Students on campus fall for fashion trends
Campus Times
November 14, 1997
The fashion police may be on the prowl, but they will not be handing
out any citations on the La Verne campus. The student body seems to be keeping
up with current high fashion, yet maintaining the cool college look. Junior
Lynsey Best (above) and sophomore Damien Alarcon (below) dress for both
comfort and simplicity. Best's windbreaker is being seen everywhere and
was made hip by Melanie Chisholm, "Sporty Spice" of the Spice
Girls, while Alarcon's corduroy pants made a comeback from the '70s a few
years ago and have decided to stick around.
If the change in leaves and cooler weather is not a big enough clue
that fall is here, perhaps the new clothing lines and new fall colors will
be hint enough.
The latest trends are here with a bang. There are plenty of fall fashions
to vary this year, from wool plaid skirts to retro suede jackets. Tans,
browns and maroons are hot to wear for professional attire or for simple
mountain trips.
According to November's Mademoiselle, long streamlined coats
in deep reds and dark colors are favored for cold weather. Cool, cozy pastels
are also available at stores and are often worn with light gray wool jackets.
According to Valerie Guevara, sales associate for Wet Seal at the Montclair
Plaza, for fall fabrics, velour and velvet are found in everything from
pants to jackets.
"Denim, although light, is hot for this season. Bootcut jeans are
everywhere and look great with ski sweaters," said Guevara.
Corduroy pants, skirts, jackets and shirts in different colors, are
also sold throughout several department stores for the cold season. Guevara
also says that besides the corduroy look, long leather jackets with high
collars go great with cigarette pants and ankle booties.
Although somewhat skimpy for cool weather, the "side-split mini
is perfect for a night out with knee-length boots," said Clarissa Beserra,
sales associate for Express International in the Montclair Plaza.
Slip dresses can also be worn for a sexy night out. "They [are
the] sleeper hit of the season," according to Vogue magazine.
Beserra agrees with Vogue magazine and says dainty silver earrings
and headbands are the "hot items" to accessorize with.
To keep warm, "tights and scarfs look good with short wool skirts,"
said Guevara.
To keep dry, Leo Zapata, manager of Eddie Bauer in the Montclair Plaza,
says "parkas, cortex and goose down are the most popular materials.
The parka is the most popular coat cut."
"A lot of earth tones seem to be creeping in," said Zapata,
who added that the hype of El Niño has alerted people to get the
appropriate gear for the rainy season.
Fall makeup this year is "easy-going," according to Allure
magazine. Light to no makeup is preferred in natural tones. Natural shades
in ivory, tans and browns are best as eye shadows and lipsticks. Heavy foundation
is "definitely out," according to Clinique consultants. Dark lipstick
tones should only be worn with less eye makeup to avoid a heavy look.
Makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin, "elevated the one-color trend to the
runways," according to Allure and said "dark colors require
precision."
Regarding makeup, "girls should go for the natural healthy look.
Foundation should not be heavy and left unblended," said Tamar Garabedian,
a junior broadcasting major.
Melissa Behr, a junior diversified major, agrees and says "eyes
are the main thing." To help maximize eyes to the full potential, Behr
and Garabedian agree that eye brows "need to be well groomed and have
a natural shape."
As University of La Verne students, Garabedian and Behr say that fashion
is "very individual." As long as the ensemble is put together
correctly, Behr and Garabedian say anything can be fashionable, even sweats.
While some people consider themselves avid shoppers who follow the trends,
Garabedian and Behr say not all fashion is for everyone.
"I can look at someone and say 'Oh that looks good on her, but
it would never look right on me,'" said Behr.
Although this attitude is common, "it really depends on the way
you carry yourself, and the attitude that comes across when you wear your
clothes," said Beserra.
Still others follow fashion through its market value. Just as there
are people who will pay numerous amounts of dollars for a brand name product,
there are also people who consider fashion to be overpriced.
Freshman Amy Morrison, a biology major, says she likes "wearing
comfortable stuff" and finding it "cheap."
Regardless of different fashion trends, Garabedian and Behr say "as
far as fashion goes, don't wear what is in because magazines say it is.
Wear stuff that looks and feels good on you."
First impressions count for a lot, so many students prefer to make a
statement. Sophomore Lori Johnson (above) likes to wear whatever odd colors
are in her closet, and freshman Jason Kolodge (below) says he does not care
if his clothes match. Although both Johnson, in her solid and sleek ensemble,
and Kolodge, in his matching ski sweater, could be walking the runways.
