makeup, and hair. I think this stress could’ve definitely been avoided, but at the end I’m glad I got it done just in time to enjoy our last day at Coachella.

Categories
Business Clothing Fashion & Retail Local Business Spotlight

Express Your Individual Style with Trending Items: A Spotlight on B Max Clothing.

Leslee Ramirez said, “Whenever I want to shop for trendy, high-quality items, I visit B Max Clothing.”

Have you ever found yourself spending an entire day visiting countless clothing stores in search of a pair of shoes for that dress? Or a skirt for that birthday party you were invited to next weekend? You’re probably a shopping lover (like me), but these kinds of situations can definitely be frustrating when it seems like we’ve searched the entire city and there’s not a single place that has anything worthy of our attention.

With rising prices and constantly changing fashion trends, it’s become increasingly difficult to find a place that offers clothing, accessories, and shoes worth buying at affordable prices. People today only shop online to save time, but I think it’s important to support local businesses. Besides, when it comes to buying clothes or shoes, there’s nothing better than trying them on and checking the quality in-person before you make a purchase.

I have visited numerous clothing stores throughout my life, and I can say that I always go back to those that caught my attention the first time I saw their window displays. But there is one in particular that I cannot resist visiting.

B Max Clothing is a boutique located in Fillmore, California. They have a wide range of items, including shoes, accessories, and clothing. The business targets women—from teenagers to adults—and all these beautiful ladies will undoubtedly find themselves walking out of this store with a new purchase.

A fantastic store is always up to date with the latest fashion trends. However, you may find different items or clothing colors depending on the season. For example, in fall, you might find high boots or a brown sweater, and in spring-summer, you might find a wide variety of open-toe shoes or sleeveless tops.

The in-store atmosphere has a California vibe. When you walk into the store, there is good music playing, from English pop to Spanish ballads. They also have a weekly arrivals section and a plus-sizes section. One of my favorite sections is the accessories section. Seriously, I could spend hours looking at the necklaces and earrings.

  • Accessories section

The customer service is excellent, whether you interact with a staff member or the store owner. I mention this because I have experienced it firsthand. Let me tell you about a time when I was looking for a pair of shoes to wear with a dress I had previously purchased. At the time, I wasn’t sure what color or style I was looking for, so I picked up the first pair that caught my eye. The owner was there, and I remember our interaction very well. She gave me her opinion on the right size for me and which ones would go best with my dress. To be honest, I think there’s nothing like feeling welcomed when you arrive at a shop; it definitely makes you want to come back.

You can find the store as @bmaxclothing on Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and TikTok. I recommend checking out their Instagram (their most active social media platform) and watching the content they have posted. You can also visit their website B Max Clothing. Do not hesitate to stop by B Max Clothing the next time you want to go shopping.

Store address: 508 Santa Clara st, Fillmore, California 93015.

Hours: Mon-Sat•10am-8pm | Sun•11am-4pm.

Phone: (805) 625-7105

Categories
Arts & Entertainment Business Fashion & Retail

The 3 Best Vintage Shops in Ventura, and Why You Should Ditch Fast Fashion

Location: Olive’s Vintage

If your first thought after reading the title is that you would never shop second hand, this article probably isn’t what you want to read. I think that is exactly why you should continue reading. 

Ventura has some of the most unique and wonderful vintage shops for being a quiet beach town. That alone is all the more reason to check them out. What is there to do for fun in a small town? Vintage and antique stores bring a lot of charm to the area, and people’s lives. If you’ve never been to a vintage shop before or are just curious, let me be your guide to the top 3 in this nook of Southern California.

My first recommendation is Poppies Vintage, located in midtown Ventura. This store carries such gorgeous pieces, and the whole spot is full of color and life. Garments, shoes, and bags that date back to the 60s and 70s! Even if you just enjoy aesthetic interior, you would likely be fond of Poppies Vintage. To top it off, there is a section dedicated to local business’ merchandise for purchase, such as handmade candles and novelties. Poppies is warm and inviting, and you wouldn’t regret a visit. 

Location: Poppies Vintage

My next pick would have to be Out West Market, which seems to be growing a wider customer base through social media. This shop is special, not only for their curated one of a kind items, but the space itself. Out West has a lovely western theme, with decor of all kinds on every inch of the walls. One of the highlights being an indoor and outdoor area, which is sweet if you want to enjoy browsing on a sunny day. OW also offers bins with bargain prices, so you can shop even with just $5 in your wallet. 

Last but not least, and my personal favorite choice, Olive’s Vintage. There may or may not be a hint of bias here, but I encourage you to hear me out. Olive’s Vintage is located downtown and owned by the lovely Jeannie Rollo, kind-hearted and knows a gem when she sees it. Jeannie has been collecting knickknacks, clothes, art, and everything under the sun, pretty much her whole life. I asked her why she decided to start selling vintage. 

“I had so much of it. I thought I should share it with other people, and give it a new life. So that this collection can get a new home”

With such a wide range and variety of Jeannie’s collection, the space feels authentic and true to what vintage is all about. Vintage items can be best described as timeless, whimsical, and chock-full of stories. Jeannie has an eye for art, whether it’s for sale or just decor. She also has her own pieces hanging around, along with her previous studio that appeals to many visitors. For Jeannie, it’s truly not about a sale, as she keeps her prices more affordable than most and tailored to each item. I wanted to know if Jeannie had any insight for why vintage is a better alternative than fast fashion and big retail.

