By Rachel Lamb and Melanie Parrish
Q & A: Alexander Chait
Bagpiper: Why did you wear a kilt to prom?
Chait: “I want to leave an impact on my senior year.”
Kilt fashion steps into prom 2014
Tag Archives: fashion
Tank Top trend becoming increasingly popular
Click here to find the perfect tank top
By Bryce Romig
This year has seen more unique trends than ever before. From neon colors to darker undertones, the trends have varied greatly. Summers latest trend has seemed to have taken teenage girls by storm. Tribal tank tops have become popular with girls everywhere, and it seems like every store you go too has a multitude of them just waiting to be bought. The question is why is something so simple hitting major fashion markets everywhere?
The answer is simple; take something plain and comfortable like a tank top, add some colorful touches and designs, now fashion can be easy and flexible.
“They are more comfortable than some other shirts. I really like the bright colored ones, such as orange, pink, or purple,” said junior Hannah Andres.
Sophomore Olivia Nguyen is also up to date with today’s fashion.
“I like tank tops because they flatter most body types, and look good with shorts. I wear a lot of black, so I like to wear pastel pink colored ones because it can make your outfit look vintage and girly,” said Nguyen.
Tank tops also work as a great addition to summer because of the thin fabric and weightlessness they provide. This way, you can keep cool and look sharp all at once.
“I like wearing tank tops because they are comfortable and in summer you don’t have to wear a heavy shirt. You can just put on a tank top and not worry about being hot all day,” said freshman Colleen Fitzgerald.
Tank tops are also very wallet friendly. For fashionistas on a budget, these are calling your name. Almost every store has them on their racks, and the prices tend to range anywhere from ten to thirty dollars. This makes for a great way to save money and add a great addition to your closet.
“I shop at many places such as American Eagle, Forever 21, and Body Central. They have great prices, and tank tops are cheap anyways,” said Andres.
School rules may interfere with your choice of tank top, so steer clear of any thin strapped ones. If you are absolutely set on a tank top that you may feel will cause a problem, trying adding a light jacket or light see through shirt over it. This way, you can look fierce and still cooperate with school dress code.
Girls, if you are looking to try out some of these tank tops yourself, try matching it with a mini skirt. These really add a glamorous effect to the outfit, and take out the lazy tank top stereotype.
For the guys, tank tops are always in. Try sticking to darker colors. These are easier to match with colored shorts, and make you look a little bit manlier. While girls have many different styles of tank tops, men don’t have very many. Try to steer clear of wearing tank tops and jeans, this combination may confuse others about what season it is, and won’t compliment your awesome fashion sense.
Tank tops seem to go with everything, so don’t be afraid to try something daring. You might surprise yourself, and come out with a rocking outfit. And before you know it, you’ll be the school trendsetter.
Prom goers share hair, makeup tips prior to this weekends festivities
By Bryce Romig
Prom: The time when teenager girls fret over their hair, makeup, and apparel. Girls everywhere will be spending time arranging hair appointments, selecting dresses, and picking the perfect hairstyle to finish off their look. While hair sounds like an easy task to care of, many would be surprised how much time and effort is put in to make their hair look as though they just walked off a vogue photo shoot.
The big question each year is should I sport an updo or leave my hair down? While taking pictures before prom is the most essential time for hair and makeup to look nice, during prom leaving hair down could become a major disaster.
“I curl, and pin my hair into an updo. Last years prom, I left my hair down. After dancing, my hair was a total mess,” said senior Margo Becht.
If you absolutely must leave your hair down to compliment your dress, try buying a light hair spray such as Dove Extra Care & Shine. Hairspray will help set the hair and prolong the life of the waves and curls. Avoid any cheap hairsprays that cause flaking. These don’t hold well and give your hair a moist look. Also, many girls tend to sport a half up half down hairstyle. These type of hairstyles work well with flowing dresses, and compliment pastel colors well.
