The Craze: Make Room for Wide-Leg Pants

The Craze is a trend report bringing you the latest (and, duh, the greatest) in beauty and style.

Sick of your skinnies? Well, not to worry since wide-leg pants are making a comeback for Spring.

As seen on the Runway, there are a variety of wide-leg styles from bellbottom jeans to trousers. This trend is better suited on those who are taller since the bottom of the pants can overwhelm a small frame. But shorter girls can rock the wide-leg too, just pick pants that have a smaller flare and maybe add some heels.

Don’t forget, skinny pants are still a staple, so feel free to interchange between the two!

Dior

Derek Lam

Banana Republic

-Lauren Dulay

Fashion Czar: Winter Woes

Fashion Czar is a comment from the Editor, Alexa Pizzi.

It's the start to a new semester. With the terrible sub zero weather Syracuse has been seeing lately, a temperature of 32 degrees today was refreshing! It practically felt like Spring. Okay not really. But honestly, 32 is better than nothing. Walking in the winter weather is not conducive to dressing chic, but at Syracuse we try our best.

How is everyone staying stylish in the snow? When many stores and designers are debuting their Spring lines, Syracuse is still shopping for Winter.

We've been seeing a lot of over-the-knee leather boots and combat boots even in the snow! I've sadly been trudging around the slush in my Hunter rain boots and my chestnut Ugg's. Although my choice of footwear is practical it is not ideal. I would love to be wearing leather boots but I know the salt would get the best of them.

Fur is everywhere. Fur coats, fur hats, fur collars, and most popular... fur vests. Fur is stylish and even better, warm. From Chanel to Jean Paul Gaultier, the best of 2010 were showing off the classic revival.

Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2010

Velvet has been popping up a lot lately. I spotted black velvet leggings on a girl at the Warehouse Tuesday. They looked so warm and much edgier than your basic leggings. Banana Republic showed off a velvet suit on the Fall 2010 runway. Target sells an affordable Velour pair for nearly $7!Target

Banana Republic Fall 2010

Syracuse, don't let Winter get the best of your style. Get your closets ready for Spring and stay tuned for the best of the RTW 2011.

-Alexa Pizzi

Fierce+Foreign: The jumper dress is feeling French

Fierce+Foreign draws on the fashion experiences of SU students studying abroad.

Mademoiselles, here's a fashion staple worth investing in this winter - the jumper dress. 

I've seen French girls wear it with tall leather boots and a chic knitted beret. My personal favorite is a comfy cowl neck dress that encapsulates the effortless French style that fashionistas in the world yearns for.

Yellow cowl neck dress from Benetton's Winter 2009 collection.

Why is the cowl neck dress so... français? 

Well first, let me give you a quick DL on how our peers dress across the pond. French style doesn't scream for attention; the color scheme usually spans the many shades of black, in other words, just black. 

Even in warmer temperatures, the French don't reveal too much skin, and American girls here are often told that wearing short shorts will immediately expose you as a foreigner. There's no oh-la-la factor, no head-turning pink hair, gaudy jewelry and other eccentricities. French style is like a soft-spoken lady.

Almost every guy wears a pea coat and scarf, which unfortunately is something of an anomaly in the US. The cut is always of prime importance, as it must hug the body where it should. One does not necessarily have to look neat. In fact, one of the most attractive aspects of French style is its effortless, disheveled comfort. I still can't figure out how French mademoiselles make a messy ponytail look so good! 

Banana Republic cowl neck dress for $98.

Yours truly prefers a cowl neck over turtle neck because it's more fluid and doesn't give you that rigid neck brace feeling. It's a sleek look that transitions effortlessly from an outfit for the daily grind to a night out on the town. Cinch your waist with a thin belt in a contrasting color. If you choose a neutral colored dress then pair it with bright colored pantyhose. 

Get inspiration from the chic but pricey dresses from Anthropologie and Banana Republic. I've scowled the web and found the best price to be Uniqlo, a line of sweater dresses of their trademark ROYGBIV colors for $49. 

The key is to choose one that's short and sweet, 'less you want to look like a school teacher.

- by Jenny Cheng 

Time to Get Professional

It's that time of year. For sophomores and juniors who are applying for summer internships and for all those senior applying for jobs and preparing for "the real world," we all know it's important to have the right outfit to make a great impression. While you should always to stick to the basic rules of looking professional, that doesn't mean you should look boring or can't show your personal style.

Here are a few tips to make sure you stand out but look like you're ready for the job.

1) Instead of wearing the whole suit together, break it up and wear a blazer over a dress.
2) Wear one statement piece of jewelry and keep the rest simple.
3) Depending on the job, you may or may not be able to wear open-toe shoes. For the first interview, it's best to play it safe and wear closed-toe pumps. Invest in a basic black pair like these Ralph Lauren Amaya pumps.
4) Don't be afraid to wear a 3/4 sleeve or cropped blazer. You'll look sleek but not too serious.
5) Accessorize with a wide or thin belt over your high-waisted skirt or blazer.

If you still need to build a professional wardrobe, check out Banana Republic which has a great selection of stylish work wear that you can also wear on a night out.

Celeb Style: Shoes Found

When I first saw a picture of Reese Witherspoon from the L.A. premiere of her new film Four Christmases, I was immediately drawn to her shoes.

I assumed her shoes were either celeb favorites Christian Louboutin or Jimmy Choo, but much to my surprise I found out that they were actually from one of my favorite stores. She paired her Nina Ricci dress with peep toe pumps from Banana Republic. The 'Shiri' satin oxford pump is available exclusively online at Bananarepublic.com for $150. Reese looks amazing and I love how she mixed a high end designer with high fashion but low-budget style.