Shine

Shine Shine

Shine 14

Let Yourself SHINE

Fashion Features

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Make Up on Aisle 10 by Ivana C. Personality profile on a cosmetics clerk at H.E.B Maria Correa.

Alternative Story forms

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Do You Think Students Should be Allowed to wear mini shorts, high heels and tank tops Poll by Jaylia T.

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Style Swap. by Ivana C. Two teens with totally diferent styles switch outfits and make up.

The Magis oc MakeUp in minutes by Analicia G. Great make-up tips that you can apply in minutes.

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A lesson in Style by Rebecca P. See the latest, hottest clothes of real high school students.

Style According to Him

by Analicia G. What styles do guys find attrractive on a girl.

Introduction

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Staff Page. Learn the style and personalities of the editors snd creators Shine Magazine.

evant.

Letter from the Editors. A letter to all readers about what makes Shine rel-

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The Magic of Avant.

by Rebecca P. An iside look into the Avant Salon and the latest hair trends.

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A Piece of Papaya

by Jaylia T. An insiders look into the popular female clothing store Papaya.

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Commentary

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Do You Really Get What You Pay For? by Rebecca P. The Pros and Cons of buying expensive designer bags.

Dressing to the Code

by Jaylia T. Editor Expresses opinion on high school dress code and lack there of.

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The Ugly Truth About Beauty by Analicia G. The harsh society pressure on teenage girls to be beautiful.

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Walking a Thin Line

by Ivana C. The real danger behind the runway: young woman stuggle with body image issues.

Closing

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Photo Essay by Rebecca P. This seasons hottest fashions at the stores of our local mall.

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Meet The Editors Ivana C. is a 9th

grader at the Liberal Arts And Science Academy.

Her style varies from a range of punk-ish and skater styles, mixed with some girly style. Depending on her mood, and the day, she’ll switch up her outfits. Her attire is usually skinny jeans, and a t-shirt, with some unique accessories. Her favorite store to buy shoes is Journeys. She likes dark colors, but her favorite color is red. Her hobbies are reading listening to music, and hanging out with friends.

Analicia G. loves to express her

Rebecca P. likes to think of herself as the group fashionista. As a young girl

growing up in Austin, TX, she favored Minnie Mouse sunglasses and at least ten strands of plastic beads. Rebecca’s style has grown to comprise sophisticated and unique ensembles. Although she prefers the clothes found at a department store sale or a soulful thrift store to the average mall-derived wardrobe, she appreciates all the varied styles her classmates display every day. Rebecca was born in Austin, but spent a year of her childhood in New York City, where she hopes one day to return to live. Once she accomplishes this, she plans to sneak into the runway shows at New York Fashion Week every season. Rebecca would like to thank her mom for taking her to the Neiman Marcus outlet before she could even talk, and for taking her to every Marc Jacobs sale at Barney’s Co-Op.

Jaylia T. is an absolute sneaker fan. You would never see her in a pair of san-

dals, heels or flats. Her shoes are the foundation of all her outfits; she only wears what she can find to match her latest pair of tennis. Finish Line, Journey and Lady Footlocker are her favorite stores to get new kicks. She gets most of her clothing from Fame, Rue 21 and Melrose. She likes to decent and matching but doesn’t really stress over what she wears. When she has free time (which is rare) she likes to spend time with her friends and watch TV.

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mood and personality in the clothing she chooses to wear each day. Her hobbies include running, shopping, hanging out with friends and working out. She has a very bubbly personality and is always experimenting with different styles. Her favorite clothing pieces are shoes and earrings. “I like to match solid colors to create my own look.” Her style varies from street to girly as her mood varies. She’s free spirited and has no limits. Fashion even plays a role in her aspirations as she hopes to become an international model and actress.

letter from the editors

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To Our Readers:

o much stress comes along with being a high school student.

From homework, tests, and papers to teachers, classmates, and boys, we understand how much you have to think about each day. You’re having a good day if you can simply remember your locker combination and bus number, let alone the names of the best designers or the right cut of jeans.

Yet as a teenager, you need to express yourself, to set yourself apart from the crowd. As you figure out who you are, fashion can help you show your identity to the world. And perhaps your style can reveal a bit of you that even you hadn’t seen before. Indeed, fashion can be an important aspect of a teenage girl’s life, and a fun one, too.

In themselves, clothes, shoes, and accessories are just objects; they are meaningless hanging from a rack or lying in a drawer. But the ones you choose and the way you put them together into your personal wardrobe make up a part of you. In representing you, an outfit becomes more than just the sum of its pieces.

It is the opinion of these editors that through all the stress and turmoil we must endure, every teenage girl deserves to shine. We encourage you to find the light inside, and use fashion to let it out for everyone to see. This is admittedly easier said than done, but “Shine” is here to help!

Some of you are already well-dressed and sure of your style. We commend you, and hope that our magazine can give you inspiration or assistance to continue to progress in your look.

For others, your personal style hasn’t quite come together yet, and to you we say: Don’t worry.

“Shine” is here to help you with the many befuddling and contradicting aspects of fashion that you find in other magazines. Take a little of our advice;

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features

Make-up On Aisle 10!

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By: Ivana C

hen she walks along the aisles of H.E.B. she’s greeted by nearly all the workers. “Hello, Maria!”

They welcome her. She waves a warm hello, and strolls on by to talk to her manager, Lisa. I’ve heard a lot about Lisa, and her close friendship with Maria, but witnessing them together, it

watching TV and reading magazines really pays off.

“A lot of the time I get questions regarding a new product from an advertisement whether it’s from TV, or a magazine, so I have to keep up with the newest commercials or ads that come up, because they don’t always remember the brand name.”

