The January Issue
Club News
Life & Style
They say every end is a new beginning, and that couldn’t have resonated with us more than when the clock struck twelve and we brushed gold glitter off our shoulders to wave goodbye to 2014. It’s been a great year at F&LS. This past semester, we cozied up for our Sweater Weather Socializer, supported men’s health with our Movember Fashion Show, and binge ate chocolate during our Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Screening. But it doesn’t end there. On this Wednesday January 15, Volta Magazine will launch its Fall/Winter 2014 Issue at Aroma Restaurant from 8-10pm, and our grand annual fashion show will roll out the red carpet in February! To keep things exciting, we also have many other surprises in store for the coming semester. We’d like to thank you for your support this past semester, and here’s to another year as fabulously fashionable as the last!
AND THE AWARD GOES TO... TOP BEAUTY PICKS OF 2014 BY THE LIFE & STYLE CREW Melissa Bareham – Managing Director Marc Anthony 2nd Day Clear Dry Shampoo (Drugstores)
“I love the Marc Anthony 2nd Day Clear Dry Shampoo! It’s an absolute essential for me. It isn’t like other dry shampoos that are white and powdery in your hair. This one is clear and super easy to brush out, leaving behind a sweet rose petal smell. And with all those late nights studying in the year, I need a quick fix for my oily, day old hair! I swear by this one!”
Angelica Ng – Associate Director Christian Louboutin Nail Polish Collection ($50.00 Sephora)
“Admittedly, I haven’t actually tried Christian Louboutin’s debut nail polish collection, but if there’s a way to be one step closer to the label’s iconic red soles without forking over big bucks, then what’s not to love?” Veronica Cheung – Layout Co-Editor Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick ($22.00 Sephora)
“The color selection of this lipstick is beautiful – and it’s so vibrant! They hold a lot of pigment for a small amount so a tiny bit goes a long way. Plus, it has a matte finish which stays on for hours! “
Brianna Gallivan – Layout Co-Editor Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 ($42.00 Sephora)
“I really like Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer. It acts as a foundation without drying out your face and once applied doesn’t come across chalky or cakey. I use Alaska light 2 because I’m fair skinned.”
Jasleen Sembhi – Editor Clarisonic Cleansing Brush ($139.00 - $200.00)
“I just bought the Clarisonic cleansing brush this year and have loved it. It’s really helped clear up my skin and I’ve definitely noticed a difference after using it! I’ve had trouble with acne before but adding this brush to my face routine has really helped to clear it up.”
Stephanie Ling – Editor Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara by Lashblast ($7.99 Drugstores) “My favorite beauty pick is the Cover girl clump crusher mascara just because it’s definitely the best mascara I’ve ever used. It’s super cheap since it’s from the drugstore and it really lengthens my lashes! I also really just like the bright green packaging haha!” Laura Robinson – Writer Benefit Cosmetics Gimmie Brow ($26.00 Sephora)
“I like a low maintenance makeup routine, and using a brow pencil is way too hard (for me at least, I tried once and looked like Eugene Levy). The gel is great because you can shape your brows and get a little more volume than usual - plus it helps keep them in place all day!”
Emily Balogh – Writer Urban Decay Naked2 Eye Shadow Palette ($64.00 Sephora)
“I love this palette because the shadows are really high quality and are applicable for everyday at any time and for any occasion!”
Abby Tung – Writer Maybelline “The Nudes” Eyeshadow Palette ($10.00 Drugstores)
“I really liked this palette because it has colours that you can use every day. It’s very affordable and on the back it tells you which colours go well together. And it’s almost like a dupe for the naked palette!”
A Stylish Step Towards Feminism
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ast fall Karl Lagerfeld closed the most anticipated show of Paris Fashion Week with a bang. A parade of models carrying protest signs poured out onto the Chanel runway with Cara Delevingne and Gisele Bündchen leading the pack. Models smiled and chanted in the halls of the Grand Palais, which had been transformed to look like a Parisian boulevard; a sight quite different than the straightfaced, tip-lipped models of fashion shows. Despite the attempt to raise awareness about feminism, Lagerfeld’s demonstration was met with backfire. Instead of empowering women, it seemed to have fuelled a fire. Critics called it a faux-feministic protest, reflecting on Lagerfeld’s past history of policing women’s bodies and “fat-shaming”. With signs that read “Boys Should Get Pregnant Too” and “Be Different!”, his presentation was critiqued to be an attempt at staying relevant in the fashion industry. Lagerfeld was accused of slapping on feminist slogans in order to have professional gain rather than being an advocate of women rights.
