On Feb. 22, the 87th annual Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, were televised in more than 200 countries, honoring the film industry’s achievements over the past year. Rain decided to hit the red carpet that night too, causing umbrellas to be in full force.

You might ask yourself what goes into all of these red carpet looks. How much do celebrities actually spend on an awards show? According to Emmy Award-winning stylist and author David Zyla, “The (celebrity’s) makeup and hair stylist will each receive $1,500 to $4,000 for their contributions.” As we all know, during the awards season, nothing can be overlooked in the final product of walking down the red carpet.

Red carpet events are awesome for brand recognition, and in most cases, the exposure from the event increases the sales of the designers worn by the celebrities attending the event after the fact.

So, where do the dresses go after the Oscars are done?

If it’s couture, “most of the time designers want the dresses back,”  stylist Rachel Zoe told USA Today. “It’s different every year. Some go back to designers because they like to archive them.”

“If an Oscar dress is made for a client, they can, of course, keep it,” stylist Leslie Fremar said in the same article. “It is usually cleaned and packaged and kept in a very safe place.”

In typical award season fashion, I found it only appropriate to make my very own best-dressed list of the evening.

My best-dressed nominees in no order go to:

1. Behati Prinsloo wearing Armani Privé: The Victoria’s Secret model has done it once again. Shades of red were a common theme of the evening, and Behati looks beautiful. I loved the texture and slight peplum of this gown paired with the beautiful dark neutral jewelry.

2. Naomi Watts wearing Armani Privé: This dress was said to be a steal by her stylist, as it never hit the runway. I loved the unique neck line paired with the beautiful shifts and beading.

3. Marion Cotillard wearing Dior Couture: This dress was a risk and Marion wore it flawlessly. The front was classy and chic, and the back surprised us all with the couture black insert changing the overall shape of the dress.

4. Rosamund Pike wearing Givenchy: For just having a baby, Rosamund looks unreal! The complimentary red shoe looks gorgeous and sophisticated — I am obsessed with this look.

5. Sienna Miller wearing Oscar de la Renta: She opted for a black dress as a step away from the pastels. Her hair and makeup were ‘wow’-worthy, pairing perfectly with the beautiful look.

6. Dakota Johnson wearing Saint Laurent: Dakota hit the red carpet with the best fashion accessory, her mother, Melanie Griffith. The bright lip and hair pulled back made her red dress pop even more.

7. Julianne Moore wearing custom Chanel: This gown was truly a piece of art, full of pearls and embellishments. I really appreciated that she kept her jewelry simple to not take away from the Chanel masterpiece.

8. Chrissy Teigen wearing Zuhair Murad: Zuhair was a popular choice of the evening, but this dress was definitely my favorite. I loved the beaded long sleeves and the high tasteful slit. Chrissy has definitely proven she is one to look out for on the red carpet.

9. Reese Witherspoon wearing Tom Ford: The classic black and white was modern, yet edgy. She may not have won an Oscar, but she won in my book for her elegant look.

10. Margot Robbie wearing Saint Laurent: This was without a doubt my favorite look of the night — the matte red lip with no eye makeup worked in harmony with her dress. And the statement necklace was my favorite of the night.

I was pleasantly surprised by the fashion choices of the night and had a very small worst-dressed list. It was a tame night in the fashion world, and I think the late Joan Rivers would have approved of her rangers.

Follow Hailey Geller on Twitter @hgeller30.

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, everyone begins to frantically scramble to find that perfect gift that will awe the best friend, boyfriend or girlfriend.

Here are some easy, last-minute gift ideas for all your Valentines, whoever they may be.

For the Best Friend

Movie night gift basket: Popcorn, chips, Skittles, M&M’s and Rasinets — the possibilities are endless and delicious. Who doesn’t love a Saturday night classic with their best friend? Add your favorite movies and possibly a box of tissues if you decide to include The Notebook.

Spa kit: Get ready to be pampered. Arrange some face masks, body scrubs, bath salts and a fluffy loofa in a cute gift basket for some serious R&R.

A special mug: The perfect cute and simple gift. On Etsy you can create your very own custom coffee mug for $15. Perfect for inside jokes, a personalized mug will undoubtedly make your morning coffee more enjoyable.

A framed photo: For those friends who are extra difficult to shop for. Print out a classic snapshot that perfectly describes your friendship, put it in a decorative frame and your work is done. For an extra touch, write a heartfelt note on the back of the frame.

For the boyfriend:

A beard kit: These bad boys can sell for up to $200 in stores, but you can also make your own. Pick up a firm bristle brush, trimming scissors, gentle face wash, a nice razor, some aftershave, and a sleek case to keep it all in.

