At dinner the other night, one of my friends described a girl as one of those girls who wears too many trends at once. Not one of us at the table could boast of a flaw-free fashion life, but we all knew the kind of girl she was talking about.
Trends come and go and come back so fast that they can be hard to keep up with, and winter does not make it easier. After all, rolling out of bed with 15 minutes to get to that early-morning class does not inspire the fashion designer that dwells deep inside of us. Knowing that lots of snowy hills and icy-slick bricks are what await us does not make it any more worth our time.
When time and weather do allow for some fun with those tips you read about in Glamour, it can be easy to go overboard in all the excitement. When you finally get that break away from studying and the chance to hit uptown full force, remember that with any fashion trend, moderation is key.
Any print can be cute and fun, and even floral prints have made their way off of grandma's bag and onto some really hot outfits. No print, however, is OK all over a track suit. Pair that zebra-striped halter with G? well, I actually am at a loss with that one, but I do know that it cannot possibly go well with any sort of printed bottom. While we're on that, go easy on the animal print. Those are very hard to keep out of the tacky pile, so think accessories. Bottom line: Dresses are the only exception for full-bodied print.
One particular dress I saw in Forever 21 this last break brought this next no-no to my attention. It was a short, black baby-doll dress with cap sleeves and a huge silver sequined bow right smack in the middle of the chest. This is not high fashion, friends. Picture that bow that seems to make its way onto every little girl's church dress, but with sequins. Sequins can definitely add some glamour to a garment, but only in moderation.
My favorite trend is color ' the brighter, the better. Once again, loves, less is more. This style does not give the go-ahead to be Rainbow Brite for a day. Those perfect red heels can be worn with jeans and a white fitted top. Never be afraid to match a bold shoe with a not-so-bold outfit. If your outfit is channeling the Chiquita banana girl, on the other hand, strongly consider the black pumps.
As far as make-up goes, the general rule is either dramatic lips or eyes, not both at the same time. The only times to go all-out on both (or to match eye shadow to outfit) are stage performances and '80s-themed parties. Any other night, bold on one means soft or nude on the other.
Some gals have the ability to wear a paper bag and rock it out, while others have trouble with that outfit matched piece for piece with the one on the store mannequin. The key is confidence. You can wear every piece of print you can possibly find with the loudest make-up and shoes and be a total rock star if you have the confidence. Just do not let me see you; I get headaches easily.
Be described as the girl with the really great laugh or one of those girls with a really classy/fun/daring/poised look. Be remembered for your wit or your genuine personality, not the plaid and polka dot ensemble you dubbed high fashion. And for Gucci's sake, not the sequined bow!
Chenee Castruita is a junior journalism major. Send her an e-mail at cc282705@ohiou.edu.
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Chenee Castruita
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