Maria states that in order to relate and talk to

cheap, the customers will want to buy it. I recommend that if someone is on a low-budget, they should buy the necessities, and be willing to spend a little more, in exchange for a better quality product” She advises that one shouldn’t be scared of spending a little more money, because the more expensive products are the best. But that doesn’t mean that a more reasonably priced

“...I equally have a lot of knowledge over nearly all products...”

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her customers, she has to make sure she knows about the newest make-up shipments and releases, and she has to know what’s in stock, so she can be prepared for any questions from the customers.

Maria says, “People tend to look for make-up with the two most common characteristics; the cheapest kind, and sometimes the brand name they have in mind. The problem with that is that cheaper isn’t always better. This applies for any kind of beauty product; shampoos, make-up, lotions, and nail polish. If it’s

product is a bad product. A reasonably priced product is actually what one should aim for.

“When one wants to buy a skin product, it depends on what they’re looking for, and the condition of their skin. If they are in need of a good moisturizer or lotion, the best ones are the ones containing minerals for hypoallergenic for sensitive skin, or the alcohol-free products. If the person has sensitive skin, then they should avoid alcohol based products, and products containing too much fragrance,” Maria explains.

Photographed by Ivana Correa

was as if they hadn’t seen each other in years.

They gave each other a big, inviting hug, and talked for a while. Maria approached the cosmetics aisle, and the familiarity was clear in her big brown eyes, like the joy that came with it; the cosmetics department is like her second home. I know my mother is proud of her job because it shows throughout her hard work and efforts.

In the H.E.B. located by Oltorf Road, Maria Bello works in the cosmetics department about five hours a day. She has some key knowledge that can help women get answers to all their beauty problems. Throughout her years working there, she learned more about skin products, like how to find the right treatment that protects the skin, and what brands of makeup are best suited for lipstick and nail polish; which ranges from the reasonable priced brand names, to the more expensive brands. Her job also provided her with information on the dangers of certain beauty products. For example, there are strong chemicals and ingredients, like ammonia, which can be found in hair dye, and damage the hair. However, she’s also learned that there is still a way to look beautiful and prevent your body from any harm.

“I equally have a lot of knowledge over nearly all products, which comes from reading about them,” Maria says.

She’s grown very familiar with her job at H.E.B. because she gained more experience. By reading and keeping up with the newest make-up releases, she’s able to aid her customers with what they’re looking for. All those hours of

in the hair and skin department! Maria has been able to be more successful and aid a lot more of her clients with their purchases.

“I decided to work in cosmetics because I pictured it to be an interesting, and entertaining job. I liked having the opportunity to work and find out more about beauty products. I also wanted to try something new, for a change,” Maria claimed.

Maria chose to work at H.E.B. because she liked the idea of trying something different, and something more exciting. She claimed that nobody had influenced her to work there, for she had made the decision upon herself, but she’s very glad she accepted the job offer. She benefited a lot from this job, like gaining more friends, knowledge, and definitely a new experience. Maria loves her job, and she’s grateful she made the decision to take that chance.

Maria Bello works at the H.E.B in Oltorf.

She is the cosmetics expert, and has been working for about four years.

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he believes she knows most about skin products, because before going in to work in cosmetics, she already had background knowledge on them. She said she always finds herself telling the customer, “Be more specific.” One of the first things she does when a customer walks up to her, regarding help for their skin condition, she asks “What are you looking to treat?”

“I also recommend the ammonia-free and nonpermanent hair dyes, for those looking to dye their hair, because ammonia-free products don’t damage the hair, like the other permanent hair products do. Plus, ammonia-free products are safer to use. What damages the hair is ammonia, and the non-permanent

kinds don’t carry this harmful chemical. The reason why people should be careful when working with hair dyes, is because they contain several harsh ingredients,” she informs. aria is an expert when it comes to treating the hair.

She can identify exactly what chemicals are in hair dye and how to dye your hair while dodging any chance of damage. She warns everyone to stay away from the permanent, or ammonia-carrying hair dyes, and that the semi-permanent products are better, and work just as well as the permanent products.

Maria’s background information on beauty products has really come in handy – especially

M

Top Selling Make-Up 1) Mascara 2) Eye Shadow 3) Eye Liner 4) Nail Polish 5) Lip Stick/Lip Gloss

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Do You Really Get What You Pay For?

by Rebecca P.

I

cannot count the number of times that I have walked into a department store and picked up a purse. Not just any purse, but a glamorous, lush, unbearably chic, have-to-have-it-or-I-will-drop-down-dead bag. A classic monogram print on supple calfskin leather from Louis Vuitton. Or a Chanel patent leather quilted tote with the double C’s. Still no matter what the brand, size, color or fabric, I’m always stopped by one detail: the price tag. I can’t afford any of the purses of my dreams, and you probably can’t either. Perhaps you (or your generous parents) have $400 to spend on a clutch, $1,200 on a hobo bag. I certainly don’t.

Our society is addicted to designer labels.

Most every girl wants to carry around a designer purse, but a minimum $300 is far more than most of us can afford to spend, particularly in the current economy. Luxury brands and the department stores and boutiques that carry them charge hundreds of dollars more than the pieces are actually worth, and consumers seem to have forgotten that the name on a luxury brand item doesn’t necessarily trump a more modestly priced piece from a lesserknown brand or a secondh a n d store.

To ensure that their products sell, luxury brands produce an overwhelming volume of ads and run them in every magazine. As Michael Harvey details in his article “Handbags at Dawn” for The Times newspaper in London, these brands hire the best photographers and models in the business and also

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pay for celebrity endorsements to convince America’s most dedicated shoppers and highest spenders that what they need most is status, and that “brand name” clothes -and accessories are the quintessential status symbols. Basically, their customers know that wearing products from these brands makes you look beautiful and rich, and the way you look is the way you are perceived.

