Hello fashion lovers! In order to have a complete wardrobe, there are many staple pieces you need to have. Many of you may not think that a belt should be considered a staple but it could be the missing link in your outfit! Many designers are using belts in different ways like worn over jackets, dresses and skirts. So lets get away from the belt loops on your jeans and try something different!

The Skinny Belt

For me personally, I’m hit and miss with the skinny belt. If you have a little extra “personality” in the bust department, I feel like the skinny belt creates an illusion and makes the girls look larger if you’re wearing it around my natural waist line. That’s why for me, I like to stick to the belt loops for this type of belt. However, Olivia and Taylor are showing show great examples of how to cinch your tank or cardigan with a skinny belt.

The Medium Belt

This belt is more my style. It also shows how sometimes you need that little piece to break up your outfit a bit. If Lauren wasn’t wearing the brown belt to break up her navy romper, it would just look too heavy on her and we’d loose sight of her body and waist line. In her black and polkadot outfit, this studded belt shows that you can add some edge to your girly pieces, bring together your separates, and accentuate your waist at the same time.

The Wide Belt

This type of belt is my absolute go-to piece. If your curvy like Kim K, you’ll reach for this type of belt a lot to emphasize your waist with dresses, tunics or romper!. Look at how tiny the patent leather belt makes her look in the black romper! Sometimes when you’ve got bigger ‘girls’ and a little junk in the trunk, clothing tends to hang off those parts adding extra weight. Don’t fool everyone and add a belt to show off the skinniest part of your midsection! In her skirt and tank outfit, try to picture it without the belt. Doesn’t it seem like something is missing? Another great example of meshing your separates together but also breaking them up with a belt.

Remember, when shopping for your staple belt, it’s ok to spend a few extra dollars on a high quality leather one. You’ll get endless wear out of it and it could be your missing link to your perfect outfit!

Happy Styling!

Whit.

To get things started, if any of you readers own the “Mom Jean”, please THROW THEM AWAY IMMEDIATELY! These high rise, tapered leg, light wash jean do NOTHING for your body except make your behind look about the size of a mack truck! Get rid of them and join us in the 21st Century of denim!

Alright, now that’s off my chest, lets continue with relevant denim styles.

The Boot Cut

This style of jean, shown by Lea Michelle,  is meant to be worn with boots, hence the name. The cut of this type of jean narrows in at the knee then flares at ankles to accommodate a boot to be worn underneath. If you have larger hips or thighs, the narrowing at the knee can pull the focus upward, creating more emphasis on those areas. If you’re trying to de-emphasize a hip or thigh, these may not be the jean for you. Also, boot cut jeans tend to have a lower rise and can therefore create the dreaded muffin top. Look for a jean with a higher rise to prevent this fashion faux-pas.

The Skinny Jean

A favorite of Lauren Conrad, the skinny jean fits close to the leg and narrows at the ankle. This type of jean is most flattering on skinnier body types since the fit is closer to the body.  Remember, any jean or pant that is narrow at the ankles is going to put more emphasis on the hips, thighs and bum. If you’re not confident showing off your curves, then the skinny jean may not be your denim match made in heaven.

The Trouser and Straight Leg Jean

These two styles of jeans are the most universally flattering. The reason is they balance off your bottom half especially if your carry extra weight around your chest or mid section. While both styles are similar, they do have a few differences. The straight leg jean means the cut of the leg goes straight down from the knee, with no narrowing. The trouser jean is cut like regular trousers, where they come straight down from the hip and sometimes have a tab closure and a thicker waist band. These styles also tend to have a higher a rise thus preventing muffin top.

Other Denim Styles

There are many different styles of jeans, other then the common few I previous mentioned. Some of which are denim trends that are hot this season but aren’t flattering on most body shapes. AnnaLynne McCord looks flower child chic in the high waisted flared style jeans, which are popular this season, but definitely aren’t universally flattering. While I’m a fan of high waisted bottoms, this denim trend was not flattering on my body.

