A} EDITOR BRITTANY LEE C Goatrepiece THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011 5} How much effort are stu- dents putting into their school fashion? KRIS NOVAK Studio 58 student “T get my jeans from Costco and this shirt cost me a dollar.” PRECIOUS GARGANTIEL Nursing student “My fashion has been sacrificed... I can’t afford to shop as much.” MOE SOLEIMANIRIZA Arts and sciences student “Tt’s important to look good for class.” COMPILED BY ALANNA HARDINGE-ROONEY College students hit the books in style Its important to look good for class Even on a small budget most students think it’s important to invest in clothing so you can look your best for school By ALANNA HARDINGE-ROONEY taying stylish while in school isn’t easy, say cash and time-strapped Langara students, but with a little contemplation and creativity, it is possible. According to arecent New York Times article, a growing contingent of students are shunning the yoga pants and Ugg boots stereotype and investing more time, thought and money in their sarto- rial choices. “Even five years ago, a lot of my friends did just wear sweatpants to school, whereas these days most people are stepping up their game,” said Louise Turner, the girl behind the fashion blog Fifth Sparrow and a graphic design stu- dent at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. While “it’s not really practical at six in the morning to be wearing four-inch heels on your one-hour commute,” Turn- er said students should “at least try to look cute.” But according to Precious Gargantiel, a second-year nursing student, staying trendy and paying tuition is a challenge. “My fashion has been sacrificed in the past month and a half,” she said. “I can’t afford to shop as much.” Turner said one of the best ways for students to stay stylish and on budget is to shop at thrift stores, which are brim- ming with frugal fashion finds. Theatre student Kris Novak said he rarely splurges on the latest trends, pre- ferring to scour second-hand stores like Mintage on Commercial Drive for cheap Hipster fa The word is hard to define but “hipster” culture exists throughout Vancouver and among Langara students By CARLY WIGNES ipster-inspired style abounds at Lan- gara, yet many members of the stu- dent body had difficulty reaching a clear, concise definition of what exactly constitutes a hipster. Understandably so as according to New York Magazine, the term ‘hipster’ possesses multiple definitions. Hipsters are a _ subculture that emerged in the 1990s from youth who re- jected consumerism, the magazine said. It added that today, the contemporary hipster may be defined as someone who has “an obsessive interest in the conflict between knowingness and naiveté.” First-year arts and sciences student Fiona Hamilton said the term “hipster” may carry negative connotations, but it’s a style as much as an attitude. Preppy, punk, grungy and neon are the adjectives Hamilton used to catego- rize the hipsters who frequent bars and coffee shops in Vancouver. Hamilton and her friends dubbed a be- grudging Nathan Beausoleil, a first-year student of English and Japanese, as “the original hipster.” In skinny jeans and Keds, he disputed the title and said that one cannot label oneself a hipster without contradicting the meaning of the term. “Only these people call me a hipster,” he said, pointing to his friends and roll- ing his eyes. price tags and special deals. “The last time I went shopping, I paid $15 at a vintage bag sale. I get my jeans from Costco and this shirt cost me a dol- lar,” he said. Novak said he finds fashion inspira- tion “all over the place,” from other peo- ple’s outfits to the characters he plays in Studio 58 productions. “Vancouver has a lot of really fashion- able people, and if you’re looking for in- spiration... you can always find [it],” Turner said. Arts and sciences student Moe Solei- maniriza said he draws his inspiration from magazines and from his friends who work as models. “Usually, I wear colourful clothes. If it’s raining, I like to wear black,” he said. “Tt’s important to look good for class.” When it comes to student style, Turn- er said the main thing is “to make it com- fortable and cute.” Fortunately, there is no shortage of in- expensive options, she said. Carrot pants -— high-waisted tapered pants, usually made from light fabrics — are a great staple piece for women. “They look cute and pulled together, and you can pair them with a blazer and some oxford tie-ups and you're set,” she said. Oversized sweaters and chunky scarves are other great options, and can make for “some really interesting silhou- ettes” when paired with tie-up motorcy- cle boots or flat riding boots. For guys, Turner said she likes the “thrown together and rugged, but still When asked how she would describe the look, Vanessa Pineda, who works at Urban Outfitters on Granville Street, said, “I think of someone who is grungy- looking - someone who wears plaid, bomber jackets and leather pants.” Not everyone is reluctant to admit to their hipster-like tendencies, however. “T kind of feel like a hipster,” said the- atre student Kris Novak, sporting a plaid flannel shirt from Mintage on Commer- cial Drive. “I do spend a lot of time on Main Street,” he added. Novak purchased the well-kept shirt with several other items for only $10. While Dov Charney, CEO of American Apparel, declared last year that hipster is over, New York Magazine said it may persist. “The hipster has been reborn,” the magazine said, listing thick-framed lens- less eyeglasses by Hot Topic and the “Hipster” sandal by Nine West as exam- ples. Elizabeth Thompson, who works at the popular Oak+Fort in Gastown, said hipsters often visit her shop. She de- scribed them as people who “try to be different in a artsy way.” “T think