VIM's 2010 Holiday Supplement

We hope you have all had a wonderful holiday season! Be sure to check out the VIM Holiday Supplement for our winter fashion preview, the latest in entertainment and 10 things you need to do over winter break!

Enjoy the last few days of 2010 and get ready for an exciting new year!

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The Year in Review

Staff at Late Night with Jimmy Fallon caroled their way through the year's events in a recent segment on the show (called Late Night Topical Carolers). With the year coming to a close on Friday night, we though we'd share their year-end rendition of "The 12 Days of Christmas."

Wear Your Mood

Urban Outfitters has developed a new line of lipwear that matches a person's lips to their current mood. And, yes, it will change color slightly after application.

UO Mood Lipstick is packaged in a set of five and can be found both online and in stores for just $14.

Why not add a little spontaneity to your makeup routine?

For the Coal-d at Heart

Ever desired finding that dreaded lump of coal in your stocking? Well, now we can honestly say we do.

This peppermint-scented, coal-inspired soap is 100 percent vegan and can be found at a fabulous discount through Etsy.com.

Priced around just $5, this is a lump of coal you'll want Santa to leave you this year.

Abbey Road Officially Historic

The zebra street crossing in London (Liverpool), England made famous on the cover of The Beatles' Abbey Road has officially been declared a historic site by John Penrose, British minister for tourism and heritage.

This means that now, by official order of the British government, no one may build over or remove the iconic crosswalk (that is reported to have been moved several meters from its original locale some time ago).

In other music news, Taylor Swift's Speak Now (released nearly two months ago) has soared back into the No. 1 spot on the Billboard albums chart, beating out three new releases and moving 259,000 units.

Clip-On...Bangs?

Our reaction: No stinkin' way.

Low and behold: Way.

Though we never thought something like this could possibly be true, we were wrong. Urban Outfitters has now come out with a line of clip-on bangs for those too terrified to trim their locks in an attempt to sport the trend.

For the mediocre price of $30, the bang-less can now have bangs (made from real human hair so they may style/color them how they wish). Sound creepy? We originally thought so, too, but can see the potential interest for those not willing to be so bold. Plus, the bangs come in black, chocolate, brown, bright yellow and mustard (pictured above)...but where's the ginger?

Check out or purchase the different styles HERE.

DIY Holiday Game

Moleskine is proud to introduce a new game for 2011: the Wise Dice. All you need to play are a printer, scissors, tape and piece of paper. These accessories allow you to both print and assemble your Wise Dice, a 12-sided die meant to direct people to perform simple actions.

The actions on the original game are designed to help people reconnect with themselves, others or the environment--each sentence is almost like a fortune cookie combined with a New Year's resolution. For those who'd rather create their own pieces of advice or suggestions, however, Moleskine has created a blank template of the game so that they may fill each side in as they see fit.

For people who remain fans of the cootie catcher, as we do, this game is the perfect activity for a night in with old friends (or family) over the holiday season.

Download the original Wise Dice OR blank alternative here.

Album Review: Last Train to Paris

Featuring collabs with artists like Drake, Lil' Wayne, Justin Timberlake, T.I., Chris Brown, Usher and Trey Songz, on top of by fashion's greats (see past post), can Diddy - Dirty Money really go wrong with this latest effort? We don't think so. Many of the tracks are pretty great and the lead single, "Hello Good Morning" with T.I., was a solid comeback piece for the rapper who continues to change his name. If you're still attempting to come up with great stocking stuffers, this album is a solid choice. And it's 19 songs long, not too shabby.
Most notable tracks: "Coming Home," "Loving You No More"

WilliamRast for Target

Those WilliamRast jeans we've been eyeing since it was first announced that Justin Timberlake and his childhood friend were launching a clothing line have finally been lowered to a slightly more reasonable price for our college budget (for both men and women!)--thanks to Target.

Click HERE to check out the entire line. With the tagline "Biker Bohemia. Rebelliously Priced." Target and WilliamRast aren't lying.

Jeans range from $40 to $50,
Tops from $17 to $40,
And outerwear from $35 to $200.

Jeanologie XX/XY Men's Clothing Sale

Attention everyone still in E.L.!

Jeanologie XX/XY Boutique is having a men's clothing sale :)

Get your guy a last minute gift (or, if shopping for yourself, pick up some great deals!).

* Alternative Apparel tees as low as $12.99
* Joe's jeans under $100
* 7 Diamond shirts as low as $45.99

Hurry now while supplies last and happy holidays, Spartans!