There is also the boyfriend jean, shown by Lindsay Lohan. This style, I think, is a little controversial. While I feel some people can pull it off, I’m not completely convinced on this trend. The longer rise sits lower then your crotch giving you unnecessary folding and bunching in that area which just isn’t flattering. Then the baggyness and cuffed bottoms can look a little sloppy. Sorry Lindsay, I’m not sold.

One thing that really sets Canadore and Nipissing apart from other colleges and universities is the commitment the Student Center brings to providing a comparatively small student body with unique events, strong partnerships, and BIG prizes. A great example of this was Frostbite 2012, which took a fresh approach to an event formerly known as Winter Classics. Occurring over the course of a frosty weekend in January, teams of ten or more people competed against each other in a series of events, demonstrating both brains and brawn, in an effort to win the ultimate grand prize: a trip to Quebec City for the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship, courtesy of TNT Tours (and bragging rights, of course)! After some fierce competition, Team Eagle Fart enthusiastically came out on top, which raised one very important question: WHAT THE HECK IS CRASHED ICE?!
I am sure by now, you have at least HEARD of Crashed Ice, or seen the commercials promoting the event on TSN and MTV. Red Bull has done some pretty heavy duty marketing to promote the rapidly growing extreme sports event since it first debuted in 2000, and it is expected that the upcoming World Championship in Quebec City is going to be the most popular event to date! More than 100,000 visitors will flood the streets of Quebec City to watch some of the world’s best ice skaters compete in this extreme down-hill race that combines hockey, boarder-cross and down-hill skiing.
The 100 semi-finalists, selected through national qualifying rounds, race in groups of four, shoulder to shoulder, down a steep 500 meter, ice track, complete with jumps, bumps, sharp corners and obstacles. Winners will compete against each other until only four remain for the title in the final round; first to the bottom wins! While competitors are forbidden from intentionally pushing or slowing down their opposition, collisions are not uncommon, as the adrenaline-charged race can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h!
After thrilling, edge of your seat, semi-final rounds in the US, Netherlands, and Sweden, it looks like Canadian’s are dominating this up and coming sport, holding three of the top five positions going into finals. Crowd favourite, and 2010 champion Kyle Croxall, is heading to Quebec City in first place, with his brother Scott close behind in third place. Fellow Canadian, Adam Horst is the fourth place contender, making this an event that Canadians can truly get excited about!
If all of that isn’t enough, you should see the nightlife! Quebec City comes alive, as many local bars air the event, with some of Canada’s hottest DJ’s spinning at after-parties around the city! I could tell you more, but wouldn’t you rather experience it yourself? If you did not win Frostbite, don’t fret! TNT Tours has planned a Nipissing/Canadore EXCLUSIVE trip to Quebec City for the Crashed Ice Finals, March 15^th until the 18^th! For more information, talk to your campus rep, become our friend on Facebook (/TNTpartytours), or book on-line at www.tnt-tours.com! On a budget? Join the club!  All you have to do is get 7 of your friends together and you can go for FREE! Let’s show Quebec City how hard North Bay can party!

By: Athena Van Hoof

Many of you come to us from near and far but I am a little closer to home than most, 15 minutes away in fact.  I love this city and love this University, but I wasn’t always so amiable towards North Bay or Nipissing.

A few years ago, I was sitting in the Canadore gym for an OFSAA sports banquet when a handsome pair of boys behind me asked me if I would go to Nipissing for school. Being the youngest of three sisters, and seeing what life was like if you stayed in town after high school, I replied with a firm: “NO”. Fast forward to senior year of high school and what was once an anti-Laker had evolved into an anti- Gee Gee. At my high school, 75% of graduating classes go on to Ottawa University and another 15% go on to Laurentian. So my choices were to be a part of the same group I had been with since junior high or live in a city surrounded by rocks. Neither choice seemed appealing.

