Ladies, let’s get banged Fine fringe for fall By Sharon Miki, Assistant Editor | ooking to change your look but low on cash and ideas? There’s no easier way to dramatically update your ‘do than to snip in some bangs. And, with fall’s cool breezes blowing all over your face, now is the perfect time to indulge in cozy forehead-warming fringe. A bang for all! For many girls, the thought of bangs harkens back to childhood haircuts of days past—the opposite of sexy. Still, modern, grown-up fringe can be practical, mysterious, and stylish. There are so many kinds of bangs to choose from, and so it really depends on what shape is most flattering for your face and personal style. Short, retro pin-up girl bangs, a la Bettie Page, are cute, but are the least versatile incarnation of the cut, because you have no choice but to walk around looking: like a 50s throwback for several weeks. According to my hairdresser, long, side- swept bangs are the most universally flattering way to go—they gently frame and elongate the face without looking too severe. Personally, I recently had a set of thick, blunt bangs trimmed in— they’re sort of dramatic, but I think the thick straight look helps to counteract the roundness of my face. What to avoid Alas—just like sashimi and Justin Bieber— bangs are an acquired taste that won’t work for everyone. Girls with super wavy or curly hair should © probably stay away from the forehead fringe, or else plan on spending a significant portion of their lives straightening their bangs. Also, if your ‘hair tends to get mega-oily mega-quick, this might not be the look for you, as bangs basically frame and display your unwashed locks. Be prepared So, I’ve convinced you— you’ re going to take the chop—now what? Well, successful bangs require a specialized toolkit. Unless you’ve been blessed with naturally stick-straight hair, you’re going to have to blow dry those suckers. Every time. To keep your bangs in shape, I recommend investing in some pomade or styling wax (don’t use too much, just rub a dab between your fingertips and pat it into the tips). Also, for when you don’t have time to get bangin’, make sure you have a supply of cute clips and hairbands to pull your hair off your face. Okay girls, I’ve given you all the tips I’ve got— go get banged! FE aaStyte FiveFingers and ten toes; Vibram footwear a must have or just bad? By Natalie Serafini you’ ll remember them; they look like sneakers, yet there’s something unexpected and foot-like about them, which is exactly what Vibram FiveFingers is going for. The company proudly claims that “the more a shoe looks like a foot, the more a shoe acts like a foot.” I believe that a shoe is a shoe and it’s supposed to look like a shoe, but given their popularity I abandoned my more conservative ideas. I found that the people who purchase FiveFingers |: you’ ve seen them around, then The Vibram FiveFingers are very _ pliable, allowing for greater freedom ‘of movement. I would compare their flexibility to dance shoes, but with a well-protected sole. I’m not sure if the shoes are sturdy © enough for a hike through the woods, but they seem fine for other workouts. One of my main concerns was whether or not toes had to be a specific size to fit into the designated toe pockets. It had never occurred to “I believe that a shoe is a shoe and it’s supposed to look like a shoe, but given their popularity | abandoned my more conservative ideas. | found that the people who purchase FiveFingers have a tendency to love them.” have a tendency to love them. To give you an idea, there are approximately 164,000 ‘Likes’ of the Vibram FiveFinger footwear on Facebook as of publication. If the company’s health benefit claims are true, then it’s not surprising that they’ ve become well-loved sports shoes. They purport to improve the range of motion in ankles, feet, and toes, and strengthen muscles in the feet and lower legs. They don’t have a cushioned heel pad, which discourages an unhealthy heavy-heeled stride. Based on the testimonials I’ve read, I’m inclined to believe it’s not complete malarkey. I got a decent understanding of what FiveFingers are like from the many testimonials out there, but I wasn’t getting any first-hand experience. Feeling adventurous, I decided to embrace my inner dork and run with it—in shoes that look like feet. me that my toes were obese or even overweight, but let’s just say the experience of trying on the shoes didn’t end with a pat on my ego. Looking back, I wonder if I grabbed a small size or was simply not accustomed to the bizarre sensation of toe separation; if you try on FiveFingers, don’t be too disconcerted. As strange as FiveFingers are, I don’t have as much of an issue with them as I’d expected. They may be dorky-looking, but should you even care what you look like when you’re exercising? While I don’t endorse them as “casual wear,” and you probably won’t see me wearing them anytime soon, I figure exercise gear is a matter of personal preference. If you’re more inclined to exercise because of wearing FiveFingers and they protect you from injury, then they’re worth it. If you have the cojones to get a pair, go for it! Babe on a budget; Clothing swaps and cleansing By Stephanie Trembath, Life & Style Editor am incredibly pleased and proud to say that it has been exactly three whole months since I last shopped for clothes! Well, that’s not entirely true, as I still window-shop and pout in store change rooms, but I haven’t actually purchased anything new to wear since the end of July. I did, however, coax my boyfriend into buying me a charcoal dress shirt (Ralph Lauren button-up at Value Village for $7—come on!), and he was also gracious enough to buy me a T-shirt at . the Naked and Famous concert earlier this month, but since I didn’t spend the money it doesn’t count! Since I’ve given up purchasing new clothing items, in order to spice up my wardrobe I’ve been pulling out . clothes I bought four and five years ago—it’s a miracle I still even fit them (or not, depending on how you look at it). It’s comforting in a way to see how my sense of style has improved, but also disappointing to look back and realize how much I spent on the clothes that I wore for roughly 12 to 24 months and then packed away. A few gems I’ve pulled out and have decided to re-work into my wardrobe this holiday season include a pair skinny black velvet pants; a pair of short denim overalls (yes, I realize these may be a stretch but I am willing to try); a cream-and-black top from Club Monaco that I’m sure cost me two days’ pay at work; and five pairs of knee socks. The knee socks were a lucky find, as I can pull them up to my thighs under jeans to keep my legs warm, or I can pair them with my ‘sexy’ overalls. I have a few choices. One of my top trendsetting friends— who is fortunate enough to travel the world between her studies and therefore has shopped along Saks Fifth Avenue, New York, Paris and London— decided to clean out her closet last weekend upon her return from the Big Apple. I guess NY offers slicker style, because she had an entire shopping bag brimming with tops, skirts, dresses, and tanks for me and some other girls at work. Needless to say, I was ecstatic to see that someone thought of me in their purging of unwanted wear—but most of the pieces were not my style. My forage through old clothes at my mom’s house and my fabulous friend donating her old bits and pieces gave me a great idea (not an original idea, but new to me nonetheless) about having a clothing swap.Another friend of mine throws seasonal clothing swaps where friends are invited over to bring unwanted clothes and trade them for someone else’s, and are encouraged to bring people with them so that there are more clothes to trade and try-on. This is the perfect idea for putting together that holiday outfit for Christmas parties if you’re like me and trying to tighten up your budget for better things than velvet jeans and sparkly tops!