Fashion Flattery: Styles That Fit Your Size

How many times have you asked a friend or boyfriend, “Do I look good in this?” Even though you knew it wasn’t the most flattering of outfits, they still said it looked great because they didn’t want to hurt your feelings. Based on your body type, there are a plethora of looks that do and don’t look good on you. There are also ways to make a simple look super chic and wearable whether its day or night!

Tall & Thin

• Skinny Jeans/Leggings
  
• Booties
  
• Solid V-neck Tee
  
• Boyfriend Blazer

This a very effortless look, that is simple and chic ,yet shows off your height!
When night comes along, you can jazz your outfit up with heels or even a studded vest.

• Neutral Blouse


• Jewel Belted Skirt
  
• Booties or Flats


• Neck Accessory (pearls, diamonds, or a chunky gold necklace!)
  

Showing off your legs and making them appear longer is the main goal. When you’re ready for a night out on the town, get the heels out and look taller and make those legs look longer!

Curvy

If you’re a curvy girl and want to play it safe, you can simply wear a loose black dress. However, it’s 2010! Be proud of your curves and show off that beautiful figure! I personally am a curvy girl, and I love each and every curve on my body!

• High-Waist Dress


• Matching Flats

If you aren’t comfortable with your arms, a cardigan or blazer can be thrown on top. Don’t be afraid to show off your curves. With high-waist dresses, the attention is taken off of the belly area and shows your curvy shape a lot better.

So girls, regardless of your size, remember SIMPLE IS CHIC! Many times, we think we have to keep adding clothing, but a basic outfit can turn into a very classy one with the addition of jewelry! A long, maybe chunky, necklace with tons of texture will do the trick! Go to your favorite jewelry store and STOCK UP on rings, earrings, and sunglasses! You never know when that random ring you bought will be the piece that will make your outfit pop!

Regardless of your body type, get a few signature pieces that look good with just about anything and aren’t too flashy to be worn only once. This can be a jewelry, your favorite shoe, or the best fitting jeans you own. Mine is my Jean Paul Gaultier Boyfriend Blazer that I found at my favorite thrift store Buffalo Exchange! It is my best friend because it serves as a sassy jacket and also the classiest piece of any of my outfits!

Finally, here are a few last things to remember!

1. Don’t be afraid to try new looks! Colors, prints, and textures are your friends!
2. Accessorize, Accessorize, and in case you forgot Accessorize!
3. Nothing will look good unless you exude the confidence!

--Rebecca Matey
Brownstone Intern

Freshen Up Your Winter Fashion

Winter woes are not just limited to chapped lips and cold fingers, for many a fashionista keeping your winter wardrobe fresh is just as great a dilemma. Fortunately for you, we’ve got the inside scoop on easy and creative ways to update your winter wardrobe and keep your style fresh. These easy to follow steps will have you ready for winter weather and looking like a million bucks (without breaking your bank).

Step 1: Layer Up
-Remember chilly weather doesn’t mean you have to hide yourself in oversized coats and sweaters. Instead, opt to layer an eye catching camisole under a sweater. Learning to layer your outfits can prove essential to creating a fashion forward look that will keep you warm even as the temperatures dip. This season, canvas coats, leather jackets and boyfriend blazers are all must have’s for bringing your winter wear together. Like the Courtney Bomber, a cropped bomber jacket for $49.50 available at Delias or for a sporty look, try the BDG Varsity jacket, $88.00 available at UrbanOutfitters.

Step 2: Accessorize Away
-Accessories are key to adding flair to any outfit and a perfect way to further display your individuality. For a more “bohemian” style, vintage and natural pieces are key to include. Ask your mother if she has any old jewelry, hats or bags. There’s sure to be something you can salvage and give new life to. For a more vibrant colorful expression, multicolored bangles and scarves never fail to add a splash of color, I found great pieces at Claire’s, like their Beaded Bracelet set, $9.50 and the Windy Flower headband, $3.80 at Forever21 that add flair to your outfit and fit any budget.

Step 3: Creative Kicks

-Many focus on the outfit but neglect the shoes. Make sure you remember that what you wear on your feet is another outlet to display your personality. No matter whether you favor the casual sneaker or the stylish boot, cold weather is all the more reason for you to be daring. On Zappos with a little searching you can find something suited to your taste, like Myca, the trendy metallic flat from Report, $68.95, which is sure to turn heads. Look for Havoc, a slouchy distressed boot with attitude to spare from Wanted, $49.99, at Piperlime another online site dedicated to shoes.

Step 4: Don’t forget to Shine
- No matter the weather, don’t forget to let your personality shine through. Whether you show your love for stripes with a new scarf or you display your personal star power with a cute pair of metallic ballet flats, remember that style doesn’t just come from what you have on, but from the inside. The outfit doesn’t make the girl but rather, the girl makes the outfit FRESH!

--Amelia Jones
Brownstone Intern

The Forgotten

You’ve heard the saying “Out of sight, out of mind” right? 9 times out of 10, we fail to realize the importance of something until it effects us directly. How many of you heard of Haiti before they were hit by that catastrophic 7.0 earthquake last week? How many knew that Haiti was one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere? I mean…I’ve heard of Haiti, but sadly I didn’t realize how poverty stricken they are. It’s sad that many people probably never thought twice about Haiti until the earthquake. On the flip side, it’s great to see so many people coming together to help with relief efforts. I know one thing’s for sure, I think we’ve all learned to appreciate the little things we often take for granted.

I think an important lesson we can learn from the situation is to appreciate the little things we often take for granted. For one day, I dare you to put a dollar (or a penny, nickel, whatever you have) in a jar every time you complain about something. I bet you’d find yourself with a lot of money. I know I would! I think now you’ll see that complaining about not getting those Seven jeans or having to catch the bus because your parents won’t let you drive their car is nothing in comparison to what teens in Haiti are going through.

I spoke with Savannah Roberson, 15, out of Oxnard CA and here’s what she had to say about the effect the earthquake in Haiti has had on her.

“It makes me realize how fortunate we are to live in the United States. I’m thankful that we have buildings that can support us. Theirs weren’t made like that because they don’t have the money. It makes me want to give back more because their country is destroyed and there is nothing they can do about it. At school, we had a fundraiser called “Hats for Haiti.” Since I go to a private school with a strict dress code we were allowed to wear hats if we donated money. Our school was able to exceed our goal of $3,000 and raise $5,000. If we had an earthquake I would want people to help us. I think we would all come together as a community if something were to happen like that here.”

I hope that this tragic situation will open our eyes to the world outside of the United States. There are a lot of people suffering overseas. I know it gets hard, but we should remember that there is always someone who has less than we do. We should always try to lend a hand. It doesn’t always have to be monetary. You can donate food or clothing to someone in need as well. Let’s not wait to until tragedy streaks to remember the forgotten.

Here are some ways to get involved with Haiti relief efforts:

• Red Cross
• World Vision
• UNICEF
• Black Gives Back

--Tymika Morrison

Brownstone Team

Reduce, ReUSE, Recycle?

Everyone has heard the phrase Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, but have you heard of the latest way to reuse called upcycling? Upcycling is the process of repurposing materials that traditionally would not be recycled. TerraCycle, the first company behind upcycling, takes items such as food wrappers, cell phones & markers and upcycles them into new products each day. As I researched their website, I discovered all kinds of cool items that have been created out of repurposed materials; everything from pencils made out of newspapers to pencil cases made out of cookie wrappers. Not only do these products help protect the environment, they are easy to find at places like Target, Wal-mart and Home Depot.

Do you or your family already collect water bottles, cans and other items to take to local recycling centers? As you know, collect enough items and your financial compensation for bringing these items can turn into a pretty penny. You can also reap the same benefits with TerraCycle. They will offer cash for your collections of potato chip bags and juice boxes. So instead of tossing the contents of your lunch in the garbage after you have eaten think about saving some of your items to be upcycled.

Another company, Looptworks, also practices upcylcling, but with clothing. If you’re into fashion, you’ll love this site! They stop excess materials from being thrown out and use them to create 100% of their products. Shopping at Looptworks is a great way to not only help the environment, but to look good while doing it! Also by shopping online, you don’t have to waste gas or worry about bugging your parents to take you to the mall. Use inspiration from Looptworks to make your own items at home. We all have something in our closet that doesn’t fit anymore, so why not repurpose it? I have a purse made out of an old pair of jeans. I know along with old clothes, we also have a few earrings that don't have a mate or broken bracelets. Use embellishments from old jewelry or fabric to liven up an old look. Suddenly you’ll have something “new” to your wardrobe that no one else owns!

I also found some other great upcycling ideas online on sites like Eco Salon. With some of you in the process of applying for college, I know you are getting tons of mail with personal information. After you have shredded your materials, don’t dump them in the trash, instead save them for packing material when you ship things. You can tell your mom you’re saving her a special stash to use when she sends your college care packages. If you’re interested in learning more, run an internet search on upcycling and see what you find. It is important for your generation to step up in efforts to conserve the environment because pretty soon you will be the ones leading the way. Get started now and when it comes down to the Recycle, Reuse, Reduce phrase remember think outside the box, get creative and discover more ways to help the environment.

