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  • Style Tips for a Fashionable Winter

    Style Tips for a Fashionable Winter

    As you head out to brave the cold this winter, keep in mind that you don’t have to sacrifice style for warmth. There are several tricks you can use to keep yourself looking chic, even with temperatures plunging downwards.

    1. Invest in a Statement Coat

    Even if you find yourself stuck with boring sweats, you can still give your outfit a bit of life with an awesome coat. You can play around with pops of colors instead of resorting to the neutral tones that are often worn during the winter. The material of your coat can also give your outfit a bit of spice. Materials like faux fur and leather can take your otherwise bland outfit to the next level with a bit of mixing and matching.

    2. Play it up with Your Bottoms

    Consider using your bottom pieces to make a splash this season. There’s no need to stuff yourself in a pair of bland jeans everyday. You can turn heads with a funky pair of patterned leggings or your favourite bright trousers. The trick is to use unconventional colors, patterns, and materials to give your audience something to look at. Even if the rest of your outfit is plain, your statement bottom piece will provide a bit of flavour.

    3. Layer it up

    One of the easiest ways to add complexity to your winter attire is to mix and match some of your pieces and layer them on top of one another. Besides keeping you warm, this technique allows you to create unique combinations that are unlikely to be seen on anyone else. The key to layering is to use contrasting colors and materials that still complement one another. It may be difficult to get a working combination at first so it’s important to keep blending until you find something that works well. As a general rule of thumb, you should try to avoid mixing more than 3 colors and 3 materials. Although a variety is nice, you don’t want something that’s too chaotic.

    Bonus Tip: If it’s not too cold out, consider wearing your coat open or unzipped so that you can see the complexity of the layers beneath. You can throw on a scarf and a funky hat in case there’s a bit of a cool breeze.

    4. Strap on Some Funky Boots

    With winter boots being offered in hundreds of colors, shapes and styles, you can easily make a splash this winter with eye-catching boots.  Your feet are almost always visible so even if you’re bundled up from head to toe, you can still indulge your style cravings with something that demands appreciation. Don’t be afraid to try experimenting with something on the wilder side. If this is the one place you decide to make a statement, make it loud! 

  • Body Image Issues? You Aren’t Alone

    Body Image Issues? You Aren’t Alone

    In most cases a distorted view of body image has been presented by the media and simplified with male and female stereotypes. Men are all portrayed as tall, muscular and smoothly shaven, while impossibly thin women with disproportionate attributes make their way into thousands of commercials and magazines. We now know that someone with a camera and a simple grasp of Photoshop can easily change these images, airbrushing, changing size and re-colouring pictures. Simply put, the media portrayal of the human body is wrong.

    Never is there a time in an adolescent’s life that the body is focused on so much as the prom. The pressure falls a lot more on girls than it does with boys. Most (but certainly not all) guys are expected to attend prom wearing an expensive formal suit and tie, whereas girls are expected to be skinny but not too skinny, wear fashionable dresses and high heels.

    While prom is a formal gathering its important not to lose sense of your own style and personality. Wear whatever dress that you feel like wearing, or even wear pants if you’re comfortable. It’s one of the last big gatherings in high school so take this chance to be creative and express yourself! Maybe you could even craft your own outfit if fashion design is your thing. That’s not to say you should come in with combat boots and a trench coat – you should follow your school’s dress code when deciding what to wear, but let loose and have fun. Don’t let fashion trends or other people’s opinion’s decide for you. Prom is your night, so make your look your own, too.

    Prom is a time to celebrate that you are almost done thirteen years of education! This is a huge accomplishment and you deserve to celebrate it no matter your size, gender or personal style. Don’t let other people’s opinions ruin your night; stay true to yourself and your own style. In the end that’s what truly counts.

