Obsessed with OCC’s Lip Tar
Bright, neon lips are undoubtedly a popular trend these days. Sephora has deemed tangerine their color of the year- walk into the store and you’ll find a selection of the best coral options for your lips, among nail polishes and eye shadows. Bright pink lips are a highly coveted look also; from Jessica Stam modeling for CoverGirl to a girl I shared an art history class with, who pulled the bold look off so casually that I wondered why more people weren’t sporting a bright lip on a daily basis.
Since I’ve discovered Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetic’s Lip Tar, I’ve been planning to ditch my red lipstick for a shade of purple. Then again, they also carry cyan blue, and even mango-orange. With 36 unique colors to choose from, it’s a decision that requires some consideration. Not only does OCC offer plenty of variety in their products, but all of their products are 100% vegan and cruelty free.
Even without the wide variety of colors, The Lip Tar is a unique product in itself. It applies like a lip gloss, but has a dry, satin finish and the durability of a lipstick and goes a long way. The Lip Tar is ultra-pigmented, so when applying it to your lips (you’ll need a lip brush!) you only need a very small amount; if too much is applied, the product will bleed. It will look exceptional all while doing good for your lips, as it contains hemp oil, peppermint oil and vitamin E. Should you ever need to adorn your body with brightly colored designs, you’re in luck because the Lip Tar can be used as body paint as well.
-Emily O’Neill
Gifts For The Working Mom
If your mom is a nine-five gal who’s always on the go, here’s some Mother’s Day gifts sure to appeal to her professional side.
Don’t Worry About White Rules…
Credit: discovalante.files.wordpress.com
Earlier this year, the unseasonably warm weather caused confusion about what’s appropriate to wear. This spring has made planning outfits almost unbearable because one day it’s like Philadelphia and Miami swapped places, and the next it’s as if Philly got bored in Miami and moved north to Maine.
Now that spring weather is here to stay, some bold fashionistas have already started rocking white. I’m not talking about a white accent piece here or there, I’m talking about white staple pieces, like pants, before Memorial Day.
According to Time Magazine’s exposé on the origin of the “No White After Labor Day” rule, white was deemed unacceptable before Memorial Day and after Labor Day because white linen was traditionally worn by vacationers to symbolize leaving their urban lifestyles for one of leisure.
That’s great, but we live in 2012. If I wanted to leave my urban life, I could just hop on a plane and jet set somewhere warm. Okay being the broke college student I am, maybe I couldn’t, but you get the idea….the white rules don’t apply any longer.
Although some are hesitant to break out the white, it’s an incredibly easy color to pair with this season’s hottest pastels. I love this season’s trends, but I wouldn’t deck myself head to toe in pastels. I’d look like a Crayola box threw up, so why not pair one of this season’s hottest colors with a pair of white pants?
I love to throw white into my wardrobe mix because it’s clean and simple. It keeps an outfit light without distracting from your staple piece. Because this season’s colors are so bright, try working in white regardless of the old rule. After all, rules are made to be broken, right?
Five Different Ways to Rock a Peter Pan Collar
After stopping in H&M on my pursuit for new spring styles, I asked an associate if they carried anything with a peter pan collar. Though their website has multiple tops with this style, the associate looked at me as if I was an actual crazy person, and then it dawned on me. This trend isn’t as well known as I thought it was. Think of this post as part public service announcement. This trend can be a go-to staple piece that too many women have been missing out on.
If you have a tendency to gravitate towards the floral, cutesy prints, lace, and all things feminine, peter pan collars are a must for you. Though it may not seem much different from the classic collar, the peter pan collar will give your whole look a fresh, feminine feel that’s convenient and versatile. It can dress an outfit up or down, depending on how you style it. You can even find just the collar and wear it as an accessory. Here’s five ways to incorporate this trendy detail into your wardrobe:
Collared Polka Dot Tank: Forever 21, $17.80
Peter Pan Collar Dress: Zara, $59.90
Blouse: H&M, $9.95
Seed Bead Peter Pan Necklace: Topshop, $30
Peter Pan Drapey Jersey Top: Free People, $49.95
-Lauren Arute
DIY Bow Tie
Lucky for us tomboys, borrowing fashion from the boys has been super “in” for the past few seasons. It all started with the brogues, then the collars, the ballcaps, now, the latest addition, the bowtie! Bowties on chicks are super adorable and sharp. Just check out our exhibit A right here:
Via lifetrendy.com
You can go out and buy a bow tie from the men’s or little boy section, but it’ll set you back almost 50 bucks. Oh, and those over-sized jawns from American Apparel? Too costumey. What you need is a neat, little bow that will look polished and cool and not like water could squirt out of it.