An espresso maker: Bed Bath and Beyond has a great selection of espresso coffee makers for your coffee addict at any price ranges. The Allegra One-Cup Espresso Maker caught my eye with its inexpensive price of $9.99. If you want to go all out, you can even pick up a bag of espresso blend ground coffee from his favorite coffee spot and a brand new mug.

For the girlfriend:

A box of chocolates and flowers: The classic Valentines Day gift that can be tailored to your girlfriend’s tastes. Roses are classic, but I would suggest doing something a little different. If you know what her favorite kinds of flowers and chocolate are, you can’t go wrong. If you’re not sure, I would suggest getting something that would match the decoration in her room. Some of my favorites are peonies, lavender and hydrangeas. There are also some great local chocolate shops where you can pick up a customized box of chocolates. I recommend the truffles at Euphoria on West 17th Avenue.

A nice bottle of Wine or Champagne and a set of wine glasses: A festive yet classy gift for the ladies who enjoy a quality glass of wine or bubbly every now and then. World Market near Valley River Center has a vast bottle selection, with experts to give recommendations and a variety of wine glasses and other accessories as well.

For anyone else:

Google Chromecast: Who doesn’t love Netflix and hulu?! This $35 easy-to-use thumb-sized device can be plugged into your phone, tablet or laptop and can be connected to your TV as well.

Spotify Premium account: Spotify Premium allows you to access millions of songs from any device, free of ads. For students, it’s only $4.99 a month. There are also gift options available, including a year-long subscription. For the music lover in your life, this is the ultimate gift.

Follow us on Twitter — Hailey Geller: @hgeller30. Andrea Harvey: @andrearharvey.

If you’re anything like me, you sleep in till the very last second possible, and don’t understand people who come to class with glamorous hair and makeup at 8:00 on a Monday morning. (Kudos to those who do, though…seriously!)

Laziness is real and can seriously take its toll as the term progresses and people begin to lose motivation in all aspects of life. Procrastination may begin to be an adjective used in ways other than describing study habits.

Here are some tips to look your best after hitting your snooze button far too many times:

1. Shower the night before, if at all possible. If you’ve simply got too much on your plate and don’t have time for a shower, I highly suggest making dry shampoo your new best friend. I recommend Nexxus Youth Renewal Rejuvenating Dry Shampoo. It not only refreshes your oily hair, but also helps with those annoying fly-away wispys and split ends.

2. Moisturize your face the night before to tackle the winter season dry skin. Check out the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with broad spectrum SPF 30. It will keep your skin hydrated and protected from all types of weather.

3. Use highlighter to look more awake. Accentuate those cheek and brow bones. Benefit Cosmetics High Beam enhances all skin tones with a long-lasting natural, dewy glow. It is super easy to apply which is an added bonus!

4. Take advantage of your assets. The lips and cheeks combo can make it look like you tried when you really didn’t. The Stila Lip & Cheek Stain is a great all-in-one product.

5. For those surprise pimples use tea tree oil on the spot and leave it on overnight. The Body Shop makes a great tea tree oil blemish and spot treatment which can be found in their stores.

6. Braid your hair or twist it into a bun (or three) before you go to sleep. Check out some easy instructions here. Then wake up to already texturized and “done” hair.

7. A messy bun is also a great go-to hairstyle if you are in a rush. In ten seconds or less you can have the simple look. This hair do also works better with dirty hair so this can be in your advantage. Check out these instructions for the perfect messy bun in three steps.

8. Stay hydrated. Sometimes we forget how important it is to drink water daily. Drinking water can help control calories, keep you energized, keep skin looking fresh and maintains the overall balance in your body.

Throw on your favorite go-to outfit and run/walk to your first class.

Follow Hailey Geller on Twitter @hgeller30

If you’re anything like me, you sleep in ’til the very last second possible, and don’t understand people who come to class with glamorous hair and makeup at 8:00 on a Monday morning. (Kudos to those who do, though…seriously!)

Laziness is real and can seriously take its toll as the term progresses and people begin to lose motivation in all aspects of life. Procrastination may begin to be an adjective used in ways other than describing your study habits.

Here are some tips to look your best after hitting your snooze button far too many times:

1. Shower the night before, if at all possible. If you’ve simply got too much on your plate and don’t have time for a shower, I highly suggest making dry shampoo your new best friend. I recommend Nexxus Youth Renewal Rejuvenating Dry Shampoo. It not only refreshes your oily hair, but also helps with those annoying fly-away wispys and split ends.

2. Moisturize your face the night before to tackle the winter season dry skin. Check out the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF. It will keep your skin hydrated and protected from all types of weather.

3. Use highlighter to look more awake. Accentuate those cheek and brow bones. Benefit Cosmetics High Beam enhances all skin tones with a long-lasting natural, dewy glow. It is super easy to apply which is an added bonus!

4. Take advantage of your assets. The lips and cheeks combo can make it look like you tried when you really didn’t. The Stila Lip & Cheek Stain is a great all-in-one product.