I had become the ultimate cliché of all teenagers: no idea what to be, what to do or how to pay for University. After many sessions with career councillors, University reps and a healthy amount of parental nagging, I had decided to take English at Nipissing. My indecisiveness almost pushed me to go back for another senior year, but that seemed even more depressing than going to Nipissing.

During the summer, my friends started gathering everything they needed for their new life.  They couldn’t stop talking about their roommates they added on Facebook and how they couldn’t wait to leave home. Meanwhile, I’d be in the same room, of the same house, on the same street that I had been for the past eight years and would remain for the next four. I started to feel depressed about going to Nipissing and didn’t feel very optimistic about starting school.

Things brightened a bit when I came to NSO and met some people in my program.  During the day, I made my schedule, made some new friends and heard a lot about this awesome first week of school called “Frosh Week”.  “Kits are going fast,” they said, “It’s going to be the best week of your life!”. Everyone at NSO seemed to be interested in this Frosh kit and I didn’t want to be missing out more than I already was, so when I got home I pulled out my mom’s credit card (with her permission of course!), and bought my Frosh kit online.

Leading up to the big first day, goodbyes were said, tears were shed and promises of phone calls and Skype dates were made. None of my closest friends chose to stay in town, so I was venturing off into the unknown alone. The first day of Frosh came, and we were all huddled outside the gym, nervous with anticipation and excitement. We were led in, given our kits and ushered into corners with our teams. Some important people spoke and welcomed us to the school but those words have been lost to me over the past few years. I will, however, never forget the words of one particular person on that first day, he said: “Look at the person beside you. That person will be your best friend for the rest of your life.” I looked at the girl next to me and we laughed and introduced ourselves. Her name was Mary and she was from a little town called Stirling. The rest of the week was, as promised, the best week of my life! I made some great new friends, drank a little too much and fell in love with Nipissing.

Although it can be hard at times living with my parents, I can’t say that I would rather go to any another University after my amazing first week at Nipissing. At Nipissing, you aren’t a number or just another face, but a familiar friend and a part of a big family. I am happily in my third year of English, a two time Frosh Leader and an employee of The Wall. Oh, and that girl Mary I met on the first day? She is one of my greatest and closest friends, and now your VP Student Life!

By: Janelle Martin

While there are some fairly obvious answers to these questions ranging anywhere from the desire to sample many original German beers and to explore the evocative memorials and museums associated with WWII, I hope to delve deeper.  My true goal is to get past merely seeing and experiencing the traditional tourist attractions, and instead am hoping for a chance to truly immerse myself in the German culture and country as a citizen rather than a visitor.  To me this means learning the language and practicing the customs, one of which is a strong respect for nature. The environmentalist and geography major in me can’t wait to embrace the fantastic eco-friendly policies the people of Freiburg have adapted; they rebuilt their city on green principles after having it practically decimated during bombings of WWII. They are also situated within close proximity to the Black Forest, which from what I’ve seen and heard, is a region of ecological beauty comparable to Canada’s own diverse and magnificent ecosystem.

I believe that being a world traveler is one of the best types of education you can receive and is one of the greatest ways that one can grow as a person. As a result, am so excited to start this new chapter of my education and my life experience as a whole! Of course, behind all the excitement I feel about these new potential experiences, there is an underlying nervousness. Customs are different and could be hard to embrace…and the language! I don’t know if I can quite pull off learning that many new letters and sounds in such a short time.  Even with all this nervousness, I am determined to overcome these challenges, so as I prepare to leave my home of almost 21 years I am filled with excitement. Though there is a whole world out there for each and every one of us to discover, for me, it will all start with Germany.

By: Jenny Kirton

My best ideas are the one’s that sneak up on me in the middle of the night, and I’m sure it’s the same for many of us. We are often thinking “I should be sleeping”, trying to count sheep or ceiling tiles, and doing anything to ignore the urge to embark on that thought. The idea however just keeps pulling you awake like a shot of caffeine the more you try to ignore it.

I have had many late night thoughts like this, but my most memorable is when on one of these occasions, Giving for 31 was created.

