Mall Crawl - April 2011
--- Christy Lin
Well hello ladies and gents and welcome to the wonderful month of May! What makes it so wonderful, you ask? Aside from the barraging of fresh flowers and onset of utterly awesome weather, I’m pretty sure it has something to do with the fact that summer is looming and the end of that ridiculously tortuous spring semester is finally drawing near. But that’s not why we’re here of course (isn’t there another section in this magazine for that?), no. We’ve gathered here to talk fashion, and not just fashion, but trends, and not just trends, but what you should be wearing for this oh-so-glorious month. So let’s get to it!
As per usual, I would like to begin with the females in our audience. Ladies, there are two looks you should really try to have fun with this month: the Boho Bombshell look (like that? I came up with it all by myself *wink*) and the Classy Chic look (again, all mine *smile*). For all our Bombshells, think 1950s Nantucket with a flashy, bohemian pattern twist. Wait what? Ahem, I mean printed dresses that cinch at the waist and have a flared skirt. Anthropologie and Forever 21 have the biggest and best collections I’ve seen of these, all really affordable and all very cute. I must admit that seeing all those prints on the floor of Forever almost made me gag from the tackiness, but once I got up close and really looked, there were definitely a few pieces that I could see myself wearing. Keep in mind that whatever pattern you pick a) you like it and b) it won’t make you dizzy. Pair the dress with some nice flats and one of those crocheted/knitted not-really-a-sweater things and you’ll be golden!
Now my Classy Chic, er, Chicks…you’ve got a fairly easy month ahead of you. There is really only one thing you should be aware of. Black. Not like mourners’ black, but sleek, simple, sexy black. Stick with solid colors and stark contrast: just a plain black top with a nice pair of medium wash jeans, or nice black jeans with a plain white top. If you want some color, then go for it, but try to keep it neutral and light with no patterns or embellishments (that’s what that other look is for). The Gap will be your best friend for this trend since they are kind of known for their more casual, uncomplicated looks, but H&M also has a nice selection. If black is not your thing, then definitely go to H&M because they have just released a line of plain white, organic cotton clothes (shirts, dresses, jeans) that are to die for, they are so frickin’ cute.
Ok men, don’t worry, I know you’re still there. If you have not yet (which seems unlikely) go out and get at least one screen printed, graphic t-shirt. If you already have one then go out and get one more because they are everywhere and they are going to be big for this month. Now, you can wear them like always (with jeans and sneakers I’m assuming) or you can mix it up. Instead of going out in a nice looking button down, wear a graphic tee with a nice, light, casual blazer on top. The blazer is a biggie too, GET ONE!! They are not your average, preppy, private school affairs, but they are hot. Oddly enough, I feel like one of the best places to shop for this trend is Forever 21 (I thought they weren’t doing men’s clothes anymore) but Urban Outfitters is also one to look at. If the jacket seems like too much, then you can’t go wrong with a vest. There are not as many of those, but they are definitely around and they make an awesome addition to this sort of street-wear meets Hollywood fashion. There is one more thing that I keep seeing pop up and that is the knitted tie. I’m not really sure when this all started, or how it works, but it is becoming more frequent on my fashion radar and I’m kinda liking the idea. Rest assured that further research is being done and I hope to get back to you all soon regarding this situation.
Alright folks, with something as exciting as the month of May, there (of course) needs to be some drawbacks, and by that, I am referring to finals. So, without further ado, I leave you now to return to my regular life of coffee induced stress and overwhelming school projects. Until next time…
The Perfect Swimsuit
--- Sarah Luo
One of the things that I hate about summer is having to wear a swimsuit. I know that that should actually be one of the good parts because you want to be able to show off your killer swimsuit body, but come on, let’s all be honest, no one actually has that swimsuit body right at the start of summer. You usually don’t have that until maybe mid-July, but you want to be able to swim and play water sports (see fitness article!). Anyhow, I’m here to show you some of the best ways to shop for a swimsuit that fits your body at all times.
A problem that I’ve noticed with some women is the bust of their swimsuit. If you’re a bit on the bustier side, you want a swim suit that supports, not one that squishes and makes it look like you’re three bra sizes larger than you actually are...that is unless you want to look like that, in which case, whatever floats your boat. But I know that for me, I prefer to be more covered up, so I look for tops that are more supportive. Venus Swimwear says that you want a suit with contoured seams, underwires, or wide bands because they not only support, they actually make your bust look slightly smaller which is sometimes more favorable. Some good places to look for swimsuits with a top that can support larger busts are Venus, Victoria’s Secret, and Scheel’s (click the names to begin shopping). Although a lot of their selections are made more for the medium to small busts, they are some of the very few places I’ve found that actually have a fair selection o f swimsuits made for large busts. Of course, don’t rule out the idea of a one piece because those also keep your busts supported quite well. You could also wear a t-shirt or tank top over your top because that’s also very attractive and covers up very well.
When it comes to wearing bikinis, the most important areas to focus on are your curves, legs, and of course bust. But there are some suits that are better for emphasizing or minimizing curves depending on what suits your fancy. So if you want to emphasize your curves, you want to look for swimsuits that are the same color or details on the top and bottom. Another trend that’s pretty popular nowadays are the cut out one pieces, the ones where it’s a one piece, but the sides are cut out so that your skin shows. It’s technically a two piece, but better looking. Those really help emphasize your curves, even more so than bikinis. To minimize your curves, look for suits that have thicker straps, tankinis, or a suit with a skirt. Tankinis cover up more than a bikini would and a suit with a skirt to cover up your hips will help minimize curviness. I would suggest not spending too much time on covering up your curves though because that’s what makes a swimsuit sexy!
So legs are a very hard part of the body to deal with when it comes to swimsuits. Sometimes you don’t like the way the swimsuit looks because maybe it shortens your legs or you think it makes your legs thicker, but there’s always a fix for that. To lengthen the way your legs look in bikinis, Venus Swimwear suggests trying a swimsuit that has a higher waistline, sits higher on the hip, or has thinner sides. The higher the bottom sits, the longer your legs seem and if the side bands are skinnier, then it looks like there is more skin showing making your legs look longer. If you’re afraid that your legs look too thick and would prefer to cover up, board shorts are the best. I absolutely love board shorts because not only do they look absolutely adorable, they also do a fair amount of covering up. Short board shorts are the most easy to move around in, but longer board shorts cover up a lot and look just as good. Some good places for board shorts would be Volcom, PacSun, Tilly’s, Roxy, and O’Neill. Click the brand names to begin your search!
Essentially, you make your swimsuit look the way you want it to be. Swimsuits should not be the reason you dread the summer now because you can look good in any type of swimming suit just as long as you wear it right and make sure it fits your body type. Make sure you pick the right cuts and the right colors so that you emphasize the body part that you actually want to show off. Of course, the most perfect swimsuit won’t do you any good if you don’t have confidence in yourself. So not only go out and search for that perfect swimsuit, but flaunt it when you’ve got it!
Sites consulted:
www.venus.com
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