| Homework: Shop!
School fashions were once like true/false tests. Clothes were right or wrong, in or out, infinitely cool or definitely not. Now dressing for the classroom is more like a multiple-choice quiz, where the correct answer is always "all of the above." Preppy khakis and polos? Check. Sporty rugby shirts and shorts? Check. Trendy skirts and boots? Check. Rebel rocker revival? Check. Back when boomers were babes, mass media was relatively new and narrow, and a generation tuned into the same music, watched the same sitcoms and followed the same fad. Today's high school students grew up clicking through 320 channels, downloading music, phoning wherever and texting whenever. With a world of information at their fingertips -- not to mention in their back pockets -- the idea that they might latch onto a single fashion is silly.
Artist Turns Trash Into Treasure
VAN BUREN -- Quick with a handshake and one who really does love her neighbors, Janie Peoples is an environmentally friendly artist.The 50-year-old Van Buren resident regularly channels her inspiration and creative vision into reality by turning various items into a work of art. The materials of choice might be a giant, old sign that once stood near a road or parts of dolls that rested in a girl's toy box once upon a year. Big or small, old or new, the components of Peoples' art are unique."Some people might call this recycled art, but there's a style called 'found object art,'" says the 1975 Southside High School graduate. "What I do, it's called 'assemblage art.' I don't call it recycling, because with recycling, that is reprocessing and melting things down."But I just use different stuff as it is," Peoples adds with a smile.
Back-to-school look
The days of lounging by the pool and other summertime diversions are over. In August, back-to-school shopping goes to the top of the to-do list. Fall trends might play a part in fashion choices for students heading back to high school and college, but retailers who cater to young buyers say unique pieces can help reflect their personalities. And there are plenty of options out there, in the big-name chains and in smaller boutiques. Melanie Williams, owner of a boutique called The Black Market in Lexington, Ky., said the search for a unique look doesn't necessarily start in high school. Williams describes her own style as a combination of the popular and the eclectic. "I take the trends and mix it with my style," she said. Round-toed shoes and flats to wear around campus are some of her favorite looks, along with vintage-style jewelry.
School boards come together
Baldwin and Putnam County school systems are coming together to apply for a joint vocation charter high school to provide ... School boards come together Baldwin, Putnam to consider joint charter school application Scott Teague The Union-Recorder Baldwin and Putnam County school systems are coming together to apply for a joint vocation charter high school to provide an alternative to the traditional high school environment. .
Accessories for laptops, MP3 players blend fashion and function for Gen Y set
TORONTO (CP) - It's not just about safeguarding high-end gadgets from scratches and dust mites. From laptops to MP3 players, the new generation of computer users are seeking ways to make a statement with carrying cases and add-ons for their gear. iPod cases and mobile FM transmitters to play tunes from media players in cars are examples of the "tremendous focus" around fashion accessories in the Generation Y marketplace, said Greg Milkovich, country manager of Belkin Canada, which manufactures and supplies cables, power protection, desktop and mobility accessories. "They're very fashion forward, they like to see unique materials, they like design that represents their lifestyle," he said. "They want to differentiate, and they want to have technology solutions that better represent what their personality is, so we see a lot of interesting things design-wise and material-wise that speak to that particular marketplace." A survey conducted on behalf of Belkin of home users in the U.S.
Grief Turns to Anger Over War's 'Waste'
Anika Lawal pursed her lips yesterday when an Army general read the list of honors that had been awarded posthumously to her daughter, Sgt. Princess Crystal-Dawn Samuels. She shook visibly as he took her hand, walked her to Samuels's silver coffin and asked her to place the medals atop the flag draped there. But the sorrow she and her family expressed as they gathered for a funeral service at Jericho City of Praise Church in Landover and later a burial at Arlington National Ceremony soon gave way to anger. .
Beadz Boutique a jewelry-making mecca
When Westonite Suzanne England sold off her pet-, plant-, and house-sitting service, she had planned to spend the next three years relaxing and planning a career that would lead into retirement. However, boredom set in after two years, and she started looking for something to do. She found the answer from her teenage stepdaughter, Amanda, who had become adept at jewelry design. Now, not only is Ms. England proficient at the craft, but she owns Beadz Boutique, a new store at 37 Tokeneke Road in Darien that sells beads and other items needed to make one's own jewelry as well as custom-made pieces. "So far, it's been everything I expected it to be," said Ms. England, formerly a graphic designer. Making the store a success, she believes, will require offering the most desired items at fair prices and getting a few more local designers into the store, which opened on June 15 — later than she originally anticipated due to the two-month renovation project to convert the space that was once a pet grooming business.
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