“My favorite hairstyle is half up and half down. I attended a prom a couple of weeks ago at another school, and I didn’t realize how fast it got hot,” said junior Allison Walker.
Updos tend to be the most popular hairstyle sported at prom. These simple yet sophisticated hairstyles help top off any prom dress to make you look like you just walked off the red carpet. Try to add a braid or small curls to the updo. To avoid any hairs from falling, make sure the bobby pins are tight and secure. Use a heavier hair spray to ensure the braids and curls don’t move. Updos flatter any dress, but look fantastic when paired with a shorter dress.
“Updos are my favorite. They are the classic prom look, and don’t frizz and fall when it starts to get hot,” said junior Kayla Ashley.
Many people worry about whether they should set up an appointment with a professional, or attempt to create the hairstyle themselves. While styling the hair yourself does allow you more creative control, it can easily become a struggle and leave you wondering why you never set up an appointment with a trained professional.
“If you feel confident in your hairstyle abilities go for it, If not, I would seek a professional,” said Becht.
A professional hairstylist knows exactly how to secure the hair yet still make it look elegant. If you decide to schedule an appointment, tell the hairstylist exactly how you want your hair done. It may help to research online and find a couple examples of hair that you would like to wear. If you are unsatisfied with the finished style, tell the hairstylist your problems with the hair. Many salons will give refunds and a free restyling if a customer is unhappy with the final look.
Makeup tends to be another big issue when deciding what to wear for prom. Girls fret over whether they should attempt the natural look, or stick with the classical prom colors. Classical prom colors should consist of an eyeshadow with a color the same as your dress, and a light lipstick color that doesn’t stand out. When deciding which eyeshadow color fits your dress best, make sure to apply it sparingly. Its very easy to overdo eyeshadow, and a little goes a long way.
“I prefer the classical prom look. It’s prom, you should look fun,” said Ashley.
If you want to go the more natural route, try using a light foundation and a darker or flesh colored eye shadow. Apply makeup sparingly and avoid the caked makeup look. Natural makeup should match your skin tone, so avoid tan colors if you are on the paler side. Avoid heavy and darker eyeliners.
“My favorite makeup is usually going natural but I like the smokey eye look when I’m attending prom or going out,” said Walker.
If you want to be tan for prom, avoid tanning beds and try using a sunless tanning lotion. While many believe these will look orange, investing in a good self tanner is a major part of the problem. When picking out a self tanner for prom, remember that what you pay for is what you get. Try the St. Tropez one night tanning lotion for a dark yet temporary look.
Long term tanning leads to harmful consequences
By Bryce Romig
Ever since Coco Chanel accidentally became tan on a yacht in the Mediterranean, people around the world have adopted it as one of the many signs of beauty and health.
Everywhere you go across the United States, you are almost guaranteed to find a tanning salon. The tanning salon industry has been booming since the nineties, and the industry continues to grow each year. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the tanning industry brings in a surprising revenue of over 2.6 billion dollars. With tanning popularity on the rise, many dermatologists are trying to get to the root of the problem; teenagers.
“I feel more comfortable tan. It gives me a confidence boost,” said freshman Alexus Potts.
Coco Chanel made the tan a popular trademark of beauty and health. The irony of that statement is evident, tanning destroys health. When skin is exposed to UVA and UVB rays, the light penetrates the skin and stimulates melanocytes to produce melanin. Your skin absorbs these rays to protect them from penetrating deeper and doing further damage. Melanin is a dark brown color, and it acts as a wall so more UVA and UVB rays cannot pass through. This is what develops the dark color.
“Tanning is really relaxing and a good stress reliever. I can’t stand being pale.” said senior Margo Becht.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, tanning raises your chances of getting skin cancer by 75 percent. When you expose your skin repeatedly to ultraviolet light without protection, your body develops moles due to the excess melanin. These moles, can be cancerous.
