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Show AggieLife Page 10 Monday, Nov. 7, 2011 Add a little more testosterone to your wardrobe One of this season's most popular trends had a little more testosterone than usual. From oxfords to button-down shirts and blazers, the androgynous look made a comeback for the fall, and dressing like one of the boys has never been easier. Whether your style is classic, edgy, girly or laid back, menswear pieces are easy to incorporate to any outfit or style. When worn correctly, menswear-inspired pieces can create a simple and timeless look. Think Katherine Hepburn. Here are a few ways to incorporate menswear into your wardrobe: 1. Layers. Try pairing light, feminine fabrics with heavier masculine ones. A silk cami under a blazer, or tweed pants paired with a soft cashmere sweater are great examples of this. Layers can also create an interesting contrast when it comes to patterns. Try mixing masculine patterns, such as pinstripes or houndstooth, with more feminine ones, such as polka dots and florals. 2. Try a Trench. Nothing says menswear like a great trench. The key to pulling off a trench is to find one that doesn't overwhelm your frame. Look for the right length — mid-thigh is usually the most flattering — and find a neutral color that will work for you. Instead of the classic khaki, try a rich brown or gray. 3. Button Up. One of the easiest ways to wear a menswear-inspired look is by adding a button-up shirt to an outfit. Button-up shirts can be worn in multiple ways. Try adding a chunky necklace or a fun cardigan. Wear it buttoned up, under a vest or open with a girly top. 4. Get Tailored. A tailored trouser is versatile; it can be dressed up or down. A popular look this season was the cuffed trouser which falls around the ankle and makes the look a little more playful. Pair tailored trousers with feminine tops and a fun pair of heels or oxfords. 5. Men's Socks. Try a pair of men's socks, or menswear-inspired socks with a fun pair of shoes. Add a pair of argyle socks with oxfords or a chunky knit sock with some booties. 6. Suspenders. This accessory has become somewhat trendy over the last few months. To make it seem more authentic, try a classic suspender with leather fasteners rather than synthetic ones. 7. Cardigans. A great alternative to the pullover sweater. Cardigans look great with just about anything and are perfect for layering. Try a cardigan over your favorite dress or paired with jeans and a basic T-shirt. 8. Blazers. A menswear staple — blazers come in just about every color, cut and style. The key to finding a great blazer is to look for a cut and a fabric that works with your silhouette. Cropped blazers add length to your torso, while longer-cut blazers shorten it. Balance is the key when wearing a menswear-influenced outfit. Add a few feminine touches, like heels, fun jewelry and flowy fabrics paired with heavier ones. This will keep your outfit from looking overly masculine or stuffy. Remember, the menswear trend is masculine inspired, not just masculine. The goal of this trend is to wear a piece traditionally meant for a man, in a feminine way. - Jimena Herrero is a liberal arts major minoring in journalism. She attended ABM in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and majored in fashion design. Her column runs once a month. Comments or suggestions on how she can keep you trendy? E-mail her at jimena.h@aggiemail.usu.edu MENSWEAR-INSPIRED LOOKS were popular during this year's fall fashion season. While still being feminine, suplementing with a cardigan or hat adds a masculine touch to an otherwise girly outfit. Thinkstock photo From Page 8 Divorce numbers are on the descent, but so are marriages engineering major, said he's always believed people should date their partner for a long time before marrying them, but when he met his wife, he broke his own rules. "I always feel comfortable around her," he said. "There are things we have to learn about each other, and we don't always make each other happy, but that is normal. We can work through our problems." A sequence of serendipitous events brought the couple together, Jaden Miller said. His sister was renting a house with his soon-to-be wife, while he was living in Albuquerque, N.M. Due to problems with the landlord, the women had to move out of the house they were living in and into his empty bedroom. When he returned, Jaden Miller said, he found his dream girl sleeping in his bed. "I was dating someone else at the time," wife Destiny Miller said. "But after I broke up with him, Jaden and I started dating. I was ready to marry him really soon, even though I dated the other guy for 18 months." Destiny said she married Jaden because it felt comfortable and right. Despite their short engagement and stereotypical, cute meeting story, Jaden Miller said he and his wife plan to live together forever, quite happily. What is marriage, then? There is no consensus among USU students regarding what marriage means