Movie Review: Black Swan

Walking out of the theater as Black Swan "closed its curtain," the audience was noticeably stunned...and for good reason. To say this film is mind-blowing is practically an understatement. Yes, it's that good. Natalie Portman gives the best performance of her career to date--and that's saying something--as her character spirals into literally embodying the ballet she is set to perform. Often terrifying, the flick takes audiences on a whirlwind through the life, and mind, of an insanely dedicated ballerina and the characters in her life. We must note, Black Swan is not for the faint of heart (there's a lot of blood) and is at times quite graphic, but the performances, especially from Portman and Mila Kunis, and the costumes are absolutely breathtaking. This is a film you should not miss (it already has four Golden Globe nominations) and don't be surprised if it is swooping up Oscars come February 2011.
Best on-screen moment: Nina's (Portman) "dark" dance as the Swan Queen.

Art Made From...Chewing Gum?

Not just any type of chewing gum either, used chewing gum.

The artist: Jason Kronenwald (Canada)
The method: Molds chewed gum into portraits, no artificial coloring is used
The subject(s): Generally blonde, famous women.

The above photos are none other than Ms. Britney Spears and Audrey Hepburn.

Check out the website for the full gallery.

(More) Great Gifts...Under $30!

Sorry gents, these are all lady-focused gift ideas, but they are some truly great (and affordable) ones!

1. Holly Golightly Watch/Locket from FredFlare, $28. This classic gift is a three-in-one watch, locket and mirror (on the back). Plus, what female doesn't have a soft spot for the Hepburn classic Breakfast at Tiffany's?













2. Blue Steal clutch from LeSportsac, $28. This clutch is named after the infamous Derek Zoolander "look" from our favorite ridiculously good looking comedy ever. Tell us you can't see it on your arm and we won't believe you.









3. Necktie necklace from ASOS, $20.50. If you recall our post from not too long ago, the menswear look is in. This chic necklace is the perfect way to try out the trend with out actually sporting it in all its glory. Talk about ahead of the game.

Get in the Holiday Spirit with Hanson

Any chance you're a fan of Hanson's Snowed In (1997)?

If you are, then we have gotten wind of quite the treat for the ears, especially after finals. To get everyone further in the holiday spirit, the Hanson brothers aired a live special on Dec. 11 "Merry Christmas and a HANSON New Year: The Christmas Special."

Luckily, the special can still be watched over at the alive section of the band's website for all of us who love the holidays as much as these men. We must note that on top of featuring live performances of Hanson's classic Christmas tracks the special also includes an appearance by among more surprises.

For more Christmas goodness, check out this recent blogpost by the band of them in their favorite Christmas sweaters.

If you want, comment and share a holiday story or send in a pic of you in your Christmas sweater.

Happy Holidays!

Emma Stone Goes Blonde

The famous redhead and star of soon-to-release Easy A, Emma Stone, has recently traded in her festively colorful locks for a new look: blonde! Though she did it for her new role in the upcoming Spider-Man flick, we must say we don't hate it and it partially inspires us to be a little crazy with our hair for the new year.

Thoughts?

Photography Spotlight: Kirsten Dunst in BlackBook

Kirsten Dunst covers this month's issue of BlackBook and looks simply fabulous! Dunst is currently on a promotional tour for her newest film, co-starring Ryan Gosling, All Good Things.

Trend to Note: The Female Suit

Two of our favorite fashionistas (Leighton Meester and Halle Barry) have recently been spotted sporting the pant-suit style and we simply had to share it with our future-businesswoman readers. Enjoy and perhaps its time for you to go pick out yours.

Happy shopping!

A Fashionable...Album?

Diddy-Dirty Money's latest effort, Last Train to Paris, promises to at least be an interesting one. Though we'll be honest, we enjoy the record's first single ("Hello Good Morning (Feat. T.I.)").

After attending last year's fashion week and inspired by his love for the fashion industry, Diddy-Dirty Money reached out to some of the most influential people within the fashion world. The result is a handful of cameos on his new disc including: Vogue's Andre Leon Talley and Anna Wintour, Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger, Isaac Mizrahi and Zac Posen, among more.

The album hits shelves on Tuesday, Dec. 14.

For a preview of the cameo's check out Talley's post over at Vogue.com.

Looking for Cute Gift Ideas?

VIM has you covered. Below is a list of some of our favorite things that would make great gifts this holiday season for friends or siblings or anyone else you might be shopping for.