  • Frugally Fashionable

    Frugally Fashionable

    One of the hardest parts about being a student – especially a fashionable one – is budgeting. Some students are not always privy to the deals and steals of the trade. Just because it’s an expensive article of clothing doesn’t mean that  you automatically have style. The key to being stylish and keeping some pocket money is to pay attention to what is around you. Look at fashion and style news and look through “look books” of your favourite stores online. You will see that there are some things you can recreate for a lot less.

    For example, I took a look at my favourite fashion bloggers – yes, they wear Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Dolce & Gabbana – all things that I certainly cannot afford. However, I also took note of a lot of the pieces I liked the most – then went on a thrift shop day!  The biggest trend I have been noticing this winter season is over-sized wool and cashmere coats, and on my outing to Salvation Army I found the most beautiful, Italian-made, cashmere and wool coat in my size for only $7.99!

    Not stopping there, I also left with a wonderful oversized winter coat (durable, water resistant, fleece removable insulation) for $19.99 and a blue knitted sweater (originally from H&M) for $7.99. To top it off, the cashier also notified me that every Friday is half-off everything in the entire store – imagine all the savings!

    It is not hard to find frugal ways to stay fashionable, as long as you are able to recreate what you like from the runways and what suits you best. You can even find DIY fashion blogs that help you add some kick to an old thrift shop garment. You will be surprised of the results you get!

    Remember – the best way to be fashionable is to be true to yourself. No matter what you wear, you will look stylish because you are uniquely you!

  • The Wonders of Thrift Shopping

    The Wonders of Thrift Shopping

    Ever since Macklemore came out with that catchy song (you know, the one that plays on the radio every 30 seconds), thrift shopping has topped the list of Cool Things To Do. Even celebrities like Janelle Monae and One Republic’s Ryan Tedder have jumped in on the craze. If you’re a fashion junkie such as myself, you’ll agree with me when I say that second hand clothing stores are glorious.

    For those suffering from a lack of variety in their closet, thrifting is the way to go. The clothing at thrift stores are always rich with an odd assortment of colors, fabrics, and prints. It’s the best way to diversify your outfits without spending a fortune. Shopaholics in particular can benefit from taking a trip down to the nearest Goodwill. Buying second-hand clothing is a great way to satisfy your cravings without feeling incredibly guilty afterwards.

    A lot of students go the extra mile (or pay the extra mile) to ensure that they have clothes no one else is rocking. However, the easiest and most economically-friendly way to do this is to go thrifting! Second-hand stores are bursting with things that you can’t find anywhere else. There is literally something for everyone, no matter what style you’re currently into. Vintage-lovers, especially, may find themselves salivating at all the cool, old-school articles they have lying around.

    There are legions of people who are skeptical about purchasing used-clothing but I urge you to break away from that mindset for the sake of your wardrobe. Who cares if those high-waisted jeans have been worn before? Are you afraid that the previous owner of your gorgeous, tweed blazer is going to bump into you on the street and demand their stuff back?

    If you’re still a bit self-conscious, no one has to know that you bought your items second hand. However, you should embrace the fact that you scored an awesome new wardrobe with a handful of change. You’re fabulous and resourceful; learn to love it.

    For those who are still a bit unsure about the wonders of thrifting, take a look at what I managed to snag last week at a second-hand store for only $40:

    • 4 Blazers
    • 2 Winter Cardigans
    • 2 Vests
    • 2 Tunic Sweaters
    • A navy blue dress shirt
    • A cute belt
    • A floral skirt

    I’m still congratulating myself on such a great haul.

    With winter coming, this is the perfect time to take your first trip to the local second-hand store. For all the sweater lovers out there, you should know that almost every thrift store you go to will have a ton of lovely grandpa-sweaters in all sorts of colors and patterns. You can pair them with your favourite pair of skinny jeans or neutral tights and some killer combat boots. The possibilities are nearly endless.

    So when in doubt, just remember that thrift rhymes with gift. Thrifting is a gift from the higher powers so take advantage of it! Just grab a twenty-dollar bill and prepare yourself for the biggest shopping-high you’ll ever experience.