Resurrected as a Thread Blogger (the re-introduction)

Hey everyone! My name is Kelly Ginsburg and I am now officially a blogger for Ohio University's Thread magazine.

I write a non opinion based blog focused on current trends for the upcoming season, what to be on the look out for, why it is popular, and where to get it for the best price. I understand we are all thrifty college students and need to find the best price while still keeping up to date on fashion. 

It all started one day in summer...

Naturally, I wanted to look good when I went back to school, but I couldn't decide what to try to squeeze into my little sorority house closet. 

Should I bring my leather jacket from winter 2010? Are Ugg boots still acceptable? Is a tight black skirt still the only going out "must have" for the weekend?

 These are all questions that were racing through my mind, so I decided to do a little research to see if I needed anything. I didn't want to be "that girl" who thought I still looked cool when I actually didn't.

 I went to www.Google.com and typed in the search engine "fall trends for 2011" and this is what came up...

....?

What am I suppose to do with that? The more I searched, the more disappointed I became. I couldn't fathom the thought of walking into Crystal with tall fluffy boots or a kimono on.

Then I saw a link that was called "Fall 2011's Most Wearable Trends". I thought to myself "Finally! Tell me the must haves!" It came up with this...

Wait what? That is most wearable? That can't be right. Why couldn't someone just tell me what was going to be "in". Why did everything over media related to fashion and trends have to be so monstrous and male repelling? I just wanted to know what to get before I went to school!

Then it hit me... the more I looked at these "high fashion" trends, the more I realized there was a pattern that leads into every day outfits! Its a trickling down effect where "high fashion" clothes keep getting broken down to basics until it becomes what we wear on campus life.

These aren't JUST hideous obnoxious jackets. 

These are professional jackets.

These are jackets going for the "business" look.

These are jackets focused on being tight around the rib cage and flowing out towards the bottom.

These are jackets made to make you look slimmer.

These are blazers.

See, it breaks down. You just need to know how to look at it and what to be on the look out for. In all reality, it will take a season to go from what we saw up there to a regular blazer you would find at Forever 21. 

So that is where I come in. I look for the pattern and relay it back to you. I am a Trends-lator.

A few facts about me!

• First and far most important: I love large hair accessories. Bows, flowers, hats, head bands, ribbon, anything. I have more bows and hair flowers than I do any other article of clothing.

     

• I love heels. They make the legs look long and beautiful
• I HATE jeans. The man upstairs gave me beautiful legs to show off and I am not suffocating them with denim. Leggings are a blessing to me.
• If you ask "does this look good?", that better be an open invitation to tell you my opinion. I will not say "CHAAA YOU LOOK HAWT!" if I don't think you do. I aim to inform and help, not please your wants. 
• Forever 21 is my favorite clothing store... no questions asked. I even worked there for a summer.
• I love a good deal and I would much rather pay less for something that is Forever 21 brand than something from Nordstroms that looks the exact same.
• Betsey Johnson is my favorite designer.
• I want to be an event planner one day... preferably a wedding planner or putting together fashion shows. 
• I love Love more than anything. I love couples, romance movies, weddings, and seeing two people truly happy with each other.
• I believe all fashion is based on what would "attract" someone sexually. For example; heels will always be in style because they show of the legs and make women look more attractive. Army boots however is a fun fad that will not even make it to the end of 2011 because nobody is going to be drawn to a girl marching around in military shoes.
• Victoria's Secret, not Aerie.

So there, now you know a few more facts about me. Hopefully this will give you a better idea of who I am and why I write what I write. I can't wait to blog more for Thread! I hope you guys find what I have to saw helpful and educational! See you later

Stay Trendy.

-Kellyisthatgirl.

A girl is prettiest when she smiles =]

"You're never fully dressed,

though you may look your best.

You're never fully dressed without a smile"

-Annie

A smile. A natural accessory that isn't bought in a mall or on an online shopping site. It is the only free accessory we are given in life. 

A smile is something we should use more to our benefit. A great smile will over shadow frizzed hair, pit stains, or a ripped skirt. 

A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks.  ~Charles Gordy

I know you're probably thinking

"I don't need to be told to smile. that isnt a fashion advice. Its just life advice."

Well false. 

According to dictionary.com the exact definition of "fashion" is

fash·ion

   [fash-uhn]  Show IPA

noun

1.

a prevailing custom or style of dress, etiquette, socializing,etc.: the latest fashion in dresses.