Take, for example, Louis Vuitton, creator of the coveted LV monogram purse. The company is the most profitable in the LVMH conglomerate, which owns many other designer labels, including Celine, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Fendi, Pucci, and Donna Karan.

The Times reports in “Icon: the Louis Vuitton Bag”, “Vuitton has been making posh luggage for 150 years, catering first to the ocean-liner set, then the jet set.” Today, though, everyone can see themselves in those Louis Vuitton ads, and so the bags are more popular and craved now than ever. In fact, “The Substance of Style,” a recent briefing on LVMH in the Economist magazine, reported, “60% of the luxury market is now based on demand from ‘aspirational’ customers rather than

a $1,000 purse, I imagined that it must have been hand-dyed and stitched with the greatest of care by expert craftsmen, septuagenarians with knobby fingers and ancient eyes, who were worn down by a lifetime of striving for the highest quality. In reality, “The Substance of Style” reports, Vuitton manufactures its purses and luggage in ultra-efficient, ultra-soulless factories that have adopted their techniques from the auto industry, moving teams of workers from one product to another according to demand. One quality supervisor for the brand even came from the French auto-parts supplier Valeo.

Lowering overhead and upping retail value is obviously a lucrative strategy for Vuitton, as they typically turn a 40-45 percent annual profit, the highest of any luxury goods brand , according to “The Substance of Style.” Even in our current recession, the company is fairing well. Again from the Economist: “In the first half of 2009, revenue rose by a double-digit percentage...

‘It is incredible that in a downturn the consumer still buys so many Louis Vuitton bags, but she or he does,’ says Melanie Flouquet, luxury-goods analyst at JP Morgan in Paris.”

A n executive at LVMH once explained, “There are four main elements to our business model--product, distribution, communication and price. Our job is to do such a fantastic job on the first three that people forget all about the fourth.” Judging by the statistics above, a huge number of consumers are responding to this business

There are four main elements to our business model-- product, distribution, communication and price. Our job is to do such a fantastic job on the first three that people forget all about the fourth. from the wealthy elite.”

Clearly, many shoppers are buying luxury goods even when they can’t afford them. And for all their financial sacrifice in the grand name of luxury, the shoppers aren’t even getting what they paid for. When I picked up

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model. I can understand their yearning for a handbag that is not only beautiful, but also well-known; one that will make them feel their best and will project that feeling to everyone they meet. But the feeling is false. Carrying a purse made in an ordinary factory that you bought for at least five times what it was worth is not showing the world the best of you. I would rather have a nice-looking, unpretentious bag that was priced within my budget and still makes me feel great. Maybe something I found at a local independent store that didn’t include shipping the bag across an ocean or printing its photo in a fancy catalogue in its price, or something that was first bought thirty years ago and ended up in a second-hand store on the back of a shelf, just waiting for me to pick it

up. My bag may not be the it-bag, but if I like it, it can be my signature, and in the end, individuality matters to me far more than status.

My point isn’t specific to purses. In make-up, clothes, shoes and jewelry, in products for men and women, too many consumers spend exorbitant amounts of money on certain products just because of their labels. A company’s image and high reputation deceive the buyer into assuming that its products are of the highest quality and therefore worth the price, even if its an unaffordable one.

If we think independently and buy according to styles we like, rather than labels society tells us to like, we can shop right. Spend what you can afford to and get what you pay for. Take the power away from magazine ads and red carpet “who-areyou-wearing”s and take it back for yourself.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

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commentary

Dressing to the Code

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s I walk through the hallways of my high school I see all the unique fashion styles of my peers. Whether it the colorful hair, skinny jeans, neon tops or business suit it all shows how teens express themselves through fashion. But somewhere along the line teen expression has become teen exposure. Every day I see at least three girls either wearing shorts five inches from their waist, a top with a plunging neckline or a form fitting halter top while the teachers and administration just turn a blind eye to it all. It seems that students have simply disregarded the rules of the dress code and nothing is being said or done to stop it.

As a teenager I know how important clothing can be to one’s identity, so I am by no means suggesting that LBJ/ LASA become a uniform school. I just think that students should follow and teachers should enforce the school dress code that already exists. In 2004 when the dress code came into effect school staff member were proactive in making sure that students followed its rules. Now you can see a teacher having a conversation with a student who’s spaghetti straps won’t stop falling down and the teacher says nothing. That’s sad.

I think teachers don’t say anything on the matter out of fear of how the students and parents will respond.

Teachers should realize it’s their job to enforce rules and students must oblige whether they like it or not.

“Both students and parents share the responsibility for choosing the appropriate classroom attire,” former Superintendent Forgione said. “Students must use good judgment, to respect themselves and others, and to demonstrate modesty in selecting attire.”

In the November of 2004, just months after Dr. Forgione established the

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By Jaylia T.

dress code, there was a petition circulating to terminate it. According to educationalissues. com, Austin Independent School District high school students banded together claiming that the dress code was unconstitutional, the right to wear what they wanted was protected by the 14 amendments to the constitution and the school district had no right to change take that away. The petition was never completed or presented to the school board, but it appears that some high school students still have that opinion on the issue.

Those students were absolutely right. Your attire is protected by the 14 amendments.

Another right protected by the 14 amendments is the right to freedom of speech. But if a student were to run down a high school hallway screaming profane language a teacher or administrator would stop and redirect them.

The same should be done to a student out of dress code. Students do not have the same freedoms at school as they do outside of school.

Once we step on campus we must follow the unique rules set by the school.

Provocative clothing can be very toxic to a learning environment. Let’s be real, how do you expect a hormonal teenage boy to concentrate on Geometry when the girl across from him is wearing a see through top? Studies have shown that public schools that require uniforms have higher grades than schools that allow free dress.

Again I must stress we don’t need uniforms; we just need girls to wear complete outfits.