The ladies at Honestly WTF have a super easy tutorial on how to make a bow tie yourself from scraps of fabric.
Start by drawing a horizontal and vertical line on a 6″ by 3.5″ piece of fabric. Pinch the fabric where the lines intersect and pick it up.
Flip the fabric over and place a drop of hot glue where you are pinching. Fold it in half lengthwise, pressing it together. Then, put a dab of glue on the backside, on the horizontal line, right next to the fold.
Fold the fabric back again and press down where you just glued. We will continue this process to form the middle accordion shape of the bow.
Turn your finished bow over and glue the tip of a .75″ by 2.5″ strip of fabric to the center. Wrap it around and seal with glue.
Glue a pinback to the back of the bow.
Voila!
Trend Alert: Color Blocking
As an avid reader of our blog, you are more-than well aware that bright, bold colors are the cat’s meow this spring. Now, fashion gurus and style website moguls alike are preaching a new trend that will allow you to wear your favorite bright colors all at the same time. Enter: Color blocking.
The trick to mastering color blocking is to resort to something we learned in 2nd grade art class, the color wheel.
Color blocking is when an outfit contains blocks of color (duh), usually involving contrasting hues or different shades of the same color. The most basic rule of thumb to follow is to avoid colors on the exact opposite sides of the wheel. Instead, you want to follow the rule of two-thirds. The rule of two-thirds is fool proof, having you create an equilateral triangle.
After making your triangle, use two of those three colors and pick a third color from outside of your triangle. For example, an outfit comprised of pieces that are shades of orange, green and blue would be fashionably fierce. Check out how some of our favorite designers show off their color blocking talents.
From Left: Express Color Block Ponte Knit Dress, $61.60 / Rachel Rachel Roy Dress, $79.99 / H&M Jersey Dress, $17.95 / Nicole Miller Sleeveless V-Neck Multi Color Dress, $420/ Forever 21 Colorblocked Linen-Blend Dress, $24.80 / Ali & Kris Dress Shirt Sleeve Colorblocked, $32.99 / Mossimo Supply Co. Maxi Dress, $27.99 / The Limited Colorblock Striped Dress, $89.90
~Michelle Mass
Don’t Let Trends Take Over Your Wardrobe!
Image Courtesy of H&M's virtual fitting room.
Bright colors are the go-to trend of the season, but as with any sizzling hot fad, they burn out as fast as they blow up. The colors are a lot of fun, but everyone’s wearing them, so it’s hard to stand out from the crowd.
I like to incorporate the latest trends with my own style to create a unique look, otherwise my friends and I would look like we’re straight out of a Gap catalog. Trends are a great way to spice up your wardrobe from season to season, but they shouldn’t dictate fashion choices.
Earlier this season like every other season, J.Crew released their 9″ Stanton short in a wide array of colors, my favorite being their dusty berry. Salmon shorts have been a J.Crew staple for eternity the past few spring/summer lines, but salmon and coral are hot in all stores this spring. The key is to wear them as the focal point of the outfit’s color palate. I pair my colored shorts with a simple black deep v-neck and creme shaw collar sweater for chilly mornings because the black shirt doesn’t take away from the main color trend, but it still makes a statement in the outfit as a whole.
The v-neck shows a little skin, a little muscle, and ideally a little chest hair a little tan, all without distracting from the color of the shorts. It turns the simple, yet sophisticated shorts and sweater outfit (or shirt and shorts on hot days) into a sexy, fun day-out outfit.
We love using pieces to accent others in order to create a mood. Like perfume with its various notes, outfits must be designed so the various pieces compliment one another to match your personal style. Mine screams gay club meets the Hamptons, sexy and flashy, yet sophisticated and well groomed.
Play around with the latest and greatest styles and think about ways to work them in to things you already have. Trends are simply what’s hot now -they are not laws. Just because something is hot, doesn’t mean it should actually be worn, cough jellies cough.
Be A Fashionable Phillies Fan
Ladies, there’s no reason for you to be representing the Phillies in frumpy, oversized men’s apparel. With the team’s female (and overall) fan-base having grown a great deal over the last three years, companies have really stepped up their selection of women’s apparel and accessories.
In fact, on the Modell’s online shop, the selection was almost 50/50. More importantly, it appears companies are starting to take female fashion sensibilities into consideration when coming up with their designs, rather than just offering fitted versions of their men’s apparel.
So you’re one of those women I see walking around Center City every game day wearing what appears to be the same generic one-size-fits-all Phils tee—which I’m guessing you probably got for free somewhere—it’s time to seek out a more stylish alternative.
Here’s just a preview of the array of cute/cool Phils gear out there…
Modell’s: Fightin Phils Tee, $34.99 / Racer Back Tank Top, $24.99 / Capri Sweat Pants, $32.99 / Hooded T-Shirt, $35.99 / Sateen Shorts, $17.99 / Moccasin Slipper, $19.99 / Crew Neck Raglan T-shirt, $26.99 / Striped V-Neck T-Shirt, $26.99 / Vintage Full-Zip Hooded Sweatshirt, $54.99 / Cosmetic Bag, $14.99 / Hoodie Purse, $44.99 / Feather Hair Clip, $12.99 / iPhone Case, $29.99 / Socks, $11.99
MLB.com: Ruffle Bikini, $44.99 / Victoria’s Secret PINK® V-Neck Ringer Tee, $32.50 / Flannel PJ, $32.99 / Victoria’s Secret PINK® Hoodie, $64.50 / Sequin Flip Flops, $19.99 / Victoria’s Secret PINK® V-Neck Half Sleeve Tee, $32.50
FootballFanatics.com: V-Neck Fashion Top, $31.95 / Scoop Neck French Terry Sweater, $32.95 / Fashion Replica Jersey, $64.95 / Touch by Alyssa Milano Burnout Tank, $26.95 / Ponytail Holder, $5.95 / Lace Trim Panties, $13.95 / Touch by Alyssa Milano Tank, $34.95
Sports Authority: Hooded Sweatshirt, $89.99 / Camo T-shirt, $27.99 / Personalized Replica Jersey, $79.99 / Tweed Military Cap, $24.99 / Crystal Military Cap, $22.99
Tango into Spring with the Season’s Hottest Color
Yeah, yeah you already know: bright colors are IN for spring. The sky is blue, grass is green. But for the last couple of seasons, warm, peachy tones have been the staple hues in the chicest spring looks. Earlier this year, Pantone announced “Tangerine Tango” as its color of the year, and the super pretty coral-orange made a big splash in this season’s fashion collections. Here are some of the latest pieces that will give you a beautiful fashionista blush.
Zara blouse, $59.90
Anthropologie skirt, $188
Pollini bag, price upon request
H&M blazer, $34.95
Modcloth dress, $82.99
J.Crew espadrilles, $128
~ Jennifer Nguyen
Fashion’s Hidden Implications, Effects
Photo: newspano.com
In Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s children’s novel, “The Little Prince,” the title character encounters a Turkish astronomer. The scientist continues to tell the Prince a story of his astronomical discovery. When he first presents the discovery, he was wearing traditional Turkish clothing, and his fellow scientists regarded him as a fool. Years later, the Astronomer makes the same presentation to the same crowd, only wearing Western clothes and went on to be well-received and respected by the scientific community.
There’s no denying that we judge people by the clothes their backs. We will formulate preconceived notions and take the visual as a first impression based on the person in question is wearing. It is off these judgments we base our actions.
The most recent illustration of this mindset is Treyvon Martin, the Florida teenager shot and killed on Feb. 26.
All legal jargon and technicalities aside, what has become more of an icon–and, perhaps subsequently, more of a controversial issue–than Martin or the shooting, is what this teenager was wearing at the time of his death: a hoodie.
National TV news anchors have worn sweatshirts during broadcasts in protest. Lawmakers, lawyers, political pundits and teachers are wearing sweatshirts to work. There have been “Million Hoodie” marches throughout the nation since mainstream media has taken hold of the issue. But worst of all is the full-on war the conservative media has taken against the article of clothing.
Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera responded to this tragedy by urging minority families to discourage their children from wearing sweatshirts, as the article of clothing was to blame for Martin’s death.
Now, before I address the absolute ridiculousness of Rivera’s assertion, allow me to digress:
Remember last April when Toronto police officer Michael Sanguinetti said that if women didn’t want to get raped or sexually assaulted, they “should avoid dressing like sluts”?
That’s right, this guy actually argued that if “provocatively dressed” women were raped or sexually abused, it was their fault.
Photo: guardian.co.uk
His vilifying words toward women are no better than the actual meaning, and I can’t help but compare the Martin case with Sanguinetti.
How has our society moved from blaming the doer to blaming the wearer?
Granted, as I previously noted, I understand one’s attire has an effect on our perception of them. However, Sanguinetti and Rivera have essentially asserted the same point. The difference? Rivera is garnering support from Fox News and like-minded citizens; Sanguinetti was metaphorically burned on a stake by women around the world.
In the minority world, do we just prefer women over blacks? Is it easier – or perhaps more acceptable – to remain xenophobic and racist than it is to be sexist? What do you think?
And is anyone really going to be banishing hoodies and mini skirts from their wardrobe?