THE ORIGINAL

So, guess what, friends? The editors at my school newspaper decided to cut 416 words out of my 779-word article that was supposedly too short to begin with. Keep in mind that the audience I'm writing to is made of college students who don't have tons of money to spend on clothes and also don't have tons of fashion knowledge (hence the explanations for really obvious references... you'll see what I mean when you read this). Not that I'm saying I'm an EXPERT or anything, but I sure think that I know enough to not have over half of my article cut out. That's all I'm going to say. Here's the article as it should be.

(I'll try and add photos later--it's past 2:00 a.m. and I just checked the paper's website for my article, realized what happened, and decided to blog immediately. Now I want to sleep.)

CAMPUS CHIC: FALL FASHION 2008
By Louise Lao
Although it may not seem like it, a new season is upon us. In a matter of weeks, the sun will go into hiding along with last season’s fashion. In the meantime, any girl can update her wardrobe with a few of this season’s trends on a college budget.

HEAVY METAL
This fall, it’s all about the details. Zippers, chains and studs give basic pieces an edge. Layered chain necklaces inspired by Givenchy’s plentiful piles of silver can be recreated by buying chains from a craft store or simply layering chunky necklaces of your own. Statement jewelry like this can toughen up a simple dress at night or add instant style to an everyday ensemble. Exposed zippers seen at Marc by Marc Jacobs and Alexander Wang not only make formfitting dresses and skirts more interesting but also are ridiculously easy to make. By simply sewing a zipper onto a piece of clothing—the zipper doesn’t even have to function for this look—a plain piece can be instantly transformed to chic.

HAUTE HIPPIE
“Luxe bohemian” may sound like an oxymoron, but Anna Sui and Gucci’s Frida Giannini proved that sixties-inspired prints, feathers and fringe could be glamorous and modern. Elements of this trend can be worn in everyday life with hair accessories, jewelry and eclectic prints. Fringed boots, in both the short bootie and knee-high varieties, are a cold-weather must-have. Fashion houses like Balmain, who debuted a high heel-moccasin-ankle boot hybrid, and sought-after labels like Louboutin have released their own spin-offs of the “original”, (the original moccasin brand to be marketed to the masses, that is), more wearable and less pricey Minnetonka styles (Kate Moss is a fan!).

GRUNGE 2.0
For those of us who were still in OshKosh overalls when grunge took over the nineties, the fashion world is giving us another chance. Alexander Wang’s louche synthesis of masculine and feminine embodies the new grunge that’s a hit with the young and fashionable. Ripped tights, distressed denim and baggy trousers appeared on the runway along with plenty of black and neutral tones. Other fall collections included plenty of plaid, which, as it seems to do every fall, has made a comeback. This season, however, the pattern is reincarnated as a Kurt Cobain-inspired shirt rather than the typical preppy pair of shorts or schoolgirl skirt. Finally, the infamous Doc Martens, a long-time favorite of youth subcultures, finish off the look. Once known as a goth kid’s clunky combat boot, Doc Martens have been adopted by trendsetters like Daisy Lowe (who stars in the company’s ad campaign), Cory Kennedy (who, according to Nylon, will take over as the new face of the brand next season) and model Agyness Deyn.

MODERN ROMANCE
The abundance of lace on Prada’s runway has undoubtedly inspired many others to include this classic feminine fabric in their designs. For those of use who don’t want to be wrapped head-to-toe in a fabric that can be both so prim yet so risqué at once, more accessible labels have interpreted the trend in much subtler ways. For instance, dresses and tops by brands like Kimchi & Blue at Urban Outfitters let people embrace lace for a much lower cost. Lace tights, when worn with a simple outfit to avoid looking too much like 80’s Madonna, are an unexpected spin on this trend. Keep your ladylike lace dark and pair it with youthful clothing like miniskirts and casual layers to make the look age-appropriate and not fussy.

FANCY FRIPPERY
Jewelry should be full of personality this fall. Whether you choose glitzy statement jewelry or quirky charms, anything goes. Look for inexpensive, bold baubles like cocktail rings, bangles, and cuffs at Forever 21. If you tend to gravitate toward more avant-garde pieces, choose body chain jewelry that’s striking, yet simple like the pieces from designer Bliss Lau. Interested in a gold-plated retainer necklace? Find it fredflare.com for funky conversation-starter jewelry. For accessories that are even more unique, go to Supermarket at supermarkethq.com, where independent designers sell their work (jewelry, clothing, and even home décor and furniture), much of which is handmade. Stick to a few statement pieces this season to make even the simplest outfit your own.

To sum up the mood of this season, elements of youth subculture have surfaced to the mainstream, or at least to the fashion world. Also, with the cooler weather come darker, richer colors as a reaction to the styles of last season. While it may seem paradoxical to have styles from non-mainstream movements sold for hundreds at department stores, the message designers seem to encourage is to take the carefree attitude of youth culture and use it to determine your own personal style.