Free Voice

Fall Fashion Favorites

BY JEANIA BAGLEY

Seeing those leaves plummet from the tree is a reminder that the fall season has arrived.  The weather makes the shift from warm to cold and so does our wardrobe. Fall fashion is here! This year fashion can be simple, affordable and fun.  You can spend less and still impress. Here are a couple of trends to get you on the track to being a fashionista.

To be prepared for the fall season you should know that this year's basics include tribal prints, stripes, color blocking, animal prints and vintage style clothing and denim. Colors that say ‘I am fall’ include mustard orange, royal blue, black and white, red, soft pink and earth tone just to name a few. This is a tricky season because many days will still consist of warm and stet weather. “Tribal prints and cheetah prints are really popular this year, everywhere I go I see people with these trends,” says Amanda Gibson, UDC student.

The shoes for the fall are vintage boots and shoes, made of cloth material with chains etc. Converse are also a must this fall, try some new colors such as yellow on green etc. UGG boots are a delight too, also choose some new patterns and colors this season. Patterns for the fall shoe include stripes, spikes, bedazzled, suede, leather, and vintage material.

Cost can play a huge factor when shopping for clothes. Everyone wants to look just as good shopping for less. Try stores like Forever 21, and H&M. Prices range from $5 and they have sales every other week. D.C. also has some boutiques such as Caramel, Nana, Urban Chic, and Rue. They offer the vintage and  fall looks your're aiming  to get and are also listed as D.C. best boutiques in Vogue magazine. I think that you are ready for the fall! So go and strut your stuff ladies and gents!

Rise Of Instagram

BY JABARI lEVELL

A new power in social networking has arisen. Instagram has effectively become the polaroid of this generation bringing the common yet secluded beauty of photography to our phones, tablets, and music players.

Founded in 2010 Instagram has seen a rapid rise in success. Since its launch the photo sharing program and app has amassed 80 million users, giving everyday people an avenue to share whatever they want to a massive global community. Instagram has also created new photographic stars in addition to making existing artists more popular.

In addition to being a pilot, Cole Rise was an already established photographer and designer, but due to his Instagram popularity, he now exceeds more  than 270,000 followers today, Rise was given the opportunity to create his own filter for Instagram called “Rise” as well as design the company’s logo. The “Rise” filter currently ranks third in terms of most used filters, solidifying Rise among the Instagram elites and showcasing the power the social network holds.

While Instagram’s popularity is undeniable, there are those reluctant to hitch a ride on the wagon. For every Cole Rise on the network giant there are 200 instagramers who don’t measure up,  providing the community with the more trivial aspects of one’s life in a filtered mess. Some believe Instagram hurts the essence of photography since the program has since wandered into a lane dominated by conventional digital photography.

Deion Wilson, a amateur photographer in the Washington region, says he fears the popularity of the social networking may undermine the skills that photographers have developed. “It (instagram) kind of cheapens the craft, nowadays you can pretty much snap a quick pic do one or two edits, add a filter, and presto ‘art.”

Matt Christian, a student at the Art Institute and also an amateur photographer says that Instagram is harmless in terms of challenging photography’s foundations. “The mobile device won’t overtake DSLR’s or format cameras any time soon. Instagram excels in being social not creating breathtaking images, but if Instagram and it’s users happen to be a catalyst in the evolution of photography then so be it, anything that gets people interested in photography is a great thing.”

Technically Dating

BY AVA WEST

Social networking is such a huge part of how we communicate now, It is natural to send a message to our significant other or a crush rather than meet face to face.

However, romance is nowhere compared to traditional love. It seems as though people don’t have enough time to “properly” end a relationship or better yet begin one. Simply by searching a social network and clicking a friend request, sending DM’s and other personal messages, a relationship is formed.

We conducted an informal survey about relationships asking 25 men and 25 women in the metropolitan area about modern romance, and how their relationships have been affected by social media. More than half of people interviewed confessed to having flirted with someone they should not have in a message. Surprisingly, more men admit to checking on their partner by secretly reading messages on their pages or “twatching” via twitter.

Similar to social networking, texting plays a part in modern day romance as well.

Half of each group added that they delete any suspicious text because they know that their partners always check their phones.

While 15 of the 25 men and 23 of the 25 women said that they listen to their other half's voicemails, at least once, and check the phone log of who their partners called. “I call it reassurance, you can never be too sure on whether or not you man is being faithful,” says Rakita Spinner, who's in her early 30’s. 

All of them have said that they have been asked out on a date over a social network.The days of courting a woman and meeting her parents seem to slowly dissipate while social networks is slowly gaining over modern day relationships.

Life is all about communication and the major difference between social media and most other methods of communication, is that we fail to know exactly what our friends mean. In a face to face confrontation you can always get the true vibe of a person. The absence of tone in our conversations makes us paranoid about everything that anyone has to say on these social networking. So you can think that you’re significant other is flirting with someone just by your own personal interpretation, even if they’re not.