I must give the administration some credit they are taking a stand on gang related clothing. I know first hand how serious they are about preventing gang violence at school. One day I was wearing Nikes with red shoestrings.

As I walking to lunch an administrator kindly stopped me and told me I had to go take them out because they were against dress code. I was a little ticked, but I didn’t argue, I mean what could I say. Rules are rules. On the way to the office a girl wearing neon orange booty shorts passed us by and she wasn’t bothered.

I was puzzled at the fact that I couldn’t wear red shoestrings but she could expose half her backside. The mission to prevent gang violence is leaving room for a much bigger problem.

According to educationalissues.com, teen pregnancy in high school has increased by 20 percent since 2004. Although I’m sure there are many reasons for this depressing statistic, the way students are dressing may have been an important factor. In my opinion the schools can take some blame for this. By not saying anything to girls dressed seductively they are sending the message that they condone this behavior.

Personal style is an important part of every teen’s life and we should be allowed to express ourselves. But we can’t be allowed to walk around school High school students walk on hallways dressed like streetwalkers their way home calling it self-expression. Teachers from school. and students need to join together and make a change or we will all suffer the consequences.

Do You Think students should be allowed to wear...

Angela Ybarra said...

Mini Shorts??

72% said Yes

28% said No

Marvelous Ike. said...

High Heels??

64% said Yes

“ Mini shorts are comfortable to wear when your walking up and down stairs all day.”

36% said No

Spaghetti Strapped Tops??

“ I think we should be allowed to wear high heels because they’re cute and make my outfits pop. ”

Kayla Hartman said...

“ I think spaghetti strapped shirts are okay as long as they don’t reveal to much.”

52% said Yes

48% said No

The Ugly Truth on Beauty By: Analicia G.

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have it all considering she was a great role

urning on the television set can be refreshing for some as they come home after a long day at work, exhausted. However, when a teenage girl turns on the t.v and watches hopelessly as bikini models fill the screen with their perfect bodies, celebrities partying with alcohol, drugs and a different piece of man candy at their side, they can’t help but think how they can make themselves as popular, beautiful and flawless as the fake models they see in front of them. Many girls have had the peer pressure talk and how to say no to drugs, sex and alcohol when offered by friends, but what are these teens to do when the ones that are pressuring them the most aren’t their friends at all, but their role models?

Actresses, celebrities, reality shows and even advertisements can be more pressuring then just a group of friends passing a cigarette. Not to mention these models are all touched up, down to the fingertip, literally. Producers don’t realize what they are doing to teenagers. Driving them to anorexia, depression and just all time low self esteems.

Low self esteem can often lead to suicide. In 2004- 05 suicide rates jumped 76 percent for tweens and 32 percent for teenage girls ages 15-18, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The rate has not decreased since then and it’s said that most depression was due to pressure and dissatisfaction with themselves.

Even celebrities are majorly effected by suicide. The completely famous and gorgeous,Marylin Monroe, committed suicide due to overdose on prescripted medication.

One would think this beautiful celebrity would

“I knew i had taken it too far

when i took off my shirt one day, sucked in my stomach and saw my ribs.”

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model and wanted by everyone but some say that she was unsatisfied with her size twelve body. She is only human and effected by the whole Haveto-be-a-certain-

size trend just like the teenagers of today, who are completely effected by the requirements of celebrities and model managers. The all time celebrity, role model and critic, Janice Dickinson, exclaims in one magazine, “I just wish these girls would turn anorexic,” as she manages a model shoot for girls around fifteen to eighteen. How is that supposed to make them feel? Well whatever she meant by it, her criticism effected many teenage girls negatively. Causing them to starve themselves in order to meet her ridiculous criteria.

When i was around ten years of age. I was teased for my weight constantly.I weighed around one hundred and twelve pounds. Being in only the fifth grade, i paid no attention to it and blew off anyone who had something negative to say. I never thought much of it. However, as the end of fifth grade came around and summer began, i noticed all the perfect looking models and actresses on TV and all the attention they attracted. I recall a range of slight envy entering my body and mind and had a flashback to all the ones whom had called me names occurred. Just then, i ran to the mirror and spent half an hour trying to decide what could be done to make a change. When i stepped away from the mirror and into my room, i put on shorts, a muscle shirt, and tennis shoes. I taught myself to do sit ups, push ups and other exercises that i made up at the top of my head. Eventually, i was using all my computer time to look up nutrition facts for everything i was eating and new workouts to experiment.

Everything in my favorites tool bar was restaurants that i had recently gone to with all the nutrition facts. If it had a label, i had already read it to see how many carbs, calories and grams of fat it contained. I eliminated anything but wa-

ter from my diet when it came to liquids. I was constantly eating salads and forgot the meaning of sweets and junk food. Every time i ate, i would do 50 curl ups.This applies to if i would eat a meal or a half of an apple. If i was offered anything that looked fattening, i declined without even thinking. eating seven times a day to two. In a couple months, i had lost around 20 pounds. Both my family and friends became concerned. I could hear my own family members whispering, asking my parents if they were feeding me. I went from a size extra large to xsmall. I knew i had taken it to far when i took off my shirt one day, sucked in my stomach and saw my ribs. Still, i couldn’t stop. i always felt “fat.” I found myself never satisfied with the way i looked and was never happy.

Before i ate something, i would tell myself not to finish it, and if i did, i would skip the next coming meal.

My family was constantly bothering me to eat but i wouldn’t listen. I became weak and i bruised easily. I maintained that way for around a year, always worried about my weight and what other people thought of me. In the summer of seventh grade, i moved back to south Austin and started a new middle school. Only there, it wasn’t the same. People were real sizes and spent their time having fun instead of criticizing the way others looked. I made new friends who liked me for my personality and not my weight.