It seemed simple at first. “I am going to visit 31 charities in 31 days” I proclaimed to my parents in late 2010 and although at first they looked at me like I had two heads, they were supportive. It was the next day that I came up with the name Giving for 31 and the slogan, “Where Will Your Legacy of Change Take You?”. I believed this motto to be fitting, as within everyone’s legacy, I consider a portion of it should be devoted to giving back, rather than merely creating yourself and your own story on your journey.

Giving for 31 lead me to many places including the Habitat for Humanity Restore, The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, and the Yellow Brick House shelter. The women’s stories that I heard at Yellow Brick specifically were heart wrenching. Many of them had been abused and forced to flee in the middle of the night from their homes without any money, a bravery which I cannot myself imagine. One of my days also led me to work at the computer company IBM, which gives their employees paid work hours to give back to the community, a business model which I believe more companies should mirror.

One of the wildest things that happened during my journey with Giving for 31 was when Oprah Winfrey’s producer and Brett Wilson from CBC’s The Dragon’s Den took time out of their day to contact me. These people are my mentors and people I look up to, and aside from being completely star struck, it aided me to stay on my path and reminded me that good work never goes unnoticed.

I do have to mention that I did not finish all 31 days of Giving for 31 due to anxiety problems, though I promise I will finish them soon. I bring this up solely because mental health is nothing like they depict in the movies, and in fact 1 in 5 people will experience mental health issues in their lifetime. Mental health has been described as a silent sickness because their sufferers might not show any outward symptoms, but just because you can’t see a problem doesn’t mean it isn’t there. There is always help either by visiting CMHA.ca, visiting one of the school’s counselors, or speaking with a close friend or family member. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, and mine is my service dog Barkley. For you it could be anything, you just need to find it, and there are plenty of resources out there for you to use.

To see more stories about Giving for 31 and to share your own, please visit www.givingfor31.com.

By: Devon MacPherson

As my alarm sounds off at 6:45am I quickly punch it off my nightstand and cuddle back into my comforters.  Today, I say to myself, I deserve another 5 minutes.  I’m sure you know the drill.  Thirty minutes and six ‘snoozes’ later my mom comes rushing into my bedroom and throws the dog on me (who proceeds to lick all areas of my face – much more efficient than my alarm clock).  “Carolyn, it’s 7:15!  Are you getting up?”  Dammit!  I did it again.  I quickly jump in the shower, pull together a teacher-ified get-up for the day and shove some food in my face before hitting the road.  As I brush my teeth I remember that I haven’t made my lunch yet, and I’m already running 5 minutes late.  I sprint downstairs – toothbrush still in mouth – and (thank the Lord) Mama K has prepared my lunch for me.  I’m in grade two again apparently, and I’m loving it.  There’s no time to check what’s in it, so I’ll have to trust her!

As I pull out of the driveway, it hits me that despite the fact that I was up until 3am “lesson planning” I still have no idea what I’m going to be teaching during 5th period Math.  Today, however, is Wednesday.  And Wednesday is double prep-period day.  I continue to drive – if you can call it that.  I recently re-discovered that driving in Markham is one of the most frustrating tasks I will ever been faced with.  Drivers here are so incredibly unpredictable that I have adopted a new persona known as the Raging Kooymans, which consists of me yelling at people in funny voices and crossing my eyes as I wait for traffic to move along.  I suppose you could say that it keeps me entertained on my morning commute.

I eventually make it to the school (miraculously on time) and head up to the classroom.  My AT has been there for 45 minutes already, which baffles me.  I don’t know how he does it.  But that’s beside the point.  I quickly get my things together for first period and before I know it the classroom is packed full with thirty-two eager Grade 7 students.  Since announcements fall during first period we lose about 15 minutes of valuable learning time, so I prefer to teach this lesson Nicki Menaj-style, fitting as many words into a minute as I can.  As I rap my way through the particle theory, I am abruptly stopped for yet another 15 minutes of DPA.  Now, don’t get me wrong, as a graduate of the Phys Ed program at Nipissing I am a huge advocate of Daily Physical Activity.  So I can’t really be upset.  Instead, I decide to boogey along with the students as they struggle their way through their renditions of “Cotton Eyed Joe” and various other party anthems.  At one point, I actually found myself moving one of the girls arms for her because she looked so miserable.  This surprisingly worked for her and she began to dance on her own (in between giggles that is), so I felt like I’d done something right.