1. Light Up Your Mood stickers. If you can't tell from the image, this crafty gift will allow your friend/family member to "lighten" up the switches in their pad. Maybe a little silly, but who can imagine seeing that everyday and not smiling?
$8


2. HEX Hero is a new 2-in-1 iPod Nano holder and watch band. With this gift it will be next to impossible for the receiver to ever lose/misplace their Nano again. Plus, they'll always have the time.
$30


3. Chalk-late box from Askinosie Chocolate. First off, receiving chocolate is never a bad thing. Second, with this chocolate box you can be creative and write any kind of message you want to that special person (or leave it blank for them to decorate)... it's up to you!
$43


4. What Happened Bandages from Urban Outfitters. These band-aids almost make us want to get a cut because of the hilarious "reasons" we can cover them up with. Urban is known for its wacky products and this may be our favorite of them in a while. Happy injuries.
$7


5. Chain Wrap Watch from La Mer Collections at Shopbop. Though the priciest on our list, this is a major trend that we've recently fallen for. It's hard to not appreciate the gift of a watch especially this stylish one, so it's a win-win.
$110

Green Friday THIS week!

Green Friday, a uniquely East Lansing event modeled after the nationwide, notorious Black Friday, will happen THIS Friday, Dec. 3.

For it, local boutique Jeanologie XX/XY has teamed up with businesses around town to help us students save a little cash over the holiday season. There will be discounts ALL DAY, so make sure you get shopping and make smart purchases!

Participating locations include:

1. Jeanologie (303 M.A.C.)
2. Spartan Spirit (MSU Union)
3. Union Central (MSU Union)
4. MadEagle
5. Curious Book Shop
6. Archives Book Shop

Keep checking the Facebook event for more location announcements.

VIMwatch: 2010 AMA Style

Ladies

The fashion last night was A-mazing, especially as far as the ladies were concerned. That said, we would like to give honorable mention to Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus and Kelly Osbourne, who have been hitting it as of late, and to Willow Smith, who is positively fierce. (Click on the thumbnails at the bottom to check out their lovely looks!)


Our first choice is Taylor Swift. Last night, she stepped out with new hair--probably our favorite part--and we loved the "metal" look of the dress and the strappy heels. Win.


It seems as though we've been seeing less and less of Mandy Moore lately. But with the release of her new animated flick Tangled, it only fit that she showed up to present last night and we loved her look. The colors in the dress are amazing and the sequined detail is gorgeous. A truly great choice.

Gents


Honestly, we cannot not give props to the men of NKOTBSB, especially the gorgeous-looking Nick Carter. Not only was their closing performance a lovely trip down memory lane, but they all looked great upon arrival. Anyone else kind of giddy about their upcoming tour?


Our final pick of the night goes to Ne-Yo, whose style we can't help but love. He tends to always rock the hat, but it definitely works. We are also loving the scarf as lining. Work it.

Declutter Your Closet

With the dreaded finals week coming up, getting organized is a great way to relieve stress. By organizing your things, you may feel more in control and ready to take on anything. Organizing your closet could be very beneficial and help you relieve stress. Here are some quick tips to getting started on organizing:

1. Remove out of season clothes. Exchanging your summer dresses for lumpy sweaters may be a little depressing at first, but it is practical and will save you time in the long run.
2. Get rid of clutter. Go through your clothes and finally get rid of that shirt you’ve only been holding onto for sentimental reasons. It’s always great to donate your clothes to someone in need.
3. Keep jewelry/ accessories in containers. Find or make a cute box that can store all of your jewelry and adds some flair to your space. Keeping all of your stuff in one place makes it easier to find when you’re in a hurry.
4. Invest in some staple storage items Shoe racks, canvas bins, etc. can all be multi-functional and make your organization process a lot easier. Many stores have stylish alternatives to a usually boring closet accessory.

"Talk American" with HP7 Stars

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Okay, so maybe we're on a bit of a Harry Potter kick after checking out the film last night, but this was too funny and adorable to not share (especially the always charming Tom Felton, a.k.a. Draco Malfoy).

Check out the stars of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows have a go at talking "American" with MTV's Josh Horowitz. High-larious!

Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I

To sum up the seventh (part one) installment of the infamous Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) film series in two words: absolutely brilliant! If we could give it five kisses, we definitely would. Everything works in this newest flick--the acting, direction, special effects, costuming--and we wouldn't be surprised if it continues to break record after record. Apart from leaving you on the edge of your seat, itching to just watch Part II already, the film is chilling. For lovers of the Potter novels, this is the journey you have been waiting for since turning that last page. Part I brings the books to life in a way that is new and practically unlike what has come before. For those that watch the films without a love for the text, this flick may be just good enough to have you wanting to pick up at least the last novel (if only to know how it ends).
Best on-screen moment: When Hermione (Emma Watson) narrates the wizardly tale of The Three Brothers.