Eventually, i began eating more and stopped worrying about every tiny little carb and gained a little weight back that made me look healthy and like an actual human being. I found myself happy and satisfied with the way i looked. I didn’t look like an elephant as i did in elementary school and yet i wasn’t a slender stick like in 6th grade. I was just, me. I was teased for my height considering I’m very short, about 5’1”.

However, i came to see that there will always

be imperfection. I learned to laugh about most of that and eventually realized that not everything on my body could be fixed. I could not just force myself to grow a couple of inches, or make my breasts bigger or change my the color of my complexion. I could, however, be myself. I don’t regret the mistake of my major over the top diet because it opened my eyes to see that all of that is not worth being miserable.

We,as girls have so much pressure in life to give

off this image. This image that is supposed to make us seem perfect, but if only people knew that what they see on the television is very different from what they see in real life. We don’t have a camera crew to get the best lighting, or a group of people fixing our hair and make-up every time the slightest stand of hair frizzes.

One thing that i wish i could get through to the idiots that require us to look all the same is that no one can ever be perfect. Especially considering everyone’s view on perfect is not the same.

I understand the fact that these models deserve the attention they worked for, and some may argue with saying that a teenager chooses the programs she watches. However, how do they escape from this monstrosity when it appears on every single show, movie, commercial and advertisement? Undoubtedly, yes these girls are free to turn off the TV and read a book, but

when they go outside and look at billboards, then what? Or how about when they turn on the radio and hear an advertisement for plastic surgery, make up, diet pills, the most revealing clothing, or laser hair removal. Even if it’s not television doing the job, but just walking into high school as a newbie and observing the prettiest girls can be hard especially if your already down on yourself.

All in all, i believe that yes, maybe the beautiful bodies and faces of the models that fill commercials, advertisements, magazines and billboards can be intimidating. Maybe getting nose jobs, diet pills, fake tans or breast enhancements can be tempting especially when we’re already dissatisfied with our own imperfect lives.

However, did it ever occur to anyone that maybe there’s a reason we don’t look like the models on TV. Maybe, just maybe, God made us the way we are with a specific plan in life. No one person is satisfied with every aspect on their body, but that doesn’t mean for us to go out and get plastic surgery,especially at the age of a teenager. Even imagining all of us looking like one, perfect person is sickening because i don’t want to be like anyone else. I can’t stand when anyone is wearing the same thing as me because it takes a little away from my uniqueness and personality, not to mention looking like 6 billion other people. We do not all look like a professional model because it is not what we are meant to be. You and i are unique. Models have looks, but what else do they have other than that? We have realism. So work your imperfection and show the world that you have flaws and are proud of them. We can brush off the people who say that we must all look beautiful, because they don’t realize that we already are in our own UNIQUE way.

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Style Swap!

Switching Styles, Changing Minds!

By: Ivana C.

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Makala (left) and Bailey (right) in the girl’s bathroom after they switched clothes, shoes, hairstyles, and accessories.

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Photographed by Ivana C.

or our Style Swap we used two volunteers with a similar body structure but very different styles, and asked them to switch a few outfits from their wardrobe in order to obtain the other person’s look. Makala, a freshman at LASA, and Bailey, also a freshman, are two girls with opposite styles; Makala with a sporty/ casual, and girly style, and Bailey with a rocker/edgy style. So, they switched clothes, shoes, make-up, and accessories, and came out looking like whole new people. After playing a bit with their style, the difference was very clear. One’s style can change their appearance and the first impressions one makes completely, because one’s style reflects their inner self.

BEFORE

Makala (Left) Bailey (Right) with their original outfits before the swap

Bailey (Left) and Makala (Right) before they switched outfits

AFTER

“I look good with both styles” says Bailey, after the swap, with their whole new look!

“Yeah, I’m a rocker now!” says Makala, after they switched outfits.

Style According To Him By: Analicia G.

teenage boy when they observe what we wear, and I don’t mean the kind of things that our parents warn us about constantly. Instead of asking our closest girlfriends, I decided to get a different perspective: the opposite gender’s point of view. Here, guys give the feedback on hair, make-up, and clothing; and no, they’re not gay.

Makeup

“Natural. Because intense makeup hides her natural beauty,” answered sophomore Joe Rodriguez. He elaborated that too much blush on the cheeks can be unattractive and look like the girl is going a little overboard.

I noticed that every person I interviewed preferred a natural look. Most said that this was because they could see who the girl really was and that she wasn’t afraid to be herself.

Natural is a very broad concept and includes many different aspects of style, such as hair.

Hair

Mark Trevino; LASA Junior

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s a girl in high school, I can tell when one of my classmates has spent three hours on her wardrobe, hair, and makeup from one who literally rolled out of bed and walked out the door.

As girls, we carry a weight of stress with us from even the slightest beauty flaw, like a tiny blemish that no one else seems to notice unless we bring it to their attention, which we usually do by whining about it constantly. We wonder if our hair is frizzing, if the shirt we picked for that day is unique enough and, dear God, if that boy is looking this way and what in the world is going through his

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Mark Trevino said that he disliked girls with dyed hair. “That’s just not them and they’re trying to be someone else.”

Someone with a complete different perspective was Luke Manitzas. He stated that he didn’t prefer one to the other. However, he did have a couple of pet peeves on the hair subject.

When asked about blondes, brunettes, and red heads, he answered that there was nothing more he hated then a curly redhead.

“It’s just this thing that I have,” he replied.

I found that most of the guys didn’t approve of redheads. For example, Trey Por-

ter, LBJ sophomore, quoted that his dream girl would have straight black mind. I thrive on fashion and the imagination of what that cute boy could possibly be thinking.

So I decided to get answers, not just for myself, but also for all

of the other curious girls in high school.

I chose to interview a variety of guys from different grade levels attending both Lyndon B. Johnson High School and the Liberal Arts and Science Academy, which share a campus.