The rest of the day seemed to fly by, as we worked our way through various exciting tasks and before I knew it, the bell had gone and the students were on their way home.  I somehow made it through the day and had a great time doing so.  As I left the school, a girl who must have been about 3 feet tall with these sparkling bright blue eyes smiled at me and screeched “Bye Miss K!”.  Despite the fact that I had no clue who this girl was or where she learned my name, I smiled back and headed out to my car in good spirits.  Who knows what tomorrow will bring?  Until then, I must get  planning!  Miss K, out!

By: Carolyn Kooymans (J/I)

Stage lit.  Cameras ready.  Audience eager.  Local, eco, organic clothes to showcase.  As Nipissing students strutted their stuff down the runway at the Wall on Wednesday, October 5th 2011, audience members were in awe that the outfits being worn were organic, recycled, and most importantly; local.  Love the Label, a non-profit campaign educating people on the harmful ingredients present in personal care products, organized the event to show off local eco-oriented stores that provide beautiful, fashionable clothing that are contrary to the ‘hippie image’ people assume when thinking of environmentally friendly clothing and products.  The night was a success, with clothing from five local stores presented, along with a game show intermission, in which audience members had the opportunity to win natural products and clothing!

Love the Label believes that it is important to engage in an eco-friendly lifestyle in all aspects of life, and chose these authentic North Bay-based companies for their continued beliefs in sustainability, preserving the environment, and keeping products local and fair trade.

THE FARM

The FARM (Fashion Art Retail Market) and Hibou Boutique profiled organically derived local and Montreal-based clothing lines including Elliot’s Closet, Valerie Dumaine, Betina Lou, Oom, Eve Gravel, & Jennifer Glasgow. These lines include the use of rayon, bamboo, lyocell (wood pulp), hemp, recycled polyester, and organic cotton.

Soul Sister Creations on Oak Street is another great local establishment that provides natural products, accessories, makeup (by Natural Goddess) and recycled, organic, and fair trade clothing. Lines by Concubine, Chickweed, Echoes in the Attic, Read My Hips, and Earth Divas were profiled on our lovely models.

Cheapskates Sporting Goods

Cheapskates sporting goods store carries a few lines of organic cotton, bamboo, and recycled polyester T-shirts, tank tops, shoes, and sweaters by Element, Sitka, and Volcom V-Co Logic. These lines have a sporty, casual, and clean element to them. Their iPath hemp shoes and Emerica Vegan shoes are also biodegradable! Vested Interest provided the beautiful fair trade and hand-crafted jewellery, purses, and bags seen on the models throughout the show.

The Escape Movement

Andy Morrison is a local designer and creator of the line The Escape Movement. His clothing line featured eco-friendly zip hoodies, long-sleeve thermals, and feather-inspired sweaters are the perfect fit for snowboard season. On the reverse are the casual off-the-shoulder feather sweaters, marble t-shirts, and cardigans that exude casual-classy.

The Modern School of Hair Design

The Modern School of Hair Design in North Bay provided hair for the models. Finally, the show could not have been possible were it not for the continual support from Vickie Balazs and the Jaydancin team from London, ON. Vickie personally drove 5 hours to North Bay and supplied the makeup for the entire model team! A Jaydancin booth was also set up downstairs so that our guests had the opportunity of purchasing all-natural products at the show!

