Style File 5loS AngeleS CollegiAnWednesday, March 10, 2010

By Jasmine Pech

Spring is in the air at LACC. Flowers bloom, the scenery is

lush with foilage, and lively scents fill the air.

“If it smells leafy, flowery, and like lemon or orange, then it definitely smells like spring to me,” says Yanira Padilla, an anthropology major.

Scents have the ability to pull us into a completely different world: a world swirling with vast memories, contrasting emotions and states of nostalgia. As spring rolls around this year, numerous brands and companies will try to capture the essence of spring.

Typically, spring scents contain floral, citrus-types of notes which combine a green and dewy feel that is simple and refreshing. A perfect example of this is Victoria Secret’s “Very Sexy Now,” which has a citrus theme with an accord of lime and fresh flowers. This perfume

captures the sweet yet subtle aroma of springtime, with notes of nectar, lily and purple orchid. It is available in eau de parfum spray and sheer mist with a coordinated body lotion.

“I can never really afford perfumes,” says film major Julie Hernandez. “It’s good to know not everything that smells so good has to be ridiculously overpriced.”

Available between $20 and $50, it has never been so economical to smell sexy.

As we all know, love is also associated with springtime. “P.S. I Love You: Spring Fling” by Bath & Body Works is the epitome of sweet, captivating spring fragrances and is a remix of their classic hit “P.S. I Love You.” According to packaging, the inspiration for this polished scent represents “the thrill of falling in love,” and contains an entire product line of eau de toilette, shower gel and a body cream.

How does it smell to fall

in love? A light, fresh and clean aroma of floral notes with wild honeysuckle will have you head over heels for this fragrance all season long. As with most Bath & Body Works products, this collection is inexpensively priced between $10 and $30 and is designed to keep both your wallet and your senses happy.

Spring is the season of nature and it is important to preserve and protect Mother Earth and each of her wonderful scents.

If you are concerned about the environment, Lavanila Laboratories has been concocting eco-friendly products. This season, Lavanila features “Vanilla Passion Fruit” a wild and enticing oriental scent. With all-natural ingredients, this is also perfect for those who are sensitive to most perfumes. This fragrance comes with a twist; it is infused with natural aphrodisiacs.

“It acts like a natural magnet with no effort at

all.” said Regine Simmonds, make-up artist and business marketing major at LACC.

When Simmonds tested “Vanilla Passion Fruit” at work, she had men complementing her left and right. “I had random people flocking to me, which made me think twice about spraying it again…use it with caution” says Regine.

At $58 a bottle, an indulgence like this is hard to resist.

“Soft, sweet and flowery” are some of the things biology major Genesse Menjivar thinks of when she hears the word springtime.

These words can be categorized into hundreds of fragrances, each different from the last, and are made to reflect your individuality. This season rather than the dust of Franklin Hall, why not smell like the spirit of springtime? Choose a fragrance and indulge your senses.

By Toi Troutman

Ubiquitously, the jumpsuit is back for spring 2010. On last year’s runways,

the jumpsuit made a splashing comeback that seemed more like a flashback from the 1960s and are the essence of elegant and effortless chic. After a brief comeback in the 1980s, they are now becoming a mainstream in everyday fashion. Everyone from Kim Kardashian and Cameron Diaz to Tyra Banks and Rihanna are rocking fabulous jumpsuits.

Luckily, for men, unless you count the institutional variety worn by construction workers, auto mechanics, custodians, plumbers and prisoners, jumpsuits will not return to mainstream fashion.

As for women, lengths range from thigh to floor—unless you are extremely brave and are willing to try the “cheeky” variety that barely covers your

backside—the possibilities are endless with this fashion trend we thought had long left both the runway and our closets. Yes, it seems even the one-piece hot pants outfit in your mom’s treasure chest is quite wearable for spring and summer 2010, even if it’s made of gold lamé spandex.

“I love jumpsuits! I have a brown one in my closet that I picked up from a thrift store. It’s like a onesie,” says Kristin Thomas, psychology major at Los Angeles City College.

The jumpsuit comes in everything from jersey to silk or crepe in four basic cuts: bellbottoms; Capri; Skinny leg drop crotch (i.e. harem style) or the catsuit and lastly, the romper or short jumpsuit. Pick the cut that flatters you the most and go for it. More casual fabrics lend themselves well to casual occasions or for school or work. If you are going upscale, opt for

silks and other high-end fabrics and cuts. Bottom line: the jumpsuit can go from the campus to the club or the boardroom to the formal dining room.

“The trick to wearing a jumpsuit is to watch the volume in the legs, especially if you carry your weight in the hips and thigh area, like so many women do; many jumpsuit styles tend to be slimmer up top and have wide legs. Rompers (short jumpsuits) or those with slimmer cropped legs actually look the most flattering on most women,” says Cynthia Nellis, guide to women’s fashion for about.com.

The Collegian has done the research so that you can wear what the starlets are sporting. Pick up the Vintage 1955 Jersey Smocked Tube Jumpsuit at your local Sears for a mere $19.99! If you prefer a name you can boast, pick up a major designer label by Norma Kamali at Wal Mart for just $24! If you have more to

spend and really want to commit to the look, nab the mid-priced DKNY Belted V-Neck Jumpsuit for $245 at Neiman Marcus. At the top of the fashion food chain, we found the Derek Lam Silk Floral-Print Jumpsuit available

at Saks Fifth Avenue for a mammoth $2,290—and ladies, get this: it’s a romper! Imagine what they would charge for full length.

All-in-all, you can get the look in any style, color, fabric,

length or price range you choose. Make the look work for you. Don’t work for the look. Go out and get the jumpsuit of your dreams and feel free to jump in head first. The look is here to stay—at least for now.

Jumping Back Into JumpsuitsJumpsuits, rompers, overalls or cat suits—anything that is one piece from top to bottom—is showing up on fashion-conscious ladies from the red carpet to the student union.

Photo by Jordan Angulo/CollegianEmma Saakyan (left), a biology major, models a Newport News jumpsuit, and Vartuhi Oganesyan, a political science major, shows off a jumpsuit from Rachel Roy.

It Smells Like SpringPhoto by Reuben E. Reynoso/Collegian

LACC student, Cecilia Pinto, enjoys a spritz of perfume before going to her next class.