I was on a mission to uncover the mystery of what runs through the mind of a

Luke Manitzas; LASA Junior

hair along with light make-up, a fitted shirt, skinny jeans, and high heels.

tight, black dress with diamond earrings and high heels. “That’s classy, and I’m getting her a vodka martini,” he said as he imagined this girl

“.... intense makeup hides her natural beauty.”

Photography by:Analicia Garcia

in his head.

Classy seemed to be a more pleasurable style to the guys whom where interviewed.

According to Trey Porter, the reason was because ghetto and loud are just unattractive.

Others said it was because the opposite would be really baggy clothing, which is also “just weird,” explained Luke.

Mark Trevino, LASA junior, agreed with that statement when asked if there was a certain feature that was unappealable to him. He said, “Yes. When they wear baggy clothes...

They’re not guys.”

However, where do the guys draw the line at “baggy”?

Luke answers that question for us. I asked if sweats, a tank top and Air Jordan sneakers could be acceptable.

“Yeah, that could be good.

Trey Porter;LBJ Sophmore I’m talking about the baggy tshirt and baggy pants, dressed like a guy.”

I found many pet peeves and favorites in the mind of a Shoes male. One thing I found in common with all of them is that they didn’t quite approve when a As girls in high school, we tend to avoid the girl overused a product to hide her flaws and be heel, due to comfort. This is completely fine someone she is not. Even Trey Porter insists that with Joe Rodriguez, who also attends LBJ. He all he cares about is personality. So yes, as girls says that he would prefer a girl in flats or tennis sometimes we tend to overact a little when it shoes because they seem more comfortable and comes to our flaws, worrying about what piece relaxed. of clothing to wear the next day, however when

Mark Trevino, also prefers exploring the opposite genders point of view, I flats, but not for the same reason. “Well, the rea- discovered that the son I don’t like when girls wear heels,” he said, bbest fashion turn on was to be true “is because they look kind of tall, and I don’t to yourself. like girls that are taller than me.”

I found it ironic how guys seem to care about girls’ comfort when it came to shoes, but definitely not the rest of their clothing, which they would prefer tightly fitted on a girl.

Joe Rodriguez; LBJ Sophmore

Clothing Luke Manitzas, LASA Junior, said that his dream girl would be wearing a slimming, short,

17 Shine 2009

The Magic of Avant

by Rebecca P.

A

s the gentle hum of professional blow driers blends with ambient music from the speakers above, six to ten women are discovering what’s been missing all their lives. For some, it’s clip-on bangs, the latest in removable-hair chic, for others, glistening blond highlights or harsh, choppy layers. Or just a colorist or stylist who really gets their client: their style, selfimage, and soul; their best hair dreams and worst hair nightmares.

Every hour of every business day, the team at Avant Salon and Spa in Austin, Texas works its magic and sends its clients home with the best hair they’ve ever had.

Since Avant opened in 1982, it has become a local treasure for hundreds of stylish Austinites. In 2006, the Austin Chronicle wrote, “… it’s not just a salon and spa ... it’s an institution and probably one of the top businesses

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that have won more ‘Best of Austin’ than any others. Do we need to go on about their excellent service, products, and multiple locations?

Nah, we’ll just let their fabulous reputation and a mention in the September 2006 issue of InStyle speak for themselves.”

In addition to the accolades that the Chronicle mentions (including eleven years of “Best Salon” at the “Best of Austin” awards), Avant was recently named “Best Salon” at both the 2009 Austin Fashion Awards and Rare magazine’s Rarest of Them All awards.

Avant co-owner Roy Fredrichs told Citysearch, “Avant staff are not only the best educated staff in this city, but they are the friendliest, nicest people you can meet. I can teach anybody to cut hair, but you can’t teach people to love people… So when you come to Avant, you come into a salon where people are going to make you feel incredible, and it’s real.”

Hajer Cellura is one of those “incredible” Avant hairstylists. A few hot pink pieces stand out from her own black, wavy hair, completed with bangs that sweep across her forehead, which, paired with her trendy vest and boots, reveal her hip sense of style.

Although Cellura went to cosmetology school right after graduating high school, she worked a corporate Human Resources job in Dallas, her hometown, for several years before deciding to move to Austin and pursue her dream.

“I always knew I wanted to do hair,” she said. “Finally I decided I wanted to do a job I actually liked to do, rather than just one I had to do.”

Cellura has been doing what she loves full time since January. Working at a salon, she said, “You get to meet so many new people every day. You’re not just working with the same person all day.” On Avant’s website, she

even writes, “I love making people look and feel good.” n hair as much as fashion, each season reveals new trends. Lately, Cellura said, clients have been transitioning from fresh, bright summer styles to warmer, richer looks for fall and winter. In every season, many women look to celebrities for hair inspiration. bobs a lá First Lady Michelle Obama, layered looks like Jennifer Aniston’s, and short boy cuts introduced by Victoria Beckham are all popular styles right now. As usual for fall, many women are going darker with their hair colors and integrating more red tones than in their previous light summer looks.

Most of all, Cellura said, women want natural, unstyled hair that will make them look chic and put together regardless of the amount of time they have to get ready for their day or what sort of weather they have to face in Austin’s unpredictable climate.

The teenagers who come into Avant want perfect hair as much as older clients, but they have different ideas of what exactly “perfect hair” looks like. Many teenagers request choppy cuts and severe bangs, far more willing to take risks with their hair than Cellura’s other

clients. It will always grow back, after all.

Regardless of the style and color they end up with, Cellura said clients always leave the salon with more confidence in themselves than when they came in just a few hours before.

“A lot of people just feel different—feel better about themselves [after getting their hair done],” Cellura said.

