Location Location Location

I am currently on the hunt for an apartment for my move into the real world in the beginning of May. While searching for apartments, I realize 1 thing: I am really poor. I currently live in a 5 bedroom house that is almost brand new and pretty large and I am paying $450 in rent in Athens. I am moving to Atlanta, cutting my space in half, and AT LEAST doubling my rent. Not fun.

Apartment.com is an amazing source for my hunt, however looking at a map of how much more poor you are going to get is tiring me out. So I turned to Instagram. Instagram pages for apartment complexes are very helpful and gives me a more realistic view of the apartments (rather than the professional pictures that are provided). They also feature events that take place at the apartments which is very helpful.

Social media can be very useful for property managers of apartment complexes. On Twitter, property managers can share information about events, reply to client questions, RT apartment related articles and follow interior design pages. Facebook is all about engaging followers by liking comments and responding to issues presented. It is easy to invite followers on Facebook. Instagram allows to take original photos and engage other people's photos and follow local businesses. More apartment complex managers need to be utilizing their social media to create a presence. They should also lower their prices so I can afford to put food in the brand new stainless steel refrigerator.

Victoria's Secret's Potential Downfall

We are all still reeling from the loss of the Victoria's Secret bathing suit line. If you are anything like me, you are frantically looking for bikinis that don't cost a kidney and aren't going to fall apart the second they hit the water. We may end up missing all of Victoria's Secret products in the future if they continue to ignore the shift in the lingerie and modeling industry. 

Victoria's Secret is well known to have the hottest models (do more guys watch the VS fashion show than girls? probably). Entering the store, you see pictures of these models plastered all over the walls doing some scary back arch in sexay lingerie. My first thought- that girl needs a hamburger. My second thought- I probably should stop eating hamburgers (and french fries). Tall, stick thin models have always been the face of Victoria's Secret. However, recent industries have been turning to more realistic looking models to promote self acceptance and natural beauty, and consumers are loving it. 

DISCLAIMER: I am in no way body shaming the VS models. If they can look like that and they feel good well then hell yeah girlfriend you do you. The problem is that there are very few people who look like that- or even have the potential to look like that. We can't make looking like this the standard for looking sexy. 

Adore Me, a lingerie company that has set its eyes on shutting down Victoria's Secret, has hired Aerie's popular spokesmodel Iskra Lawrence (pictured above) who is curvier than the typical model. Lawrence and Tweed-Simmons were two of Adore Me's best-selling models on the company website in July 2016. Guess what- both plus sized models- SLAY GIRLS SLAY.

American Eagle's lingerie line, Aerie, pioneered this movement with the honest #AerieREAL. About 3 years ago, Aerie vowed to make a change and no longer retouch their images or exclusively seek out supermodels. "We want every girl to feel good about who they are and what they look like, inside and out". YASSSSSS AERIE YASSS. In the most recent quarter, Aerie's sales soared 32%. Sales have constantly risen since the start of this campaign. A simple glance at Aerie's Instagram page shows that they are holding true to their statement, with curvy girls, skinny girls, short girls, you name it.

For spring 2017, runways are planning on showcasing the most diverse group of models in history. Race, plus-sized, aged, and transgender models hit the runway more than ever this year. Why? This is what the industry is demanding. Victoria's Secret has made no indication that they are moving towards the movement.

In 2014, VS came under scrutiny for it's "Perfect Body" campaign. While the intention was to promote the Body by Victoria Secret line, it sparked outrage on Twitter with the birth of #iamperfect. Not a good look VS. It doesn't help that VS doesn't sell a plus size line and only goes up to a certain size in stores. Make moves VS.