-- Martine Rouzan
Brownstone Team

Mother Nature’s New Installments

Is your body constantly changing? Have there been some recent unexpected developments? Are your aunts starting to make those embarrassing comments about your –dare I say!- your BOOBIES?! Or maybe that old baby fat is even disappearing and you just don’t know how to respond to these sudden changes. Here are a few pointers on getting acquainted with these new parts. First and foremost, know that you are YOUNG and these changes are probably not permanent. And even if they are here to the end, they’re most definitely nothing to be ashamed of!

1. Looking in the mirror and automatically accepting who you are becoming can sometimes be easier said than done. If you can’t accept this new body just yet, still look in the mirror and say I AM BEAUTIFUL! Don’t wait for others to compliment you, be your own cheerleader. After a while, you’ll start to believe these words of truth. :)

2. Secondly, go to that old box of pictures your parents stashed away in the attic and take a peek at those bad boys! Take a good look at how your mom or aunts went from being a cute kid AWW--> to a dorky girl OOO-->to a poised woman OO-LALA!!

9 times out of 10 your parents look nothing like they used to and filled out in all the right places!

3. Don’t be afraid to talk about it with your parents and if that’s too embarrassing, go to an older sibling, cousin, or any person you feel comfortable to talk to.

If you feel like you’re an “ugly duckling” now, think of this as your awkward growing period and that these changes are just coming little by little. The finished product hasn’t arrived yet and you will become that BEAUTIFUL SWAN we all know you to be!

4. Lastly, stay fit! Go outside! Join a club! Whether it’s dancing, soccer, basketball, hiking, or simply walking, GET ACTIVE! If you aren’t happy with who you are, do something about it, the healthy way.

Eat right, Act Right, Feel Right. These are the ways to happiness. What you put in your body, how you treat other bodies, and how you emotionally treat your body all affect your self-esteem regardless of any body change within you.

“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude”-Maya Angelou

--Rebecca Matey

Brownstone Intern

Welcome our new intern Rebecca Matey to the blog! Rebecca is a sophomore majoring in International Relations at USC. She is also a member of USC's Saved By Grace Gospel Choir. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer and tennis. We are excited to have her on board!

She Soars

Representative of an entire people
Role model of power,
Yet epitome of grace.
As she goes about her life, she keeps her position of prestige in her mind.
One of few left of her kind,
Yet she does not lower herself to the pessimistic ideals of her race.
Definition of faith.
Constantly presented with cliffs and ledges.
As soon as she jumps her wings appear.
Her heart and mind becoming clear,
And she soars without asking any questions.

--Jessica Chapman, 19 - North Carolina
Jr. Correspondent

Are you between the ages of 13 -19 and like to write? Submit articles and poems to BrownstoneMag@gmail.com to be featured as a Jr. Correspondent.

Brownstone 2.0: Check out the Tech Corner

If you're a girl who loves learning about the latest gadgets or anything related to tech for that matter...and even for you're an undercover geek who is ashamed to reveal her techy side ;) - then you'll love our new section called the Tech Corner. Each month, we'll talk about some of the newest products and trends coming out in technology. Check out this month's post:

Can You Hear Me Now?

What would you do if your mom could listen in on your calls?...and she found out that you were skipping P.E. to hang out with your friends. Or what would you do if your dad could check your text messages?...and saw that you called him a fat loser when he wouldn't let you go to your crush's party last week. Well beware this may be an available feature on cell phones very soon!

Last week, the Taser International (the company that makes Taser guns to help law enforcement subdue unruly suspects) announced the Protector Family Safety Program--a series of products designed to help parents monitor and control what their kids are doing with their phones. Scary huh?

Here are some of the Protector's key features:

• Provides a summary report of incoming and outgoing numbers of people you call or text
• Allows parents to listen to actual calls and read text messages
• Provides software that parents can use to route any inbound call, text, or e-mail, so that parents can allow it, block it, send it through, listen in, or record the conversation
• Set "favorites" list to let some calls and messages go through according to parent's approval
• Examine e-mail attachments

The purpose of the Protector is to monitor inappropriate behavior and of course for safety, but do you think it's a little too much? Do you think the Protector violates the trust between a parent and their child? How would you feel if your mom was using the Protector to monitor your calls? Has technology gone too far? Let us know your thoughts.

--Tymika Morrison

Brownstone Team