This feeling is what keeps women coming back to Avant every time they need their hair cut or colored. In fact, the feeling is so important to them that even a severe recession hasn’t slowed down business for the salon.

“No matter how bad the economy is, people still want to look good,” Cellura said. “If you’re getting highlights, you’re still going to want to get your highlights done, and if you’re getting your hair cut [you’ll still get it cut].”

Cellura shared a story about a regular client of hers who had recently lost her job.

Rather than skip her usual salon appointment, the client scheduled an extra one. She may not have been able to afford the credit card charge for a cut and color that month, but she knew that she would have more success in the job interviewing process if her hair looked

I

good. Thus, from her point of view, she really couldn’t afford not to have it done. fter discussing all things hair, Cellura disappeared to the back of the salon, preparing to work the Avant magic on yet another client who was waiting patiently at the front of the salon.

Simultaneously, a new client took a seat at one of the stylist stations and gazed with dissatisfaction at her shapeless blond hair in the lit full-length mirror in front of her. Her stylist, a middle-aged man who appeared skilled and trustworthy from the moment he introduced himself, listened patiently as the client told him about her past hairstyles. “I’m done with bangs,” she declared at one point, and later said, “I like short hair.” The stylist moved sections of her hair, first from her forehead to the crown of her head and then from her shoulders to her ears, displaying different lengths and looks before she committed to one in particular.

After several minutes of deliberation, both nodded and the small “Yay!” that accompanied the client’s broad smile revealed that she was about to get exactly the hair she wanted.

A

Jennifer Aniston

Photo credit of thatblackgirlsite.com

Photo used with permission from zimbio.com

Photo used with permission from f lickr.com

This Season’s Best Hair!

Victoria Beckham

Michelle Obama

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Photographed by: Analicia Garcia

The Magic of Makeup... in Minutes!

By:Analicia G.

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The smokey eyes look was applied by adding a metalic silver to to the base of the eye. At the crease, a dark shade of blue was used and a shimmery black to the lid. Eyeliner and mascara completes this look. Also, black eye shadow can be used right below the bottom eyelid.

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To apply the natural look, purple eyeshadow was put on her eyes to compliment her complection. Very light blush was added with a purple head band to bring out the color of the eyshadow. This look is commonly used for simple outgoings such as school, the park or the gym.

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A shade of brown was used for her skin complexion. Emerald has very light skin and brown eyes which are complimented by the brown eyeshadow and pink blush that gave her a rosey look and brought our her girly side.

This is a very “Clubbing” look. I gave Brittney yellow eyeshadow as the base and purple right on her lid. Against her skin complection, the yellow appeared as a somewhat shimmery gold color. The complementary shade of purple went great with yellow, and allowed her eyes to burst just enough. Mascara and eyeliner also helped her brown eyes stand out.

Natural colors such as light brown and pink were added on the cheek bone while a light shade of green was applied among the eyes to allow this natural look to shine a bit more.

Eyeliner, mascara, and blush are the three things that completed this look. It forced her ginger features such as red hair and freckles to be visible.

Little to no makeup was applied with this look to compliment her natural features. Such as blush. Logan already has a natural blush and redness to her face along with eyeliner. Other then that, her natural green eyes are the only things that stand out here.

Pulling up her hair from her face allowed the green and white eyeshadow to shine. Her earrings also added a more girly look along with her bright smile and rosy cheeks.

Light blue metallic eyeshadow was used right below her eyebrow. To give her more of a dramatic look, i added a dark blue to the lid along with black eyeliner and mascara. The arch of her eyebrows also allowed me to achieve the diva look.

21 Shine 2009

A Piece Of

PAPAYA By: Jaylia T.

Inside look into Papaya Clothing Store.

22 Shine 2009

P h o t o g ra ph s b y Ja y l i a T .

S

he tilted her head to the side to see past huge bundle of clothes she was carrying in front of her and found her way to the cash register. As she watched the cashier ring up all the items, she clutched her credit card in fear of what her total would be. When the cashier scanned the last top and revealed her total, Paula Garcia gaped in disbelief. Suddenly a huge smile emerged on her blushed face and she cheerfully paid for her outfits.

Garcia walked out the door swinging her five bags of clothes, wearing a look of achievement and satisfaction because she had just revamped her entire winter wardrobe at Papaya Clothing Store for less than two hundred dollars.

“Papaya is a great store,” Garcia said. “I got so many cute things there for a really cheap price.”

Papaya clothing stores where established in California in 2000 as a subsidiary of Cornerstone Apparel Inc. The stores are located nation wide in 25 major city. According to Texas division Papaya Clothing Store general manager Heather Choi, sales for Austin Papaya stores have increased by 5% in the last two years. Papaya sells clothing, shoes and accessories direct from the manufacturer so they have exceptionally low prices.

Papaya also offers a range of different styles that appeal to woman of all ages.

“I feel like Papaya is very young, trendy and fashionable,” Choi said. “We

Marian Pinaman shops for a blouse at Papaya Clothing Store at Highland Mall.

communicate a lot with our main office in California. They tell us what the upcoming fashions may look like and what trends seem to be coming in.” Choi said.

Papaya stores are known for their unique shopping environment. When a customer walks into Papaya they are greeted with an array of vibrant colors,

clean floors and popular music. The stores are divided into color-coded sections so shoppers can easily mix and match styles and as they shop they can listen to the music of KISS FM. Employees appear to be quite conscience about maintaining a well-kept store. The Floor manager makes rounds every ten minutes to make sure no

garments are on the floor or out of place.

“I think it is very important that the store always look its best,” Papaya Floor Manager Jasmine MacArthor said. “If I was a customer I wouldn’t want to shop at a tacky looking store, so I do my best to make sure Papaya looks nice.”

