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.

Trend Report: All About Prom

The month of April is rolling around and we all know that means Prom season! You asked your guy in the cutest way, memorized the date and bought your bid. Now all that’s left is the most complex element for girls to execute perfectly: their outfit! Though you may be freaking out about what kind of dress to buy, what shoes to wear and how to do your hair, don’t have an emotional breakdown quite yet. The Voice has all best ideas to make your outfit (and night, of course) one to remember.

Dresses: there are only so many in our area and thousands of girls. No one wants to show up in the same dress as someone else, but even if you do, at least you’ll be confident in the dress you chose. The first dress trend is bright and colorful. Make yourself stand out and look striking while doing so. This is different from typical black and will show your date you’re confident and comfortable being bold.

If bright isn’t for you, another trend this prom season is gold dresses. Gold is timeless and very elegant. Whether your dress is full gold sequins or a faded gold shimmer, the color will make you look more mature.      

If you are not into the long prom dresses, you’re in luck. 2010 prom is welcoming short dresses. You will gain more attention in a short dress, since a long one is classic for prom. It will show you are more edgy and are not afraid to stand out and show a little leg. No matter what kind of dress you decide on, the number one most important factor is that you feel comfortable in it.  All dresses can be tailored for a low price to fit your exact size, so if one area is not fitting correctly, you don’t need to change sizes. Also remember that the size does not matter because all designers use a different scale. Just keep in mind that confidence goes a long way, so if you’re happy in your dress, everyone else will love it as well!

Shoes: You found your dress, but now you need some matching shoes. The first step to finding your perfect shoes is to take into consideration the type of dress you have. If your dress has a design already on it, a simple colored shoe is the way to go. If your dress is a solid color, feel free to go as crazy with your shoe design as you want! Just don’t overdo your look and make your appearance too busy. Sparkled shoes are in this season and bring a little pizzazz to your feet (they also help show off your new pedicure)!

If you are a shorter girl or just want to look taller, buy shoes that are similar to the color of your skin tone. This elongates the look of your legs and is very in this season. If you wear stockings, make sure to take them into consideration when picking your shoe color. Finally, if your dress allows you to show off your shoes, you may want to consider heels with straps that wrap around the leg. They draw in immediate attention and are not only in on the runway, but for prom as well. Many of these types of shoes come with the bonus that they help support your feet so that you are more secure in your shoes. Consider these elements when you are shopping for your prom shoes.

Hair: Your look is almost complete, but now something must be done with the un-brushed, knotted ponytail on the side of your head. A total transformation can be made by yourself, your parent or a professional hair stylist. If you are looking for an updo style, messy buns are very trendy this spring. When properly executed, they look elegant yet not to showy. The runways are especially fond of the side bun, so feel free to remain with your lopsided, Pres hair ways.

As many of us have seen, another hair trend is braids. Whether they wrap over your head, are only in your bangs, or reach the back of your head, braids are one of the most popular looks for prom this season. They are easy to do and keep the hair out of your face. 

Finally, the half-up look is always big for prom. You can have the best of both worlds with your hair up and down. This will keep the hair out of your way, but still display your beautiful head of hair which is usually covered by a hoodie. Again, no matter what you do with your hair, make sure that you like it. If you don’t like one element of your outfit, you can wind up ruining your entire night! Don’t be afraid to try something new or ask your hairstylist for a few changes.

Pres girls, you are now ready for your 2010 Prom. With a lovely dress, perfectly matching shoes and a hairstyle to complement them both, you will surely be a star of the night. Remember when finding these elements out for prom to stay calm, breathe and most importantly, have a good time!