5. For those surprise pimples use tea tree oil on the spot and leave it on overnight. The Body Shop makes a great tea tree oil blemish and spot treatment which can be found in their stores.

6. Braid your hair or twist it into a bun (or three) before you go to sleep. Check out some easy instructions here. Then wake up to already texturized and “done” hair.

7. A messy bun is also a great go-to hairstyle if you are in a rush. In ten seconds or less you can have the simple look. This hair do also works better with dirty hair so this can be in your advantage. Check out these instructions for the perfect messy bun in three steps.

8. Stay hydrated. Sometimes we forget how important it is to drink water daily. Drinking water can help control calories, keep you energized, keep skin looking fresh and maintains the overall balance in your body.

Throw on your favorite go-to outfit and run/walk to your first class.

Follow Hailey Geller on Twitter @hgeller30

Ahhhh, a new year. Let the two week streak of gym sessions and disgusting goop diets commence.

To help keep up with the bandwagon of looking your best this year without leaving your house for the gym, here are a few makeup and skin favorites from the pros at Nordstrom and Allure Magazine for you to try out!

1. GLAMGLOW: The press is going wild about these masks. YOUTHMUD Tinglexfloiate Treatment is the brand’s best seller and won the Cosmetic Executive Women Insiders’ Choice Beauty Award for Best Indie Brand of 2014. It gives a noticeable three-day glow and helps diminish fine lines and pores, leaving skin brighter, smoother and softer. Apply a thin layer to your clean face and leave it on for 10 minutes or less time, if desired. The tingling sensation will let you know it’s working. Remove the mask with water and voilà.

You can find the GLAMGLOW Mud products at your local fine retailers, or online at Sephora. Prices range from $19-$69.

2. Nars’ Audacious lipsticks: While these are a bit on the pricey side, these lipsticks are worth every penny to have them in your collection. The shades are rich and semi-matte but creamy all at the same time. They won Allure Magazine’s ‘Best of Beauty’ Award for Best Long-Wearing Lipstick in the shade Rita for 2014. Annabella is my personal favorite shade because who doesn’t love their guilty red lipstick pleasure?!

You can find Nars’ Audacious lipsticks online at Nordstrom.com for $32 in 28 different shades.

3. BareMinerals ‘bareSkin’ Pure Brightening Serum Foundation Broad Spectrum: A breakthrough foundation that is a skincare serum and foundation all in one – what more can you ask for? It is lightweight and long-lasting with a blend of SPF 20 and vitamin C for more even skin protection. Be sure to SHAKE WELL! Place onto your favorite face brush and then gently buff onto your skin starting from the center and working your way outwards. Use two drops for sheer coverage, four drops for medium coverage and six drops for full coverage. This foundation was the winner of Allure magazine’s ‘Best of Beauty’ Award for Best Mineral Foundation of 2014.

You can find BareMinerals ‘bareSkin’ Pure Brightening Serum Foundation Broad Spectrum online at Nordstrom.com for $29 in 19 different shades.

4. The Naked eyeshadow palettes by Urban Decay: Neutrals are far from boring with these eyeshadow palettes. You are immediately loaded with a wide range of textures such as matte, satin, shimmer and sparkle – perfect for your everyday makeup. Every shade features the Naked brand’s Pigment Infusion system which holds the color tightly on your lids and gives it that signature velvety glide. There is a palette for everyone, whether it be cool tones for the perfect neutral matte eye or the shimmer and sparkle for a dramatic going out smoky eye.

You can find The Naked eyeshadow palettes by Urban Decay online at Nordstrom.com for $54: Naked, Naked 2, and Naked 3.

5. CoverGirl LashBlast Clump Crusher Mascara: If you’re looking for a cheap, volumizing mascara without the clumps, this one is for you! This mascara comes with a slightly curved brush to prevent clumping. No longer will you fear layering mascara on and on and on. It has won the Allure magazine ‘Best of Beauty’ award 3 years in a row.

You can find CoverGirl LashBlast Clump Crusher Mascara online at CoverGirl.com for $6.99 or at your local drug store.

Follow Hailey Geller on Twitter @hgeller30

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge took the U.S. social media world by storm in 2014.

Between Jul. 29 and Aug. 12, the ALS Association received $4 million in donations compared to the usual $1.12 million during the same period of time. “We have never seen anything like this in the history of the disease,” said Barbara Newhouse, President and CEO of the ALS Association. “We couldn’t be more thrilled with the level of compassion, generosity, and sense of humor that people are exhibiting as they take part in this impactful viral initiative.”

To say what 2015 holds for us social media gurus at this point is pretty up in the air.

Video content has been coming in hot recently. Several trends have given us the opportunity to communicate through a video in a very short amount of time.