Although Papaya is targeted toward customers 16 to 25, it appeals to woman of all ages. Thirty-two year old shopper Marian Pinaman says she shops at Papaya for flirty and fun outfits as well as sophisticated outfits she can wear to her job as an Administrative Assistant.

“I love the fact that I can get a range of different things at Papaya,” Pinaman said.

“It has really become a one-stop-shop for all my fashion needs.”

Papaya advertises high quality clothing for low prices, but not all shoppers have been satisfied with the quality of their purchases. Former shopper Brittany Robinson said that she bought tops from Papaya and after wearing and w ashing them once they were no longer wearable.

“I bought two t-shirts for about six dollars each at Papaya,” said Robinson.

“After I washed them, one of them became see through and the other began to shred little strings everywhere.”

Like many retail stores Papaya has come across some complaining customers.

Employees learned how to deal with these types of situations in a special customer service training. They were taught to always keep a calm tone, never argue back with the customer and do to their best to rectify the situation and please the customer.

“This rarely happens but when a customer tries to start an argument with me I always try to manage the situation as best as possible,” Cashier Karen Vital said.

Woman from all over the nation have posted blogs about their admiration of Papaya Clothing stores. Blogger JessicaR1211 from Boston, Massachusetts created a hub page describing her first Papaya shopping experience.

“I’m pretty sure that I have found my new favorite clothing store in Papaya Clothing Store.” JessicaR1211said on her hub page. “I can’t imagine going anywhere else and spending at least twice as much for the same look I can get there.

It’s just not feasible.”

According to Choi Papaya is one of

Papaya Clothing Store at Highland Mall.

the most visited female retail stores in Highland Mall. Although Papaya has been a disappointment to some of its shoppers, the stores’ various styles and cheap prices have also acquired many loyal shoppers and their popularity is only growing by the years.

“I started shopping at Papaya about three years ago and I love this place,” Garcia said. “I got a belt that looked like

a charm bracelet, with little cute jewels dangling from it for only six dollars. It is my most prized possession.”

Shopper Paula Garcia prepares to pay for her items as cashier Karen Vital folds and bags them.

23 Shine 2009

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A Lesson in Style

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Every high school has its jocks, nerds, and preps. Each of us finds our respective allies and our groups. But anyone can be a school fashionista. The girls pictured represent some of the best of fashion throughout the cliques and classes at our school. Yes, these are the ladies from whom the rest of us may learn the keys to being academically stylish.

With a little creativity, you too can turn every day into an opportunity for amazing fashion!

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Walking A Thin Line By: Ivana C

When I pick up a magazine and glance at the cover I get the feeling of regret for even picking the stupid thing up. Nearly every magazine cover nowadays contains headlines like “top skinniest models” or “the hottest celebrities,” and it makes me wonder just what the media is trying to say, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way.

It’s sad to see these published public articles rant on about the silliest little things, like outward beauty.

These little advertisements are partially at fault when teenagers feel unbeautiful or inferior about their physical appearance. Some teenagers hate their body so much; they drive themselves to the extent of anorexia, or bulimia. It’s very unhealthy for self-esteem and confidence to stoop so low, and it can rearrange a personality from optimistic to pessimistic. But even worse than selfhatred, is going to the point where you end up physically, and emotionally, destroying yourself, especially the body.

The idea has been provoked to America, by loads and loads of advertisements and celebrity endorsements, that what we need most is the newest clothes, or the latest make-up and a small waist in order to look our best.

It makes me stop and ask myself, “What is it exactly that they are trying to promote to their audience? That, in order to look good, we need to alter ourselves in a superficial way to look beautiful through someone else’s eyes?”

The first two things that pop into my head after reading those headlines, is “Beauty is only skin deep” and, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

Is it really necessary to abide by the media’s perception of “beautiful” in order to feel beautiful? Of course not. It’s also not right to starve yourself in order to fit into those new pair of jeans.

Hoever, bulimia and anorexia can be treated with the right care. It can be a severe case of life and death, where people could wind up at the hospital or in the cemetery.

Eventually the symptoms of anorexia can become more intense, like experiencing hair loss or breakage, loss of menstrual periods, and varieties of skin problems. It’s not whether you look good or get attention, after all you’re fighting against Mother Nature and losing, terribly.

“

Don’t tamper with the way you look, because you’re only ruining your body and yourself.

The reason it should be looked at so seriously is because the body is never getting the right nutrients, or any at all. Without food, your body has nothing to work with, or vitamins or nutrients or protein to take in, leaving it to use it’s own resource – other parts of the body, for instance, it’s own fat and muscle.

After it drains the body of it’s nutrients you wind up with nothing but bones. With bulimia, the food is never being taken in, it’s just all being flushed down the toilet, and it’s damaging the stomach as well because of all the binging and purging.

Of course, there are the people, like the media for example; who believe it’s okay to present models in this way. Perhaps they don’t acknowledge the fact that teenage girls pick up these magazines, or flip the channel, and those women act as their role models. And of course, some people think it’s the right path to take in life.

For those of you that are thinking something like “Wow this girl is opinionated,” well, how would you like it if someone told you that you looked ugly the way you are? Or how would you like being told to have to burn some pounds in order to be considered skinny.

Women should never feel inferior or not beautiful enough. It’s hard trying to keep up with styles and feeling pretty, especially because people today have a sick and twisted interpretation of what’s considered pretty.

Whatever happened to “It’s what’s on the inside that counts”?

I hope that in this magazine I’ll be able to provide teenage girls with the right message, that beauty can be achieved in natural ways. It’s alright to look the way you do and still be pretty. It’s not necessary to slim down, or gain weight in order feel more confident. My opinion is to stick with your natural features and style, and walk out of the door with self-esteem, because you are beautiful just the way you are.

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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Photo Credit of Flickr.com

26 Shine 2009

This Season at Your Local Mall...