Love the Label launched on the Nipissing University campus in September 2010 and has been growing ever since.  Our team of girls are dedicated to raising awareness about toxins in our everyday products and cosmetics. It is our hope that we can help educate people on how to become conscious consumers and demand safe and healthy products.  It has been proven that many of the chemical ingredients we use are linked to cancer yet companies are still permitted to sell them to us.  Is this right? Is this fair to us, the loyal consumer? It’s time to stand up for our health, and the health of the environment. The time is now, so it’s time to get excited and aware!

We would like to thank the Wall Bar & Grillhouse for providing the perfect setting for this Fashion Show. The staff was so accommodating and incredible to help make our vision a reality. A big thank you to all the models and volunteers for helping to organize the show and display the incredible eco-clothing and products. Thank you to the companies involved in the show; their continual passion for natural, local, and sustainable clothing continues to inspire us! And thank you to the audience for attending! See you at the Spring Show in March!

By: Lucia Demarco // Lovethelabel.ca

So far, I’ve given some advice about style and fit, but what about putting your fashion knowledge to the test and actually hitting the stores? Before you run to your fashion hot spot, I want to share with you a few tips to get your closet organized and maybe even save you a little money.

So here’s the real question, and answer yourself honestly. Do you really know what’s in your closet? And I mean, tucked way back in the dark corners? Or what about in the backs of your drawers? Most people have a handful of clothing that they immediately gravitate towards, leaving the rest hanging or folded, rarely to be worn. So what I want you to do is take everything, and I mean EVERYTHING out of your closet and all your drawers. It’s going to look like an episode of Hoarders for a little while but trust me, it will be worth it when you’re done.

The next part could take a little while so I suggest dedicating a snowy, lazy Saturday for this. I want you to go through all your clothes, trying most on (especially the ones you haven’t worn in a while) and start editing. You’re going to get a few piles going and this what they’ll consist of:

- Anything ripped, stained or unfixable

- Anything that can be fixed or tailored

- Things that you don’t like, fit, or don’t think you’re going to wear anymore (and if you haven’t worn it in the last year, trust me, it’s only taking up space and you probably wont miss it anyways

- And finally, your keep pile.

Before you start your editing, it may look overwhelming but make it fun! Invite your friends over to help you! Remember that scene in Sex and the City? It doesn’t have to be stressful if you’ve got friends, music and maybe even a little Champagne!

So now that you’ve got your piles, lets do something with them.

-    The first, your unwearable clothing, they can be pitched (unless they are salvageable for a Good Will or Value Village type store).

-    The second pile, the fixables, either take them to your tailor or fix them yourself. But try and do it soon before they end up in the back   of your closet again.

-    The third, throw a clothes swap party with your friends! You all know the saying ‘one person’s trash is another person’s         treasure’, you might get some great additions to your wardrobe! Then what ever is left can be shipped to the thrift store.

-    And finally, the last pile, your keep pile. Organize everything into jeans, tanks, tees, pants, skirts etc so you’ll know what your wardrobe actually consists of therefore when you go shopping, you wont end up buying multiples of things you already have.

Now here’s where the fun, creative part comes in and you can really bring out your inner fashionista. Put together outfits, shoes and jewelry included, and photograph it. That way you’ll have  a data base of great outfits already put together. It will take out the stress of finding something to wear when you’re not feeling very creative or are in a hurry but still want to look great. Start with your staples (once your finally organized, you’ll get a good idea if you even have all your wardrobe staples) and build from there. Here are a few examples that I’ve done from my own wardrobe so you get the idea.

Once you’ve taken all your pictures, put your clothes back so they’re all organized and easily accessible. You’ll be surprised at the great things you already own that you forgot about! And any missing pieces or items you’d like to add to your wardrobe, create a wishlist on your phone. That way when you hit up your favorite store, you won’t be overwhelmed by everything and forget what you went there for in the first place.

I know this seems like a lengthy process, but trust me, it’s worth it to do. You’ll feel refreshed once it’s all done and you’ll save yourself time and money in the end. I’ve done this process not only for myself, but for others as well and it’s truly a great feeling once you’re finished.

Thanks for reading and stay posted for more fashion and styling tips!

Whit.