Written by: Abigail Tung
On the other hand, this demonstration was a breath of fresh air in an industry where fashion and feminism are thought to be mutually exclusive. The show had done a fine job in raising awareness by eliciting greater public engagement with feminist ideas through social media. Although this interest was a good thing at the time, people began to view feminism as a fashion statement rather than as a movement. However, the fact that feminism is becoming more evident in popular culture is something that should still be considered. Equality between men and women must be improved culturally, socially, and politically, and feminism’s spotlight in the fashion universe has been seen as a positive thing for many. Lagerfeld may not have be declaring himself a feminist but we should be proud that fashion is making a move towards women’s rights.
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Vests to Layer Up with this Winter
Written by: Stephanie Ling
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ith freezing winter temperatures greeting us in the New Year, there is no better time to create new outfits by layering up. While some styles may keep you warmer than others, vests add that extra kick to your bland winter outfit, without sacrificing comfort. So, what better way to get out of your oversized sweater funk than to layer up with a chic new vest? From puffer to crepe to faux fur, check out these ten amazing vests fitting for all budgets! Top Left to Bottom Right: Forever 21 Draped Crepe Woven Vest ($30) Gap Fur-Trim Down Puffer Vest ($65) Urban Outfitters Ecote Cozy Sherpa Vest ($70) J.Crew Factory Quilted Puffer Vest ($69) Forever 21 Faux-Leather Moto Vest ($27) Wilfred Chatou Vest ($180) Zara Fur Vest ($49) Sunday Best Ovid Vest ($110) Zara Fur Vest with Waist Seam ($49) Nasty Gal Bless'ed Are the Meek Angel Jacket Vest ($110)
We want the wanG I
f you haven’t heard about this news in 2014, you must have been living under a rock. A dreary, fashion deprived rock. Early last year fashion designer Alexander Wang, notorious for his urban designs, announced his partnership with H&M that would launch the collaboration of our dreams.
Released on November 6th 2014, the sports luxe line features everything from oversized parkas to athletic-inspired bodycon dresses. Accessories such as leather boxing gloves, knee-high socks, and textured rubber yoga mats are also sold within the range. The collaboration features designs which have never been seen before from the designer. This time around Wang is choosing to focus on graphic prints and logos, with nighttime-sports as his inspiration. The most amazing feature of his collaboration is the concept that pieces can be worn both on the streets and at the gym. If you are ever looking for motivation to exercise in 2015, this collaboration is it. There is even a t-shirt with a logo that only appears once you began to sweat!
Written by: Abigail Tung With the use of neoprene and leather, the items in the line remind us of the training outfits in Catching Fire. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if pieces in this collection showed up in the next Hunger Games movie. To draw more comparisons to the best-selling novel, people at the stores and on the website resembled contestants of the dystopian game with customers clawing over each other to get their hands on the collection. Fashion fanatics waited for hours in line to purchase the Wang pieces they had been coveting. Simultaneously, online shoppers waited in anticipation from the comforts of their own homes, rather than waiting out in the cold. This may have not been the best idea, as H&M’s website later crashed due to the high traffic. The collection is now mostly sold out online, but you can always try your luck on eBay. A word of advice? You may want to prepare yourself and your wallet before looking at those inflated prices.
New Year's Resolutions You Can Actually Achieve
(and How to Achieve Them) Be More Grateful
Think of 3 things a day that you are grateful for and write them down in a journal. This will challenge you to find happiness each day and to become a more fulfilled individual. By reflecting on the positive aspects of your day, you will be more satisfied with your life and begin to develop a more optimistic outlook.
Written by: Abigail Tung
Try to do something nice for others everyday
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Most of our resolutions are inwardly focused so why not focus on others for a change? Challenge yourself to do something for others each day. This does not need to be an elaborate act of kindness but can be something as simple as purchasing a cup of coffee for your roommate who has an essay due the following day. You’ll find that your own happiness levels increase by making others happy.
