FE ona SCYIC Are there really Plenty of Fish in the sea? Part one of student’s online dating series By Sharon Miki s if celebrating my birthday, Christmas and New Year’s Eve one weren’t depressing enough, this year will be the first Valentine’s Day in seven years that I will be single. While I like to consider myself a fairly nice individual, I also know that I haven’t exactly been the easiest person to deal with since the dissolution of my major relationship last year, while whining, crying, and drinking to excess alone in the dark in the bathtub whilst listening to Celine Dion power-ballads. Sick of the emo single-girl act, I’ve decided to jump back into the so-called dating pool. Without suitable bar-hopping clothes or witty pick-up lines, I figure the best place to do this might be online. With three weeks to February 14, I’ve decided to join the free (I may be lonely, but I’m still a broke student—no fancy fee-based eHarmony for me) online dating site Plenty of Fish to try to get a iene before V-Day. The first step in the whole ‘wikia date-o-rama process is making a profile for yourself. If you take this seriously, this is actually a really difficult and emotional task. I am asked to assess my personality traits, confront the mistakes of my previous romantic turmoil, give my age, and discuss my religious beliefs. I’m also forced to decide whether I should label myself as average or as having a few extra pounds, which is a topic I regularly avoid at all costs. I list my hobbies and profession as “writing,” and suddenly feel a huge sense of pressure to watch my comma splices. Then there’s the profile picture. In real life, | haven’t taken a picture of myself since 2007. I just don’t like the idea of my image being captured for later use. But, apparently, words aren’t enough to entice the hearts and minds of the sexy young men of the Greater Vancouver area: they want to see the goods. So, after much debate, I decide on an old Facebook profile picture in which I am wearing an outfit I still own. I figure I’ll just wear this outfit on dates, and no one will notice that I’ve aged four years and fifteen pounds. Up until this point in my life, I’ve looked at dating and relationships as a fun and exciting pastime. Since signing up for online dating, my sexy-sense has been tingling with a constant mix of dread and anticipation. Will anyone want me, now that I’m “out there”? With nothing held back, the possibilities for rejection seem endless. Still, in the few hours since I joined, I’ve already received five encouraging notifications of men wanting to “meet” me. I guess it’s time to jump in the water, cold or not; I have to know if there are really any nice fish in the sea. Hopefully literate with jobs and cars, but at this point Id be willing to settle for a guppy. Head Hunters: turban trends hitting city streets this spring By Stephanie Trembath, Life and Style Editor - pon my return from Montreal I | must admit, I welcomed the rain with opened arms and relished in the moist air that turns my hair into a matted mess regardless of the half hour I spend meticulously straightening each morning. While Vancouver weather is typically frowned upon by its inhabitants, I will take rain 90% of the year over snow, dry air, and disagreeable winds. It seems no matter where you travel or live, weathering forces do what they can to ruin perfect hairdo’s, unless you hibernate inside and refuse to get any fresh air; which is perhaps the reason why designers are coming up with more ridiculous headwear for fashionable affairs. The fashion realm has finally left the eighties, and is going back another ten years into the seventies with turban inspired headwear. Have no fear of wind or rain this spring, as wrapping yards of cloth around your head is perfect to keep your hair dry and your head nice and warm. 10 Giorgio Armani runway models sported silk turbans elaborately tied in the spring 2011 fashion show back in November 2010; the models wore elegant midnight blue headdresses inspired by the Sahara desert. Likewise, Prada’s spring 2011 line showcased a bevy of beauteous broads decked out in colourful turbans, delicately tied in the front or knotted in the back with a long tail hanging down behind the models. Since the debut of the newest designer wear, celebrities such as Ashley Olson, Sarah Jessica Parker _ and Selma Hayek have all been spotted wearing the turban trend. Tie and twist a turban yourself If you are so brave and fashion forward that you dare to wear the turban on your dainty little top, there are a few tips to follow so that you look like a trendsetter, rather than a fashion victim. First; learn how to tie your turban before going out. I personally prefer the knot in the center, or slightly to the side on the face, rather than a large knot in the back. Second; choose a bold print or bright color so that your turban becomes your feature accessory and make sure the rest of your outfit is low-key. Finally; start small. Pick a nice scarf to wrap around, or splurge on a soft material like silk. Do it yourself! Tons of stores will start carrying makeshift turbans, or ready-wrap scarves, but this is one accessory that you do not want to wear the same as everyone else! It’s big, bold, and front and center on your head, so spend the extra time and money to fashion your own turban rather than coping out and doing what’s easiest. That may work for jewellery, shoes, and other hats, but the turban is definitely something you will want to rock in its originality. If you consider yourself eccentric and are not afraid to be dramatic, the turban is a perfect piece to cap off your outfits this spring. It’s a trend piece, so it won’t stick around for very long, but while it does, all the power to you fabulous femmes who have the passion and flair to pull it off.