2.

conventional usage in dress, manners, etc., especially of polite society, or conformity to it: the dictates of fashion; tobe out of fashion.

So obviously, a smile is apart of fashion. And it puts together a whole image more than just clothes are. For example; here is the queen of modeling Tyra Banks with the same dress and hair style.

In my opinion, smiling makes all the difference between being attracted to someone and just looking at someone. 

To learn more about Tyra Banks and the art of smiling check out Perez Hiltion's post Smiling 101 With Tyrannosaurus Banks

Reasons to Why We Should Smile:

1. Smiling subconsciously puts you in a better mood. 
• Smiling and happiness go hand in hand, for example, much like the smell of pumpkin and spice go with fall . When you smell a pumpkin spice scent, you're going to think of fall because you associate the two together because they are linked to each other. Obviously smiling is associated with happiness. So after years of smiling only when you're happy, when you smile you're going to think of happiness. So if you force yourself to smile more, you will instantly become more linked to being happy. So if you smile, you will become closer to being happy.
  
2. Smiling is contagious. 
• When you smile, you make everyone around instantly feel better. Think of who you would rather be around; someone who smiles or someone who frowns.
  
3. Smiling makes us more attractive.
• It is proven that men are drawn to women who smile. It leaves a friendly impression of you in their mind and the body language makes men feel more comfortable around you and make you come off as more approachable. . It also exerts confidence and it is well known that men think confidence is sexy. Smiling is also a form of flirting.
  Source
  
4. Smiling makes you more healthy. 
• It decreases stress hormones and increases immunity cells. The more you smile the more physically and mentally healthy you will be.
  
5. Smiling people don't kill their husbands. They just don't. 
• Smiling requires muscle movement. Muscle movement releases endorphins. And as we all know endorphins create happy people. Happy people don't kill their husbands.
  
  

1. Smiling keeps your youthful face in tact.
• Since you work your face muscles when you smile, your face becomes more tight and tone. It works much like any other work out of muscle exercise. The more "fit" your face muscles are, the less wrinkles you will have.
  "Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been."  ~Mark Twain
  
2. Smiling makes you look confident (whether you are or aren't).
• when you smile, you look like you are confident and successful. As if you don't have a care in the world. When you're at a job interview or flirting with a guy then you should definitely wear your smile. 

Learn more from my source!

Just like any other clothing article or accessory, some smiles are better than others. So how can you make sure you have the best smile?

• Brush your teeth at least TWICE a day
• Floss #stopbeinglazy
• Get braces or invisaline (seriously, it helps)
•  Mouth wash
• Avoid soda and red wine.
• Avoid a lot of sugar
• don't smoke 
• get whitening strips 
• Crest 3D Coupons
• Use a straw when you drink soda so it doesn't hit against your teeth. 
• Add crowns or implants over oddly shaped teeth. 
• Use chapstick or Vaseline to keep your lips soft. 
• Put scotch tape over your lips to pull off dead skin on your lips.
• Use lip stick/ gloss that goes best with your outfit and complexion.
• How to apply lipstick.
• Be happy! A happy smile is better than a fake smile.

So next time you go out or you just want to feel better in general, try smiling. Smile to your self and practice your smile in your reflection. It doesn't matter what you are wearing, if you have a scowl on your face, you won't be even remotely attractive. A good smile can make a decent outfit and a mediocre girl (looks wise) go from a 7 to a 10. Women are always most beautiful when they smile. Its the oldest trick in the book.

Your mother wears combat boots.... and now you do too!

When my friends and I go out, we wear heels.

When my dad comes home from military training, he is wearing combat boots.

So when did my fashion mix with my Air Force reserve dad?

When I first saw these on the feet of my friends and on the shelves of my favorite shoe store, I assumed it was a dumb trend and wouldn't expand much further than the end of spring 2011.

It wasn't until yesterday when I was surfing the website of my favorite  designer Betsey Johnson that I cam across this

I knew that these boots weren't going anywhere. 

I investigated more at Forever 21. I asked a sales associate about them and she said.. 

"Every person who works here owns a pair. They are going to be big this upcoming fall and winter."