Document Your Day
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Journaling is said to be a great way to de-stress. If journaling is not something that catches your interest or you simply do not have time to write a full journal entry when you still have a 1000 word essay to finish, make it your goal to write at least one line a day. Place this journal on your bed side table or next to the spot you rest your phone so you never forget to write your daily entry. Another option is the “Q&A a Day: 5 Year Journal” which asks you a fun question for every day for 5 years. When you look back on the daily questions, you’ll notice how your answers change (or don’t)!
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Go to Bed!
We all stay up late; that’s just the life of a university student. We may realize this is bad for our health but yet we still do it since there aren’t enough hours in a day to get things done. This year, make it your personal goal to get enough sleep. Sleeping is an investment for the short and long term that will improve your daily life. You’ll notice that you won’t get those waves of exhaustion anymore and can actually stay attentive in class. Improvements will be made to your skin and you’ll even have some extra cash from the money you won’t be spending on caffeine.
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Choose Better Options
Once you are given an assignment, do one small section of it a day even if it’s something as small as coming up with the title. You’ll find that once you actually start the assignment (and not sitting there wasting time dreading the thought of actually doing it), you’ll get into the zone and get things done. This will prevent you from having to pull an all-nighter to finish; because we all know how much fun those are…
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Choose Better Options
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It may be difficult to change your entire diet, especially on a budget, but you can eat better through small tasks such as opting for an apple instead of sugar filled snacks and by slowly making your way to cut soda out of your diet. You may be tempted by those cakes offered by the residence cafeteria every night but choose a cup of yogurt instead and indulge on the weekends. Once you start eating more fruits and vegetables, these healthy snacks will begin to be more appetizing than processed foods. Look on Pinterest for ideas of healthy substitutes to your favorite sugary snacks.
Increase that Water Intake
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We all try to do this but when life gets busy, sometimes we forget to drink our 8 cups a day. By forgetting to get enough water we are missing out on the multiple health benefits it provides. I mean, who wouldn’t want clear, wrinkle free skin even as you age? Use the WaterLogged app (iPhone) or Carbodroid (Android) to tracks the amount of water you’ve had. The WaterLogged app provides charts and reminders to help you see your water intake in the past few days. The Carbodroid app on the other hand features an animated droid which motivates you to drink more water.
Cut down on binge watching TV shows
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It may be fun now watching episode after episode of your favorite show on Netflix but when you realize how much time has gone by, it’s not such a great feeling. Instead of binge watching TV, do something productive. Go outside and meet up with friends, review a chapter for that test you have coming up; there’s so many possibilities of what you can do once you get off your computer. Save your TV shows for the weekend and when the time comes along, limit yourself to a maximum number of episodes at a time.
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Spend More Time With Family
Just call your parents, siblings or grandparents already! It only takes a few minutes out of your hectic schedule but it will be something that makes someone else’s entire day. And when you finally get a chance to go home, put away your phone and enjoy a nice family dinner while conversing with those who are actually sitting in front of you.
Exercise That’s Not Exercise
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Sometimes it’s hard to find time to go to the gym (or maybe that’s not your thing) but you can do simple instead like walk rather than taking the bus and take the stairs instead of riding the elevator. It’s exercise that you don’t need to think of as exercise!
Make Shorter To Do Lists
Having a long to do list is daunting and may actually make you less motivated to do it. Prioritize with the top three most important tasks and get those done first. When you write a shorter to-do list, you are forced to focus on your most important tasks rather than worrying about all of the other things you may need to get done.
These resolutions are achievable but it is also important not to overextend yourself and make too many resolutions. Keep it simple and try to limit the number of resolutions you make for 2015. This way, another year will not pass by without you accomplishing what you want. Although it is good to set standards for ourselves, it is also important to remember that resolutions are goals that we hope to achieve. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t meet the resolutions; just try your best! As the famous meme on the internet says, “2013 was practice, 2014 was the warm-up, and 2015 is game time.” Let’s make 2015 our year!
Life & Style The January Issue Managing Director Melissa Bareham
Associate Director Angelica Ng
Layout Co-Editors
Veronica Cheung, Brianna Gallivan
Editors
Jasleen Sembhi, Stephanie Ling
Writers
Laura Robinson Emily Balough Abby Tung