PinkBlitz Magazine December 2013 | Page 14

SH IO N The Ugly Christmas Sweater! By Jennifer Richard So we all have that one grandparent who thinks they have a great fashion sense and that thinks that you are still ten years old. And every year it’s the same thing. It’s fuzzy, the colors don’t match and it has some weird pattern on it (or reindeer). If your grandmother is particularly fancy it might even light up. instead. Tell her when you were younger you loved the idea of getting a sweater from Grandma, but now you would rather be getting a nice piece of jewelry or some household appliances. If she insists that these items are not as personal, suggest for her to write you up a recipe book or make you a scrapbook. Now here’s the real dilemma, how do you decide if you can somehow rock it, or have to tell her that you’re not going to wear it? I mean, let’s face it, you could always just wear it once in a while when she visits. But do you really want her to keep buying these monstrosities? These three options are all great, but we here at PinkBlitz, do recommend you go with the last one, simply because if you’re not going to wear it, then why lie to your grandma about it? We love Grandma and she deserves the truth. There are some ugly sweaters that are still acceptable to wear. If you’re into the hipster look, some might say that these sweaters are really cool (which sometimes they are…), and some people can really pull them off no matter how ugly these sweaters are. And let’s face it, they are handy when it’s really cold. If you’re really polite, you can keep the sweater locked away deep in your closet until grandma comes over. This way, you’re not hurting her feelings and you’re keeping yourself from a conversation that is bound to be awkward. Though this may eventually back fire on you, it can keep things ‘’normal’’ for a while. You could also come up with excuses like ‘’I wore it yesterday’’, or ‘’mom put it in the dryer and it shrunk’’. If grandma starts asking questions, this next option will be your last: Take your grandma aside where you are one on one and politely explain that now that you are getting older, you just can’t find occasions to be wearing these kinds of sweaters. Give her ideas of things she could buy you 14 The Trend For Winter Footwear What the Ugg?! N IO SH FA FA So Grandma Went Shopping... By Rachel Richard Maybe it’s time for the “trending” Uggs to take a hike? You can be fashionable and warm! Just not with these. No one has ever accused me of being stylish. So I suggest you take my fashion commentary with a grain of salt. With that said, I am more than ready to bet that no one has ever believed UGG® boots to be an attractive footwear choice. They may be both comfortable and practical, but they’re downright uggly. Whatever the occasion, they merely serve as an overpriced glorified pair of slippers. Perhaps this explains why they’re a teenager’s prime accessory of choice when it comes to the laissez-faire fashion trend rocking high schools and college campus’ alike. While my alarm clock and I wholeheartedly embrace this new low maintenance craze, I admit I thumb my nose at sweatpants — or worse, pajama bottoms — clad sorority girls with their hair scrambled up in a top knot and, wait for it, a full face of make-up. You’ll find these alien creatures in line at your local Starbucks or milling about in the academic library. Despite the fact I’ve allowed myself to harshly criticize Ugg customers, I admit to have fallen prey to the comfortably fashion myself. While I could not, in good conscience, shell out an upwards of $100 for the sheepskin boots, I have purchased a discounted knockoff pair. In the last few years, these have popped up in popular footwear chains across the country, rendering the style’s exclusivity obsolete. Ugg boots are the winter’s answer to flip-flops. I’ve worn them myself when I’ve had to make a quick trip to the grocery store and to those dreaded 8:30 Monday morning classes. I understand why the style has become so popular since they’ve gained international exposure at the turn of the century. They’re very comfortable in comparison to those sky high stiletto boots that are much more effective on the runway than on a slippery slab of ice. In turn, Uggs provide great traction on slippery surfaces. Their sheepskin material is especially warm and comforting to those of us who have to brave those chilly ? ?????????????5?????)????e?????????????????????????????????????e?)??????????????)???????????????????????????$?????e???????????)????e???????????????????????????????????%?)???e???????????????????????????????????????)?????????????????????????????????????)???????????????????????]???U??????????)?????????e???????????????????????????????)Q??????????????????????????????????????????)???????????????????e????????????????????????)???????????????????????????????)$???????????????????????????????????????????????)???????????????????%???????????????????????U??????????????????????????????????????????????)???????????????????????????????????????)????????????U????Q???????????????????????????)????????????U????????d???????????????????)=????? ????????????????????M????????????)?????????????U??????????????????????????)????)Q????????e????????????????$??????????????????)??????????????????????????????????????)???????????????????????????????????? ???)???????(??((0