Funny that she said that, if you go to Forever 21's website, go to boot shoes, this is what comes up

http://www.forever21.com/category.asp?footwr_style=footwr_boots&footwr_color=&footwr_size=&footwr_price=&page=1&catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=footwr

My investigation was not over, I went to DSW and they had a whole wall full of combat boots for only $20 (so if you're looking for a deal, go there)

When i went to my friend's house i brought it up and she said "Oh i just bought a pair!" and pulled out classic black combat boots. They had a zipper that went up the back so you could fold them over. 

Now personally, I don't understand this trend. When i think of girls wearing combat boots I think of either 

Hard core military women

Punk Goth girls

I thought women wore shoes that made them more girly? Wasn't that the idea behind heels, stilettos, pumps, flip flops, gladiators, and tall leg boots? To show off feminine features such as a pedicure or nice legs?

Men are attracted to femininity, not trends (remember that).

Military boots are the farthest thing for feminine.

The old insult "Your mother wears combat boots" was one of the first "your mom" jokes. They implied two different meanings (depending on how educated you were)  

1. Your mother was so manly, they put her in the military to fight in the war.
2. Your mother is a whore. Because back during WW1 women would trade sex with army men, in exchange for combat boots. So maybe girls like them because it makes them look more historically promiscuous?

Is this a trend that people follow purely for the purpose of being trendy?

 Does it make women feel bolder and more dominate? 

Like they can march through the world and invade the universe taking it as their prisoner? 

I think the appeal of these shoes are the boldness and the large statement they make. You look like a beautiful woman from head to ankle, then you have these huge boots. What a throw off. Just like the over sized bows or bright colored tights, they are just a trendy attitude. 

In my opinion, i predict these will be a fad for probably the rest of 2011 and then die out. Reality is, feminine beauty will always prevail in the fashion industry and when trying to pick up men. However, it is what is in. And just because I don't understand them, doesn't mean they aren't going to be everywhere. It is always fun to be apart of the current trend. If you want to join the bandwagon and look trendy for a season (because that is always fun) then check out...

• DSW
• Forever 21
• Any department store
• Charlotte Russe
• http://www.charlotterusse.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=4238904
• And for your best price, try an army store!

As for me, I am going to hit up my dad's closet and steal some old worn in ones.

Learn more about pairing combat boots with your every day outfit right here!

If you have an opinion on this trend, I would love to hear it.

I especially would like to know what the guys have to say about them

Prep it up. Stay trendy!

Fearful for Flare (say that five times fast)

You remember last winter, shaking your groove thang to squeeze in to those teeny weeny itsy bitsy super tight jeans.  Skinny jeans were the must have last year, even your boyfriend was wearing them

 Now, straight jeans/ skinny jeans are in no way completely out this year, because they're not ! And how can they? They're form fitting and show off your curves and legs. They're the ideal women jeans. So don't worry, no need to trash your 2010 jeans.

What really baffles me is what the new hit leg sensation is...

Flare.

Yes flare, wide leg, bell bottom jeans. All fashion experts are saying that 70s style jeans are making a comeback. Looks like girls in 2011 will be shagging like girls from the 1970s

"Yeah baby"

Go anywhere that you get your jeans and you will most likely see a new section for flare. Let your mothers know, maybe they have some good jeans to pass down!

Maybe I haven't seen them on enough people, or I have naive taste in fashion, but I do not fully understand the craze in flare. Yes it is the prediction (so I advise investing in some) however when I broke down the look for the flare jeans, I could see how they can become somewhat popular.

Now... we ALL know that flare jeans are not becoming popular because they're comfortable. If comfort was a concern for the fashionistas out there, we wouldn't wear 90% of what we wear out. However, they are very comfortable, which is a nice change from last year.

But when you look at these jeans, you still get the slimming body effect from your hips to your knees. Then it flares out, which in fact, makes the upper half of your lower body look more thin. 

Personally, I think the flare jean look gives a nice optical illusion effect to your thighs and butt 

(aka the trouble spots)

And the flare on these jeans just adds to the modern day fashion which is BiG and all in your face. If you think about it, its perfect for our fashion culture. 

If you wear these jeans, I advice you add a tight top. A baggy shirt and baggy jeans will not make you look feminine. If you're not going to show off all your legs in tight jeans, the least you can do is show off your chest.