“It has a past life. Vintage is just made better, and made to last, even all this time. You can tell how much people have put work in to make these things. They are like pieces of art, that you just treasure more.”

Whether you have been shopping vintage for a while, or you don’t know much about it, I urge you to take a visit to a local vintage store (even if it’s not on this list). Purchasing antique and vintage items, especially clothing, helps reduce waste and promotes sustainability. By shopping vintage, you purchase with intention. You are taking home an item with a story behind it, and the quality to last you just possibly another generation. If you do it right, you may even find it saves you money long term. Instead of buying poorly made, new retail clothes that need frequent replacing, you have something that dazzles your wardrobe or home for years to come. Bring some whimsy into your life! 

Categories
Business Fashion & Retail Food & Beverage Food & Dining Local Business Spotlight Student Life at VC

Best Ventura County Hidden Gem

If you have been looking for the perfect coffee shop in Ventura County let me introduce you to Heritage Coffee & Gifts. This family owned coffee shop is located on 210 W 7th Street in Oxnard, California. You can find it as one of the many establishments in Heritage Square. It is owned and managed by Fernando and Teresa Larios and their son Carlos Larios. They offer specialty espresso and coffee drinks, as well as sandwiches and pastries.

While I was here, I ordered two drinks and a sandwich to really try this place out and give it an honest review. The drinks that I ordered were a honey lavender latte and a turmeric latte. I also got their caprese panini.

I decided on the honey lavender latte (pictured on the left) because the barista said that one was her favorite, so I had to give it a try. I loved that it was not overly sweet. I find that a lot of coffee places have overly sweet drinks where you can barely taste the coffee. This drink had the perfect subtle sweet with a dash of florals from the lavender. I can definitely see why this was one of her favorites.

I ordered the turmeric latte (pictured above on the right) because I had never seen or heard of anything like that before. I was so intrigued that I had to try it. I’m surprised to say it was really good. I thought it was not going to taste the best because turmeric is generally supposed to have a warm, bitter, earthy taste to it. I can definitely pick up hints of that but in a good way. The warmth was very slight and after the first few sips you could barely notice it. I quite enjoyed the earthy taste of it. I’d say the turmeric latte is on the same level of earthy flavor as a Thai tea would be.

I very much enjoyed both of those drinks and would get them again. I got my drinks with oat milk instead of cows milk and I am so thankful that they had other options. As someone who is both vegetarian and lactose intolerant, I am grateful when places have accommodations.

In addition to the drinks, I also got their caprese panini which has pesto, mozzarella cheese, and sun dried tomatoes on sourdough bread. The panini was freshly made to order so it was warm and melty. The bread was toasted to perfection with satisfying char marks on the side. Honestly one of the best sandwiches I’ve had in a while. There is something to great when a simple recipe is done well.

I had the pleasure of getting to speak to Mr. Carlos Larios (owner/manager) when I went into the store to try it out. He was very kind and a great conversationalists. We started talking about what exactly they sell, when he said something that made me smile.

“More than anything, we really want to create a friendly and welcoming environment for everyone who comes in.”

I can say that they 100% accomplish that feeling. From the second I stepped foot inside, the room was filled with people talking and laughing. There was only one open table, which told me that business was going well. What makes this place feel so homey and unique is because it is in an actual house. All of Heritage Square is made of old houses turned into shops or businesses. The coffee shop is where a front living room would essentially be. Make sure to check out the video below to get a peak of what the inside looks like.

Inside, there is a fire place with a TV above it that plays calming and relaxing music on Spotify so people can see what they are listening to. In front of the fireplace is a coffee table that is surrounded by sofas. It really helps to bring that warm and welcoming feeling in. It truly does feel like you just stepped into someone’s home. They even have a counter designated for other local businesses cards so their customers can see and take them. The video also highlights the gift shop that is connected to the coffee shop. The gift shop features all handmade items. Some of them were even made by the owner Teresa Larios.

If you are in the area, this place is a can’t miss! I might have found my new favorite go to spot and I can’t wait to try out the other things they have to offer. Make sure to also follow them on their social media, linked below.

Categories
Fashion & Retail Student Life at VC

Going Secondhand: A Smart Choice for College Students

Fast fashion is everywhere. Stores are always putting out new clothes, and the prices are cheap, so it’s easy to keep buying. But all that buying creates a lot of waste. The fashion industry throws away millions of tons of clothing every year, and most of it ends up in landfills.

As college students, we’re always trying to save money but still look good. Thrifting helps with both. It’s affordable and it’s better for the planet.

When you shop secondhand, you’re giving clothes a second life. Instead of being thrown away, someone else gets to use them. That means less waste and less demand for new clothing to be made. Even small changes, like buying a few thrifted pieces, can make a difference.

One VC student said, “I started thrifting to save money, but now I love finding unique pieces you can’t get anywhere else.”

Thrifting is also great for your budget. You can find good quality and name brand clothes for way less than retail prices. When you’re paying for tuition, rent, and food, that really helps.

In Ventura County, there are a lot of places to thrift. Stores like Goodwill and The Salvation Army have great options, plus there are local resale boutiques around the area.

Sustainable fashion doesn’t have to be expensive or boring. Thrifting shows that you can look good, save money, and help the environment at the same time.

Next time you need something new, try a thrift store first. Your wallet and the planet will thank you.

Check out this video of one of my thrift hauls where I scored some fashionable and trendy clothes, giving them a second chance in life: