Winter Fashion

Jack Frost is nipping and it’s high time Pres girls were prepared. In warmer months skirts may be fine on their own, but with the cold creeping in, layering is a must. Instead of risking a uniform violation by putting on sweater upon sweater, try one warm coat. School colored pea coats, faux fur coats, and puffer jackets are not only as insulated as multiple layers, but they’re also in this season. Depending on the style and quality of the coat, prices range from $30-55 at Target.

An easy way to heat up the often ignored legs is by buying a pair of tights or socks. Slipping on cozy knee highs enhances both your look and your temperature. The perfect compliment to fancy stockings are boots with wool lining. After all, it’s important to keep your toes warm. Prices usually range between $10-20 dollars for a cozy pair of tights.

Fingers tend to freeze over in the chilly weather, making now an opportune time to break your gloves out. Gloves are an easy on and off and the difference in temperature is noticeable. They come in all kinds of lengths and colors and the soft fabrics are fun to touch. Gloves can be found anywhere from $5-15 dollars at both Claire’s and Target.

While it is a myth that a majority of your body heat comes out of your head, a good ten percent does and hats are an easy solution to that problem. Whether it’s a beret, a knit hat, or one with animal ears, hats are the hottest trend in headgear. With all their different shapes and sizes, it’s no wonder that hats are an important accessory to the winter wardrobe. Hats can be found at around $20 at the local accessory stores.

Last but not least, a Pres favorite is the classic scarf. Scarves are stylish, practical, and can be worn in all kinds of ways. They allow for repurposing; you could wear the same scarf for a week and have a different feel to it each day. A nice scarf can last a long time, making it a great accessory to return to again and again. Scarves range between $10-25 dollars depending on their longevity.

Simple, Stylish Scarves

Four-in-Hand

Start by folding the scarf in half so that the ends touch. Then, place the scarf over the back of your neck with the loop on one side and two ends on the other. Now put one of the ends through the loop. Then twist the loop once and put the other end in. Adjust by pulling the loop up or down to your neck size and it will lie flatly on your neck. This technique looks great under a coat for the winter or can be used to dress up a simple outfit. Try using a long cotton scarf with designs for this look.

 

Simple Loop

Fold a long scarf in half. Then wrap the scarf around your neck with the loop on one side and the open ends on the other. Then simply put both ends through the loop and pull. This simple loop can be used to pull together a winter outfit, adding brightness and style. Cotton, woolen, or knit scarves can work great to pull off this look.

 

The Bow

Take your scarf and swing it around your neck with the ends evenly hanging down in front. Next tie the two ends together in a bow. You can make the bow smaller or larger by pulling on the loops on the bow. You can let the bow hang in the front or one the side of your neck. This will give you a feminine look to dress up your outfit. Long silk or cotton scarves work best with this look.

 

The Wrap

Take a large square scarf and scrunch it together to make a thicker traditional scarf shape. Then wrap it around your neck, but keep one of the ends short and the other long. Take the long end and wrap it several times around your neck until there is no more material left. Let the ends of the scarf hang out of the wrap for a more urban look. Cotton or knit types of scarves look best with this look.

 

Warm, Fuzzy, and Fashionable

Typical Ugg boots can be a bit boring, but the new knitted Uggs are a great trend that allow you to keep your toes warm and have cute new shoes. For those girls on a budget, Target has a new line of boots ranging from riding to Ugg-like. Thigh-high boots are in right now, and they can add a bit more of an edgy look to your uniform.

Jackets over top your plaid skirt can make your everyday uniform different and warm. Blue, white or grey knitted sweaters are very cute, comfortable and warm. This year military coats and simple camel coats are also in style.Forever 21, American Apparel and Target have a great selection of sweaters and jackets to add to your uniform. Dress up a bit and stay warm.

Avoid those winter goosebumps by covering up with tights and socks. Even though the uniform policy prevents us from wearing many colored tights, blue, grey and white tights can be both classic and cute. White tights and knee socks were also a recurring trend on the fall runways, so check out CVS and Target for affordable finds. Fluffy socks are always great in the winter months when regular socks just don’t cut it.

Bad hair day anyone? Hats are perfect for hiding the bed head that you don’t want to deal with, and they also keep you warm in the winter. You lose 75% of your body heat through your head, but put a lid on it and voila -  you are miraculously much warmer. Try adding an ear flap/lumberjack hat or a beanie to your uniform. Target has a wide variety of hats and ear warmers that are all around $10-$15.

Scarves keep your neck warm and insulated our body while adding color that helps you to stand out against the crowd of blue and grey. Homemade scarves that you have gotten from relatives are perfect to add a personal spin to your winter wardrobe. Banana Republic, Gap and Charlotte Russe have some great scarf selections this winter season.



Collins’ Fashion Review

The students are not the only ones at Pres who are up on the latest trends– the teachers keep up with current fashion as well! This is the inaugural teacher style profile, a feature which will appear occasionally in “The Voice.” Between correcting papers and teaching class, Mrs. Collins still finds time to be stylish.

To find out more about her personal style, The Voice interviewed Mrs. Collins:

How do you decide on your outfits each day?
“Not as much thought goes into it as you think. I look for two things that match, and I look at how hot it is, and then I choose my shoes.”

How do you wear high heels every day?
“Oh, I’m used to it. I guess because I’m short I’ve always worn high heels.”

What’s more important to you- comfort or fashion?
“It depends on what I have to do that day. Because I have to do a lot of visits for schools and I have to look nice, I can’t always be perfectly comfortable, but I’m pretty comfortable in most of my clothes.”

What is your shopping weakness?
“Shoes! I don’t like shopping, so other than shoes, nothing.”

Do you have any fashion inspirations?
“No! I’m so not into that, it’s not even funny!”

To see pictures and more, be sure to pick up the October issue of The Voice!

TOMS Take the Cake

Its 7:40 am at Presentation High School and rainbows of footwear flood the hallway for the first time in months. It is easy to observe a wide range of personalities and styles at Pres by just looking at peoples’ feet. Vans, Converse, and Uggs are common favorites but a new contender has entered the race and has raised the bar in almost every aspect: TOMS.

Founded in May 2006 by Blake Mycoskie, after a life changing trip to Argentina, TOMS shoes are modeled after the traditional alpargata shoe of Argentinean farmers. Unlike the average shoe, TOMS are not limited to canvas and rubber. Wool, corduroy, sequins, recycled materials, and even a special “vegan” version that is free of any animal-by product are options. While use of these materials has been attempted before in fashion, no other shoe has hit the mainstream with as much force as TOMS.

So what’s the draw? “They’re comfy and [the company] give shoes to people who don’t have them,” explained Presentation Junior Hali Martin, while sporting her own pair of red canvas TOMS in the hallway. Indeed, part of what sets apart TOMS from any other shoe is their One for One “promise.” Every pair of shoes purchased, purchases a pair of shoes for a child in need across the globe.

Mycoskie discovered on his trip to Argentina that a child with shoes is less likely to contract disease or be injured, and more likely get an education (since often times children in poverty cannot afford shoes required by school uniform policies).

Inspired, Mycoskie started TOMS out of his own Santa Barbra apartment with four interns and within four years has grown to thousands of square feet of professional manufacturing and office space with thousands of employees and interns.

So far, TOMS claims to have given away 600,000 pairs of shoes and have an updated YouTube video blog of their own passionate interns lead by Mycoskie giving away their shoes by hand to ever-thankful children.

“I just thought they were cute!” said Mikala Evans, who was given a pair of TOMS by a friend after they ruined her old shoes. “After I found out [about One for One] I bought another.”

TOMS sounds almost too good to be true, and appears to have anticipated suspicious consumers. On their website, links to consumer auditing services for anyone interested in checking their ethical treatment of workers is available. While TOMS is a charitable business, they do not claim to be a charity. They have chosen to be a business and openly charge high premiums, which they claim cover the cost of the pair of shoes they give away.

The immense popularity of TOMS with younger generations and unique business outlook has certainly added competition in the fashion industry. Only time will tell if it will keep its One for One promise and redefine footwear.

Pre-Wrap Fashion

If you were to go to a women’s sporting event, what would you find on their heads? The players cannot wear clips, headbands, or any other hard metals. The only solution to this pressing issue is pre-wrap.

Pre-wrap is a basic foamy material that was originally used under sports tape to keep it from sticking to the skin. Now, however, it is more often used to keep fly-aways and bangs out of the players’ faces, and has morphed into a major fashion statement.

Starting in 1961, Curt Mueller started a family-owned medicine distribution business, Mueller Sports Medicine, which started selling ©MWrap, known today as pre-wrap. Although it is not environmentally conscious because it is hard to reuse without breaking, its users don’t care that it’s not green–as long as they can wear it in green (and yellow and red).

The wrap, over the past decade, has become known for its use as a hair band around the head. The school trainer, Julia Murphy, commented on the new-found fashion. “Back in the day, when there was only that ugly nude beige color because it wasn’t even seen under the tape, no one cared. As tape became colored, so did pre-wrap to match team colors, and it became a crazy fad in the past seven years.”

Now, there are over 15 different colors of pre-wrap, including neon. Not only are there colors, but new fashions keep popping up including the now “classic” pre-wrap braid. If one takes different colors, preferably three, and braids them and knots them, they now have a thick pre-wrap that can last for more than one use.

Murphy also offered her opinion on the matter. “I understand why they now use it in their hair, like for the fly-aways, but I think it’s silly! Matching pre-wrap to match what you’re wearing? A little over-done.”

Kaity Stansberry, senior, who served as Presentation’s field hockey goalie for three years, dislikes pre-wrap as a fashion and only uses it for its original use. “I don’t like pre-wrap because during my field hockey games, it slips off [my head] onto the field and not only am I forced to look for it, but also my hair is now in the way. It is a major distraction.”

Although pre-wrap is a foamy material that does hold to certain hair, it does not hold to all types of hair. Within a period of one game, players re-adjust their pre-wrap multiple times. On that note, many agree that, when the pre-wrap comes off, it takes off many strands of hair.

Not everyone agrees, though. Sophomore Maggie von Massenhausen, who played varsity soccer last winter, said, “I like pre-wrap because when I’m playing soccer I don’t want to have to deal with my bangs and pre-wrap helps keep them back and out of my eyes.”

Another soccer player, sophomore Maggie Kettmann, agrees. “I love pre-wrap because it can be used to hold my hair back and is used for injuries. It’s very convenient for playing soccer and everyone who plays soccer.”

Von Massenhausen buys her pre-wrap at Soccer Stars off of Meridian in San Jose, but it can also be found in any main athletic store including Sports Chalet, Sports Authority, and Big 5 or even websites including www.pre-wrap.com.

Anyone can become a part of the fad easily, with the cheap material around three dollars.

Fall Trend Report

The fall season is right around the corner and clothing choice seems more important than ever! Soon we will be transitioning from minimal clothing and cute dresses to layers of shirts and tight fitting jeans. This autumn is the time to experiment with clothing and be bold. The Voice has all the latest and best trends for you to really stand out and be confident in your look.

Jeggings, the mix of jeans and leggings, are hot this season. The pants look like skinny jeans, but are extremely comfortable and soft. Pair them with cute booties and you’ll look dressed up, but be really comfortable!

It seems that the number one trend of the season is Silly Bandz. These stretchy bracelets come in numerous different shapes and colors. They are sold online at sites such as Amazon.com, and are also readily available at convenient and grocery stores. They usually sell for five dollars for packs of 24.

In honor of our Earth, a huge fashion movement is organic clothing. Though more expensive, they are made with better quality and are usually conflict-free. Such brands include Patagonia, American Apparel, and Threads for Thought. Visit these websites for more brands and give back to your Earth while looking stylish: JuneandJove.com and Greenloop.com

Tailored suit jackets, or blazers, are another trend for the fall season. They are very versatile and can be worn with jeans, shorts, or even dresses. Wear one with a skirt to make your look more edgy or wear one with jeans to look more sophisticated.

Trend Report: February

For those who are looking forward to the new music of the year more than the toys, you are in luck. Several well-known artists have rung in the New Year with new albums. Nashville-based pop artist Ke$ha recently released her debut album Animal after her single “Tik Tok” topped the charts in five countries. Lady Gaga has also graced the music charts with her hit “Bad Romance,” the leading single from her newly released album The Fame Monster. With her second album out and raking in the Grammy nominations, Lady Gaga is continuing to climb the ladder of music industry success since she first stepped into the scene in 2005.

But let’s not forget about the Indie scene, which is home to popular groups like Vampire Weekend. The band members all met at Colombia University and began putting together their Congolese-style jams into a full-length album, debuting in 2008. The newest installment from the group, Contra, was released January 11 in the United States.

In terms of the fashion avenue, keep your eyes peeled for the latest spring trends that are going to be creeping into local retailers in the coming weeks. A popular trend in the fashion magazines is the shirt dress. This comfortable piece combines a button down T-shirt with the length of a short dress, providing both girly appeal and tomboy edginess. The shirt dress fits all shapes well, and Michelle Obama has even been seen sporting one recently while on vacation. Check out stores like The Limited and Ralph Lauren, who are already launching spring lines.

Not quite ready to start bringing out all your warm weather clothes again? Not to worry, because many stores are still in post-holiday sales, where plenty of winter clothes will not only be available but will be on sale! Macy’s, Kenneth Cole, French Connection, and Michael Kors are great places to go to find classy coats and jackets that are appropriate for a California girl’s idea of winter.

With the variety of new appliances, music, and fashion news to keep up with, it might come as a relief to know that one new trend might also ease some of the back pain that is so common among Pres due to lugging around backpacks jammed full of books. It is called the “Nook”, a compact digital book made by Barnes & Noble that allows owners to download books straight onto the device. The Nook is built with an E Ink display screen designed to protect the reader from the damaging effects of staring at a computer screen.

So what is the niftiest feature of this little gadget? Users can download novels, magazines, and newspapers at the Barnes & Noble online store or through AT&T cellular networks. As many as 700,000 selections are available, all of which can be shared with friends with the Nook’s “Lend Me” feature. Friends do not even have to be fellow Nook owners, as the Lend Me feature allows titles to be sent to iPhones, iPod Touches, BlackBerries or computers.

There are plenty of new items out this year, so keep your eyes peeled for these new trends!

Trend Report: Fall 2009

Every season comes with new trends. Here, The Voice gives you an update on what’s in.

Fashion
The chilly season is coming up quicker than Pres girls can handle. With school, family, and social lives, many do not have time to hit the mall to browse for new trends. Have no fear, The Voice has all the trends that are in for this upcoming season.
One of the main focuses for girls is staying warm while attending events or going to school. There are ways to do this without layering three sweatshirts! Buy an insulated pea coat that has buttons or a belt. With a little extra length, they keep your torso and upper thighs warm throughout the day. These jackets are a huge hit with teenage girls as they allow girls to adjust the belt or buttons to accentuate their waists, the thinnest area in a woman’s midsection. Pair your jacket with a cute cashmere sweater underneath. Cashmere is a material that is extremely soft and traps in heat so your body stays warm and cozy. If bought in a neutral color, (black, white, tan, navy blue,) the sweater can be paired with almost anything, including your school uniform! If you are going out, match your jacket and sweater with a cute, fitted pair of skinny jeans. These jeans are still popular in the fashion world, and thus are sold at almost every store that carries jeans. Find a pair that fits your body type and rock your outfit at a football game, the movies or a family event.
As girls, we need to carry around our makeup, wallet, cell phone and iPod everywhere we go. Carry the “essentials” in a stylish new purse. The perfect purse for this season is a large, dark purple one. Purple is the new black for this season as seen in shirts, jackets, scarves and accessories. With a purse like this, girls will always be able to show off this beautiful color.
Finally, many girls’ favorite part of an outfit: the shoes. This season’s most popular shoe is the boot. The most versatile boots are the booties that go to the ankle. These come with buckles, peep toes, ruffles, studs or flats. The variety is endless with plenty of options for all kinds of styles. So grab a friend (or a computer!) and score some of the essentials for this season.

Music
Need to update your iPod soon? Don’t forget these three top songs for your playlist! For a calm, peaceful song, purchase Owl City’s song “Fireflies” which is currently number one on iTunes. If you are feeling overwhelmed from school, “Fireflies” will lift your spirits, due to the pleasant lyrics, such as “‘Cause I’d get a thousand hugs, From ten thousand lightning bugs, As they tried to teach me how to dance” and the soft voice of the lead singer. Another popular song to get girls out of their seats is “3” by Britney Spears. This song- exactly three minutes and 33 seconds long- is good to listen to while driving or cleaning up; it will bring some fun into tedious activities. For a sweet, upbeat love song, purchase “Replay” by Iyaz. This song will bring smiles to everyone’s faces. Since its release, “Replay” has been on the iTunes top songs and has remained there for more than a month. Other top songs include “Paparazzi” by Lady GaGa, “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z, and “Forever” by Drake, Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne, and Eminem.

Technology
One of a girl’s favorite pieces of technology is the cell phone. AT&T and Verizon came out with some cool new phones that seem to have unbelievable abilities. AT&T’s newest phone is the Blackberry Curve 8900. This black phone has voice-guided GPS, a 3.2 megapixels camera and Wi-Fi access. Text messaging capabilities allow sending pictures, videos, and voice recordings quickly, and the use of Instant Messaging through AIM, Windows Live and Yahoo Messenger. Another new phone available at AT&T is the HTC Tilt2. This cell phone has a touch screen front, and a slide-out full keyboard. There is access to full HTML web browsing and mobile email. The Tilt2 also offers Video Share, which is sharing live videos streaming videos with other phones. These new phones are very popular within AT&T and are expected to become more popular after they have been released for a longer period of time.
Verizon Wireless also offers some amazing new phones. One of the new phones is the Blackberry Tour 9630. This phone received four and a half out of five stars by customers according to verizonwireless.com. This smart phone has Visual Voicemail, VCAST music with Rhapsody and Bluetooth capabilities. The buttons of the phone are tilted for faster, easier texting. Verizon is currently offering a deal for buy-one-get-one-free Blackberries. Another new phone is the Samsung Rouge. This phone has a touch screen front and a full keyboard that slides out. The screen is large and easily reacts to the touch of a finger for easy texting abilities. This phone has a Widget toolbar with one touch access to Facebook, Twitter, Myspace and YouTube. The camera, which is more advanced than others, also offers multi-shot picture taking. No matter what network you are on, there is a cool cell phone that will fit your needs and make texting your friends easier for you.
This season has plenty of new and exciting trends for everyone. Whether you are looking for clothes, music, or technology, designers have made something for you. So go treat yourself to some new items or start some early holiday shopping for friends or family. Happy shopping!

Fall Trend Report: There’s No E.N.D. to These Incoming Trends

Prepare to step out of your comfort box and go on a shopping rampage. This fall will go down in trend history. Designers have created a brilliant, exciting collection of must-haves for this autumn. Apple has worked endlessly to perfect the most convenient MP3 player. Musical artists have strived to create unique and catchy songs. They have all assisted in transforming this year from “just another fall” into unforgettable.  From electronics to fashion, 2009 is exploding with edgy, fun styles sure to be enjoyed by all.

 

Fashion

Fashion, something many girls hold close to their hearts, showcased some great styles during New York Fashion Week. The top fashion trend this year? Plaid. Motorcycle jackets, dresses, and flannel have all been hit with the plaid plague. A clothing item with plaid print is a necessity for this year’s look. Pres girls are of course already way ahead of the fashion world with this trend. Finally the Presentation blue plaid skirt is in. Girls can stand proud in their skirts off campus knowing they are stylish and trendy. Other major trends include the boyfriend jean, zippers, boots, and bright, neon colors. Shoe stores, such as DSW, have dedicated at least eight rows for boots alone. Designers found unusual ways to incorporate zippers on flats, purses, and pants. Boyfriend jeans appear on legs of women throughout America and are sold at most retail stores. The famous Michael Kors had his models strutting a neon pink and neon green dress down the runway. So hit the mall as soon as possible and pick up clothing items of these fierce fashion trends that fit will your style.

 

Music

Many musical geniuses produced top hits this year, but the genre that really took off was pop. According to iTunes’s statistics, “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus is the number one most popular song of this fall. This hit single soared to the top of the charts within its first week of release. The second most popular song is “I Got a Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas. It is not uncommon to hear people chanting this catchy tune. Its feel-good vibe attracts many teens to want to listen to it. Third on the charts is “Down” by Jay Sean. This song received 4 ½ out of 5 stars from iTunes listeners. “Down” has an optimistic, loving beat instantly attracting teens. It also helps that the infamous Lil’ Wayne is featured in the song with his 30 second rap segment. Other top pop songs include “She Wolf” by Shakira, “Whatcha Say” by Jason DeRulo, and “Fallin’ for You” by Colbie Caillat.

 

Technology

In order to listen to music, having the essential MP3 player is crucial. Apple’s new iTouch second generation not only allows you to listen to your music without headphones, but includes internet, games, calendars, and even texting.  This all-in-one device is the trendiest and most efficient way to hear your music while communicating with your friends. You can even access the Presentation Voice website and keep up to date with school and other events. The website includes pictures, articles, and even fun quizzes. Check out more at www.presentationvoice.com.

 

If you’re looking for an adventurous, futuristic movie to see, keep your eye out for the upcoming film Avatar. Written by James Cameron, this 3D action packed movie will be unlike any other you have seen. According to Screen Rant, all actors are filmed special bodysuits and head rigs with a standard definition camera that is constantly snapping photos of the actors’ face. The image is then transmitted to another camera that is able to see the actors in their “CG” costumes. “The way we developed the performance capture workflow on ‘Avatar’ is we have our virtual camera, which allows me to, in real time, hold a camera — it’s really a monitor — in my hands and point it at the actors and see them as their CG characters” Cameron says. This movie should be coming to theaters in the summer of 2010.

 

This fall will surely be an explosion of exciting new things. Keep your eyes out for these trends to stay up to date with all the latest fads. Remember, originality is the new pink! So what are you waiting for? Go out, buy, and stay in style!