By Majella Shields
Staff Writer
Hi everyone, welcome to the first Fashion Focus of the spring semester. I trust you all had a lovely Christmas eating home-made meals and being very merry. Unfortunately, the holidays eventually have to come to an end, and we are forced to become real people again. So, with that, welcome to my most-hated month of the year, January.
At the start of a New Year, many people fall into the stereotypical “new year, new me, category.” It’s “out the old, in with the new,” “bright changes ahead,” “2014 is going to be my year,” and so forth with the clichés. We will stare into the mirror and vow to say bye-bye to muffin tops and hello beach bodies.
So, it’s not necessarily off to the gym we go. It’s actually off to the stores to buy as many brightly colored yoga pants and tank tops that we can find, because we are going to spend so much time in the gym that we need to look good, right?
For many, the healthy eating starts off quickly. We swap the egg nog for water, the chocolate for leafy greens and so forth. For me, the new year, new me lifestyle lasts for the better part of 2-5 days, so this year I saved myself the money on gym clothes, accompanied by the guilt of walking past the gym without going in.
Instead, I decided I need to shop less. This is a hard addiction for me to kick. I thought if I was smarter when I shopped it would save me money in the long term. I realized buying relatively cheap clothes and avoiding more expensive garments will cost more money in the long term. Of course, some items, such as leggings and t shirts, can be bought relatively cheap and without much thought. Investment pieces and necessities such as boots and coats need to be thought about more and perhaps a little more investment if we want them to last.
Over the holidays I was very lucky to be able to fly back to my homeland and visit my friends and family again. Being back on Irish soil was lovely, but I was constantly reminded of the weather I would be coming back to. Every person I met would show deep concern about my health and well-being upon returning to the land of the free and the brave. They also warned me to make sure I had sturdy footwear and a warm coat. Luckily, good ol’ St. Nick was ahead of the game and brought me some great coats. I went out in search for good winter boots. I knew that winter boots weren’t pretty or fashionable in the slightest, but when I started to look around, I saw some lovely ones indeed. Comfort and stability is very important, and they must have good grip, be very warm and weather proof. I did notice the better boots were a little bit more expensive, but my mother reminded me how badly I needed them, and thus it was a worthwhile investment.
I’ve had a look around the internet and made up a couple boards. The ladies’ board boasts
relatively affordable boots. I have developed a little obsession for these boots recently. Of course, there is also a board for men.
1.Timberland Chelsea Boots: $190
2.Ugg Desert Boots: $180
3.ALDO TEDD Boots: $87.49
4.Timberland Zip Up Earthkeepers: $170
Picking the right boot to fit and flatter your leg can be confusing and pretty stressful. It’s important to take into consideration the length and shape of your calves. If you have slightly bulky calves, choose a boot with elastic inserts or ones with buckles or straps that you can change and adjust the width of the boot. If you have thicker thighs, choose a pair with detail on the actual foot of the boot. There are a lot of boots this season with pretty patterns, details and studs. If you have skinny legs, try to pick a fitted boot that won’t appear baggy around your calves. Boots with zips are usually more fitted than slip on boots. If you have shorter legs, avoid boots that stop mid calve, for this will make your legs appear even shorter. Go for a boot that ends just above your knee because this will elongate your leg.
1.ALDO: Black Buckle Knee Boot: $69.99
2.ASOS: Newlook Beige Buckle Strap Boot: $64.80
3.ALDO: Carmel Buckle Ankle Boot: $62.99
4.ALDO: Beige Buckle Ankle Boot: $41.99
