Lire & STYLE. Have a fitness tip or recipe to share? Contact the editor at lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca Cheer yourself up by giving to others | Cazzy 5 Lewchuk Staff Writer Ss we approach winter, with its horrid weather and constant darkness, it takes a toll on our well-being. The general atmosphere combined with the stress of finals and holidays causes many people This collective moodiness affects not only ourselves, but everyone around us. On the bright side, this means everyone around you is feeling just as bad as you are. It’s important to remember you aren’t alone in dealing with these blahs. There are several ways to make yourself feel better, and most of them to experience a seasonal gloom. Curing seasonal blues are quite inexpensive and easy. However, what's most important is that these methods make you feel good via doing favours for others—not only giving major karma to you, but winning enormous brownie points with the favouree. These gifts are especially awesome for those who are also suffering from winter blues. though it’s okay to enjoy a few of them yourself. Babysitting. Being relieved from caring for their young child for a few hours is one of the best gifts a parent can receive. This is especially true if the parent is a student, single, and/or working. The magnitude of their appreciation and how much of a difference Giving these to a homeless or women’s shelter can make a huge difference in the lives of the less fortunate. So dig up your old winter jackets or cans of beans hidden in the back of the pantry, because others need them more than you do. It’s a great way to make the holidays a little happier for the underprivileged. Winter Is often a time when some places need extra help, such as anywhere that provides services to the less fortunate. Baking. Whether it’s a casserole, muffins, or good old-fashioned cookies, preparing hot, tasty food is a fun way to stay in and be reminded of the fun aspects of winter. Baked goods can be made in large quantities and frozen for future enjoyment. They make excellent gifts for stressed friends or as backup/ homemade Christmas gifts— one night off can make is often underestimated by others. Have a kid be your new friend for a few hours and it can be a very fun experience for everyone: the parent, the kid, and hopefully yourself. Donating. Clothes, books, bedding, toys, or canned food—any of these things are needed more than ever by many in the winter months. Volunteering. Whether it’s at a shelter, soup kitchen, church, school, or care home, most places will always welcome a person to help out. Winter is often a time when some places need extra help, especially if they provide services to the less fortunate. Giving one night of your time makes a difference for not just one person, but an entire organization. It even looks good on an application or resumé. Making coupons. This is yet another way of giving your time, but in a format that your giftee can save for later. Many of us used this method to give gifts to our parents for birthdays or holidays, but it still works as an adult. Make a few homemade coupons that can be redeemed for favours, like back rubs, coffee dates, or whatever your special skill happens to be. Favour coupons are an inexpensive, personal gift for a friend, roommate, or significant other. They are guaranteed to make the recipient very happy upon redemption. Beating seasonal blues and helping others can be done at the same time. It’s a significant yet easy way to make both of you feel good while spreading extra joy this holiday season. Never lose your dark side Maturing the alternative style you loved in high school, without losing your edge Britthey MacDonald, Columnist o you've graduated from high school—what now? Those multi-buckled boots and torn up fishnets aren’t going to win you any points in a job interview to help pay for that post-secondary education, or help you look scholarly while defending your PhD thesis. As a recovering punk child, I understand the need to hold onto your style as a means of retaining your identity. You love your dark side, and you want others to love it too. So the question isn’t about when you should give up the pyramid spikes and Doc Martens; it’s about how you should revamp yourself to be appropriate. One key is simplifying. Instead of the four chains, eight necklaces, and 10 cuff bracelets you wore to Math 11, tone it down a bit. Pick a favourite of each. This also goes for studs and pyramid spikes—you can get away with wearing them as 10 long as they’re accent pieces. A little metallic detail on the shoulder or around the collar looks far more professional than that spiked bustier, which you can always wear to the bar later. Speaking of studs, make your metals neutral! Chrome, silver, and gold can look cheap and cheesy, so go for a brass or gunmetal stud/spike. These, along with onyx, are considered neutral metals and will flatter any colouring. They can also coexist on an outfit without clashing, making you look like a fashion- forward expert at mixed metallics, when really you just wanted to feel like a badass. It’s impossible to write any article on fashion advice without mentioning structure. Though it’s something teenagers like to ignore, you're not a teenager anymore! You're a young adult, and as such, structured items like jackets and skirts go a long way in providing a mature, professional feel to your goth or punk style. Gothic favourites—like a corset or that beautiful bodice top you got at Venus & Mars— can look incredible under a nice structured jacket, and still retain a professional and mature air. Similarly, your Sex Pistols band tee can be worn with a sports coat to achieve the same effect. Just don’t go overboard—save it for semi-formal or casual events. Colours are something I struggled with. I have always been pale, and J always delighted in it, but the choices I made in high school to accentuate it were all wrong. Wearing bright reds and stark whites to show off your deathly pallor might be awesome for that A Perfect Circle concert, but at work it only serves to convince your new boss that you're terminally ill. Instead, look into what colours are recommended for your skin tone, and then try to find pieces that express your style. If you’re pale, this could mean going for a cream or ivory instead of a white. But don’t worry, you'll never have to give up your black. That looks good on everybody. The biggest thing is to invest in quality pieces that last. Nothing looks more professional than someone dressed in quality fabrics. So take your time finding statement pieces worth having, like that leather jacket that makes you look just like Wanda in Cry-Baby, or that beautiful trench that seems like an updated version of Brandon Lee’s in The Crow. The most important part is for you to feel awesome in what you wear. Never give up your style; just mature it!