“I do plan on stopping soon. I don’t want my chances of getting cancer to go up. I don’t want to age prematurely either,” said sophomore Kortney Graham.
Tanning can also have numerous effects on your appearance as well. While your tan may look fantastic now, down the long road you could develop wrinkles and sun spots faster than the average human. According to the FDA Promote Health website, the UV rays break down the collagen in your skin. Collagen is responsible for keeping your skin from sagging. When collagen is depleted, wrinkles form.
“According to doctors, it’s really harmful to your skin. Tanning too much can cause your skin to look and feel leathery,” said FC nurse aide Earlene King.
Dermatologists strongly recommend buying a sunscreen with an SPF of fifteen or higher. It should be used year round according to dermatologists at the American Melanoma Foundation.
“I think people go overboard with tanning. I think not enough people are informed with the risks they are taking to achieve what society perceives as beautiful,” said sophomore Kaydi Marler.
If you want to achieve a nice glow without the harmful effects, try getting a spray tan or using a self tanning lotion. While most people believe they will have pumpkin orange palms, self tanning has come a long way since then and updated and improved their formulas.
“If you are confident in you as a person, your skin color shouldn’t affect your confidence. If you want to be tan, be tan. Just don’t forget to remember the harmful effects that come along with the tan. If you are truly confident with yourself as a person, you will realize skin doesn’t matter,” said Marler.
Columnist consults students on spring fashion
By Bryce Romig
During spring time, it can be confusing how to dress; should you wear shorts, or long pants? Short sleeves or long sleeves? With new trends each year, many people make it a priority to try and match these trends and stay in style. This year’s trends are sure to make you feel and look confident in bright, vivid colors.
“I’m really looking forward to wearing brighter colors and floral patterns,” said freshman Olivia Nguyen.
Try throwing on a sea foam green cardigan with light stonewashed blue jeans. Mix them with dark beige flats or brown sandals.
“Bright pastels and floral skirts will be very popular this season,” said sophomore Rachel Nguyen.
Wearing a floral patterned skirt with a plain white top is also very trendy this season. Mix this outfit with brown combat boots and you’re ready to go.
“Floral patterns can either be very old-time looking or super funky and chill,” said sophomore Mikaela Click.
For more of a relaxed, chilled out look, think denim shirts with a high low cut skirt. Throw some dirty, worn out vans on to complete the look and help provide the carefree feel to the outfit.
If the weather suddenly changes and snow hits the ground, pull out your grandma’s vintage pastel sweaters and pair them with light blue jeans.
For jewelry and accessory lovers, think bulky necklaces and bracelets. Silver colored bracelets bring out the pastel colors and make the outfit pop. Wear large rings and earrings to give the look a more subtle, laid back feel.
“My current favorite spring accessories are big bulky earrings, necklaces, and rings.” said sophomore Leah Scharff.
For the guys, do the total opposite and stick to faded more relaxed colors. Think grey and darker greens when shopping for shirts. Pair them with beige colored pants and black boots.
This year’s spring men’s fashion trends heavily revolve around seventies themed fashion, so avoid wearing anything retro or extremely bright.
“I think that the trendy darker colors for spring are a good base to combine with the lighter, and brighter colors that this spring season has introduced to us. I think that if any outfit has too many of the lighter colors, the outfit will become unbalanced and look strange to the public’s eye,” said junior Jackson Bishop.
When shopping for men’s jewelry and accessories, think big bulky watches. Avoid gold or silver watches and stick to leather strapped watches. This helps complete the vintage seventies look this year’s spring trends strive for.
As with every spring and summer season, a light tan is always in style. To avoid harmful UV rays, try products that have a natural tanning agent to give you that subtle glow without damaging the skin. Think organic and radical free when looking for a tanning product.
Let’s kick off the new year in style, and look good doing so. With trends changing so quickly, it can be hard to sometimes keep up. If you follow these few fashion tips, even the unfashionable can be spring fashionistas in no time.