it’s a phase,” said Thompson, who offered feather headbands, varied tattoos and single-dread hairstyles as characteristics of the hipster look. “They’re just trying to be different,” she added. Some hipsters are “hardworking writ- ers, artists or politicos” while the rest are “hangers-on,” said New York Maga- zine. “Among hipsters, the skills of hang- ing-on — trend-spotting, cool-hunting, plus handicraft skills — become the he- roic practice,” the magazine said. clean” look captured by J. Crew. Chino pants, desert boots, chambray shirts and grandpa cardigans are all good choices for fall and winter. But despite the abundance of afford- able, fashionable options, some students think there are more important things than putting together the perfect outfit. Arts and sciences student Rosa Oncel said she usually just picks up whatever is on the floor and heads to class. “Td rather have sleep,” she said. “It’s just college.” ALANNA HARDINGE-ROONEY photo Langara nursing student Precious Gargantiel said keeping up with trends on a budget is difficult. ae 4 HM Skinny jeans ¢ WB Plaid prints WB Hats Hl Bomber jackets HH Flannel shirts HM Feather headbands HM Tattoos HB Ripped-up band t-shirts HB Nice hair, with a single dreadlock HM Moustaches Opinion of Langara students Right: Theatre student Kris Novak models a hipster staple: a flannel plaid shirt from Mint- age. Far left: Langara student Yumi Hagiwara wears oxford shoes from Joe Fresh and a homemade infinity scarf. CARLY WIGNES photos ALANNA HARDINGE-ROONEY photo Arts and science student Moe Solei- maniriza said he gets outfit ideas from his friends and magazines. hion and style thrives in the city JEN TAM, ALEXANDRA GRANT & CARLY WIGNES photos From top to bottom: Local fashion blogger Jen Tam stays warm with her faux-fur scarf. Mono-chromatic dressing is one way to make a fashion statment during the winter months. A cheap and useful tip for students is to invest in rubber soles for your favourite boots to make them appro- priate for cold weather. One of the season’s hottest trends include anorak jackets. ALEXANDRA GRANT photos Left: Personal style blogger Lily Nguyen of Bleed for Fashion shows how keeping warm with winter-wear accessories can carry a strong style impact. Right: Local fashion blogger Jen Tam of Her Waise Choice demonstrates how layering thin materials such as cashmere sweaters effectively retains heat and style during the winter months. Looking stylish and staying warm can be achieved through creativity Local fashion experts give students ideas on how to keep cozy while staying true to your own personal style during the winter By ALEXANDRA GRANT rial dilemma of warmth versus style for many Canadians. owever, according to some of the country’s top fashion ex- perts, with a touch of creativity and critical thinking anyone can stylishly adapt their wardrobe for the impending chill. Eva de Viveiros, the owner of Vancouver boutique Barefoot Contessa, said the key to maintaining effortless style during the winter is curbing impulse buys and purchasing winter-wear items wisely. “T think it’s making that effort now when you’re shopping for your cold-weather gear...[take] that extra few minutes to look at what you have and just really edit it down,” she said. “We all see something cute in the store in a bright colour and you pick it up, but you don’t think of how it’s going to co-ordinate with the rest of your gear.” De Viveiros added students should invest in several key ac- cessories in the same colour scheme, which will make the set more wearable. She also suggested investing in an infinity scarf, a chunky knit scarf in a circular shape, one of this winter’s most coveted trends. “With the infinity scarf, now everyone looks like they know how to wear a scarf, which is great,” she said. Infinity scarves function well for both sexes, adding warmth where it is most needed without adding as much bulk as a tradi- tional scarf. ( anada’s notoriously harsh winters pose a challenging sarto- According to The Globe and Mail’s fashion editor Tiyana Gru- lovic, of all winter-wear investments none is as important as a coat. Several unique silhouettes emerged on the fall/winter 2011 runway, including anoraks in luxe materials, maxi coats, and chunky faux furs. “Coats are so important, especially in the winter when it’s re- ally all that you see, [so] you want it to look good,” said Grulo- vic. “The maxi coat is a trend we’ve seen a lot of...it’s something that’s still really sleek and interesting but offers that functional aspect in the plain fact that it’s long.” Grulovic added there are many ways of winter-proofing piec- es already in one’s closet, including footwear. “If love a pair of boots and I want to wear them outside...in the winter, I just take it to a shoe repair guy and get the rubber grip added on,” she said, adding that this simple fix is more cost- effective than buying new footwear. Vancouver fashion blogger Lily Nguyen of Bleed for Fashion said she turns her focus to creative layering during the colder months to achieve a style impact. “In the winter, I might throw on a pair of stockings and then a pair of pants with some high heels, then you'd roll up the pants,” she said. “It’s really all about thinking outside the box.” Jen Tam of Her Waise Choice, a local fashion and style blog, said she also focuses on layering, using thin pieces to achieve warmth without adding bulk. “IT wear a lot of thin sweaters together, getting cashmere sweaters and layering them and doubling up tights,” she said, adding that fabric is the most important factor when it comes to heat retention. “Get good quality fabrics that hold warmth.” Tam said students with limited budgets can find cashmere sweaters priced as low as $40 at discount department stores such as Winners.