To learn more about what the fashion experts are saying about flare trousers, read this Shine article from Yahoo...
Designers and fashion experts agree: 70s-style, high-waisted flared jeans making a comeback

In case you're now interested, some nice places to check out a good variety of flare jeans are

• Gap (best quality, bit pricy)
• Forever 21
• H&M
• Old Navy
• Nordstrom, Macys, Dillards,
  
• American Eagle DOES NOT have a good selection currently. Neither does Levis.

Fear the flare. It will be everywhere

that rhymes :]

Prep it up. Stay trendy! 

Geeking over Glasses; Revenge of the Nerds

Are the glasses that people feared to be sentenced to in the 80s and 90s the hottest fashion in 2011 eye wear?

Today I had my annual eye doctor appointment. Not only was I there to check the health of my eyes, but I also was in desperate need for a new pair of glasses. 

When I first discovered the curse of my poor eye sight, I was in 3rd grade. It was a tragic time because I was doomed to wear glasses, the most embarrassing thing to wear in the 90s. Until I was finally old enough to handle contacts, I spent my glasses era wearing the most invisible frames I could find.

However, when I went in today (year 2011) I was on a hunt for the BiGGEST, darkest, most obnoxious pair of glasses I could find. When I went in i had this in mind

This is Kelly Bensimon from Real Housewives of New York City. And I wanted glasses just like that.

Now, how is it that the style of glasses that was once so feared is now the hit lens nation wide? When you  type into google "Trendy Glasses 2011" the first link brings you to this...

http://www.eyewearbrands.com/designer%20glasses

Geek Chic is what its called. And its all the rage in eye wear.

So if you're on the hunt for new glasses, Geek Chic is in. Dior, Prada, Ray Bans all name brands that are apart of designing these glasses. 

The large frames add character to your face while also giving room to let your eyes shine through. No longer will nerds be frowned upon for the curse of poor vision. They were right all along (what a shocker, they're smart).

 They only problem I see with them is... what do you do when you need to dress cocktail attire? 

Regardless though, if you want to look "trendy" and "artsy" and "modern" these are obviously the way to go. However, if you're going to wear these you need to make sure you wear them and THEY DONT WEAR YOU! 

Prep it up. Stay trendy!

Head over heels for SNOOKi's BOWS!

Be BOLD in a bow

Something you must know about me is I love obnoxious large hair accessories. As you can tell here are just a few examples of me wearing a very small sample of the large collection of hair accessories I have.

Its more than an accessory, its an attitude.

So when I saw I wasn't alone in my love for steroid injected hair pieces, I was thrilled. When Jersey Shore season 4 premiered, I received plenty of tweets saying "Snooki's hair pieces remind me of something @Kellyisthatgirl would wear!" 

What a compliment. Truly. If there is one thing in this world I want to be known for, my monstrous hair bows would be the first thing. I love them.

I think large hair bows and large flowers and bright colored hats are fun ways to spice up your outfit and make you stand out! In my opinion (and most people would not agree) I think these accessories make you look more youthful (without looking childish), fun, and exciting. You truly stand out when you dare to wear something ridiculous like these

Personally, I think she looks adorable and i would wear any of these. I guess you need to have the crazy girl attitude to truly work these. They just really jazz up an outfit though! And they are fun and bring you back to your childhood. They make you look girly and fun. And they are a conversation starter! They truly show a fun party girl personality. I encourage all girls to go crazy with their hair. When we get old, we would have full beautiful long hair to go crazy with! 

Snooki... please go hair bow shopping with me <3

Be bold in a bow.

Prep it up. Stay trendy!

Getting blazed.

Sad as it is, summer is coming to an end, and before we know it, its going to be time to wearing jackets over our super cute dresses and heels! Instead of thinking of outer wear as being a fashion mood killer, think of it more as another piece for the fall/ winter outfit puzzle! You can be warm from the pregame to the bar, and still look cute!

Blazers

I have a hunch that blazer jackets are going to be popular this fall. I saw them start to become big early spring, so I feel that trend is going to trickle over into the new cold year.

 They give you an opportunity to look slim and professional. The elegance and professionalism the blazer gives off will pull together your outfit of a tight black dress and wedge heels. You will look like your walking down the streets of the windy city right then. In my opinion, it is best to invest in a a form fitted blazer that will square off your shoulders, this will accentuate your hour glass figure. 

You can find affordable blazers of all different styles at Forever 21 and H&M 

Here are some examples of fashionable blazers.

Prep it up. Stay trendy!