$ Ching Ching, Money Over Here $

Financial Crisis. Two words the American people do not want to hear. Monday September 15, 2008 the stock market plunged 500 points. That evening, the asian stock market followed suit. one of the largest banks in the country, Merrill Lynch, was bought out by Bank of America. The fourth largest financial institution in the country went bankrupt. What does this financial crisis mean? And more importantly, what does it mean for the average American? or college student?

The effects of the spiraling economy are seeping their way into the daily lives of Americans, and more specifically, college students. I look around and see my friends getting laid off, we live paycheck to paycheck, we can't afford to go to the doctor, and we can't afford to buy groceries anymore. We are deep in student loans, and the cost of tuition keeps rising. A major issue for young people in the 2008 election will be the economy. It is obviously a major issue for all Americans, but the future of the workforce and the economy is in our hands; we can only wait to see what will unfold.

Bandaged: The Art of the Skintight Minidress

Ahhh September. This is the month where designers debut their spring ready to wear collections. I must say that I was a bit disappointed with most of the Spring '09 collections, but one little collection caught my eye. The Herve Leger by Max Azria Spring 2009 ready to wear collection is amazing and drop-dead sexy.

The collection features the infamous bandage dress with a few fresh twists. Azria added a gradient pattern to create an architectural illusion. He featured the pattern in shades of red, white, and gray. He also experimented with creating dresses with off-the shoulder necks and cutout patterns on the neck and sides. One of his best pieces was a sparkling gold off-the-shoulder mini. Azria also dazzled with a few sexed-up versions of the classic Little Black Dress. The best part of this collection was the fact that it is very wearable; I would personally wear any number of these dresses out to a club or upscale party. Unlike most of the Spring 2009 collections, which featured outlandish styles, Herve Leger by Max Azria stayed in touch with its youthful clientele (the designer's biggest fans are club rats and young stars such as Lindsay Lohan, Kim Kardashian, and Rihanna). I recommend squeezing into a Herve Leger mini, throwing on some five-inch Louboutins, and heading over to Les Deux, LAX, or another Hollywood club; you're bound to attract some paparazzi.





Images courtesy of style.com