and what it stands for. "A marriage is a promise to be together forever," said Jenna Haycock, an environmental studies major. "It's more for the individuals getting married than for the state." The ceremonial aspect of marriage is merely tradition, she said. Sara Arroyo, a political science major, said she believes marriage is, in itself, an obsolete notion, and that if people want to enter into relationships, they do not need permission from the state. Dan Savage, a syndicated Seattle columnist, said, along those lines, marriage and fidelity are not for everyone. He said some people need more than one partner; others need lovers of both sexes. He said people cannot help their urges and should not try to control them. "I do not agree in the slightest," said Steven Haws, a management information systems major. "I agree with (LDS Apostle Boyd K.) Packer when he talked about tendencies and trials. The whole point of life is to overcome our natural compul- Un Packed Each week The Statesman will profile what students are carrying around in their bags. Get ready for the spotlight! Kyle Berg, junior, biology and biochemistry, S. Weber, Utah TI-89 calculator $3.50 Starburst candy $3.50 Plant physiology lab notebook $4 Mac OS X Snow Leopard $600 sions and urges." To Haws, marriage is primarily a religious union, he said. It is a God-given relationship in which children can be born and raised, he added. "To me, everything else is a cheap imitation," he said. "People talk about how fast the world is going downhill. I believe many of society's problems are correlated with the decline of nuclear families." Traditional marriages, with the intent to create a family and a stable environment for children, are selfless, whereas gay marriages are about fulfilling selfish sexual desires, Haws said. Marriage is multi-faceted, said Dale Harlan, mechanical engineering alumnus. He said it is about raising a family, it is a promise to be completely committed to your spouse forever, and is also a religious and societal commitment. Is marriage for everyone? Flatebo said gays will not stop fighting until they are given the legal right to be married. He said the gay community is not the only group of students at USU whose marriage practices are frowned upon by society. Harlan said his father had two wives, and his family was constantly persecuted while he was growing up. "With the exception of a few families, both the Mormons and the non-Mormons made fun of us," Harlan said. "We were constantly getting in fights." Harlan said he joined the LDS church at 17 and served a mission in Argentina. When he returned, he dated a woman seriously at USU, but when she found out about his father's religious beliefs, she became immediately cold and distant, he said. "Her parents would persuade us to spend as little time as possible around my family. I was used to it. I was ostracized growing up," he said. "People tend to ridicule what they do not understand." Unorthodox marriage practices do not need to hurt anyone, Harlan said. "When consenting adults enter into relationships with one another, that is no one's business but their own," he said. "I am not saying the government has to sanction second marriages, third marriages or homosexual marriages, but they shouldn't be allowed to imprison people for their religious practices. We lived in constant fear of my dad being arrested." There are certain polygamous people who need to be punished, Harlan said, including Warren Jeffs. "He married a 12-year-old girl for Pete's sake," Harlan said. "But that does not give the government the right to go in and abduct all those kids like they did in Texas a few years ago. Families were ripped apart without probable cause, and they were deemed guilty until proven innocent." Brothers and sisters were split apart before any trial took place and put in foster care, Harlan said. "It's interesting how you often see the (American Civil Liberties Union) representing both gays and polygamist families," Harlan said. "In both cases people err on the side of extreme persecution, because they do not understand other perspectives." Harlan said people often have multiple sexual partners, and the state does nothing, but if a polygamist man makes a commitment to more than one partner, he is at risk for imprisonment. Flatebo said he does not believe polygamy is right, but he does believe that the government should allow gay people to marry legally. "God has nothing to do with it," Flatebo said. Harlan disagreed. "It is my personal belief that monogamous marriages between men and women are what God wants," Harlan said. "But we have to treat people respectfully and fairly, even if they are different." Mac OS X Snow Leopard Stapler $5 Samsung Gravity smart phone $10 SI Folder $2 information gathered by Mariah Noble SOME BELIEVE MARRIAGE is a symbol of eternal commitment to their spouse, but others believe it is a temporal gesture of love. USU students take sides on this controversial issue. CARL WILSON photo |