Recently, Snapchat brought Geofilters as a new feature to the social media scene. The sticker like filters are a unique addition for your “Snaps” that can only be accessed in certain locations. According to Snapchat, “artists and designers are encouraged to use this tool to bring their one-of-a-kind style to the Snapchat community.”

The demand for anonymous social media will only further grow this year.

As seen on New Years Eve, game days, various award shows and even the beautiful kite festival in India, Uttarayan, Snapchat has begun broadcasting to its consumers Geofiltered snaps on the “Our Story” feature. This feature takes users submitted coverage from live events and makes them available on one video stream bringing people from all over the world closer together. These filters are truly ingenious and allow you to share your location on Snapchat without giving away your exact location. However, the company notes that “all images must be original artwork and have to be approved by the Snapchat team.”

Allowing businesses to create their own Geofilters would be a creative and advantageous new way of advertising that could take advantage of the app’s near-100 million active users every month.

To add a Geofilter to your Snap, swipe right on the Snap preview screen to see what filters you have around you. But, you must allow location services in the app’s settings before using Geofilters, which can be accessed through your smartphone’s general settings.

As we continue to enter an increasingly mobile-first world, apps need to plan for expanding content and have it presented in a creative fashion, much like a Geofilter.

More marketing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram has been introduced to meet the demands of the social media users across the globe.

Twitter allows brands to be creative and tweet regularly, as well as its appeal of an overall greater visibility. Instagram allows marketers to bring their presence over social media via photos and short video posts.

Follow Hailey Geller on Twitter @hgeller30 

According to Kristen Brandt, a Whoville supporter and Occupy Eugene member, the homeless camp Whoville moved from their location on 6th Avenue on Saturday and established a new campsite on Shelton McMurtry blvd after ongoing pressure from the Eugene Police.

The camp’s inhabitants have renamed the camp back to its original name, SLEEPS (Safe Legally Entitled Emergency Places to Sleep) and will continue protesting the city’s ban on camping within city limits and human rights violations.

“There will be a city council meeting on Monday, December 8 which many advocates for unhoused people will be attending,” Brandt said.

Whoville was originally established about a year ago in the late summer between Broadway and Hilyard when the SLEEPS  organization demanded a safe place for homeless people to sleep.

“At the original site, we were able to keep a better eye on the ‘fragile’ residents. We have found that 15-30 people works a lot better than 40-50 people,” Brandt said.

Whoville was named an illegal campsite by the city on March 27, 2014 and was  removed by the police in April.

“Our plan has been to have them stay somewhere for a while, get a few citations and then move to a new spot and start all over again,” Brandt said.

Residents of Whoville participated in a rally to protest City Council’s reluctance to label the original Whoville location a legal campsite.

After a “No Camping” sign goes up, campers have 24 hours to leave the site.

“The residents at the new location are more involved with the politics and issues at hand with the camping ban. People do not understand that this is a protest. The tent is a symbol of protest and freedom of speech,” Brandt said.

The police say homelessness is not illegal, but camping in the city is.

“Homelessness isn’t exactly a police issue, but rather a community issue. There’s nothing illegal about being homeless,” Melinda McLaughlin, the Eugene Police spokeswoman, said.

Lynn Porter, a local homeless advocate says that the city of Eugene’s camping ban is the long-standing problem.

“The city’s camping ban essentially criminalizes homelessness since people have to sleep somewhere. Cops continually harass the homeless, making them move on, sometimes giving them tickets they can’t pay and arresting them if they stay put,” Porter said.

The city of Eugene did not return requests from the Emerald for comment.

Porter hopes that The Nightingale Health Sanctuary will serve as a shelter for 30 homeless individuals in the near future.

“This will be a double “rest stop” camp, allowed under a city ordinance. The county has offered the use of some of their land on MLK north of Autzen,” Porter said

Nightingale Health Sanctuary is planning to use the MLK location for the winter and then look for a more permanent home.

For now, the city will uphold its camping ban and activists alongside the members of Whoville continue to make the most out of the situation.

Besides Nightingale Health Sanctuary, the recently launched Lane County Poverty & Homelessness Board has a number of programs in place to shelter more people this winter, along with the Egan Warming Centers and St. Vincent de Paul’s car camping program.

Follow Hailey Geller on Twitter @hgeller30

As if we weren’t already dreading finals week, the weather literally decides to rain on our parades.

According to Justin Stapleton, KEZI 9 News Chief Meteorologist, Eugene will be seeing heavy rainfall over the next week. “You should expect to see rain every 24 to 36 hours. A storm is planned to come in Monday and will continue throughout the week,” Stapleton said.

Typhoon Hagupit, a powerful tropical cyclone in the tropical western Pacific Ocean, is likely to blast its way into the Philippines this weekend.
“There is a good chance that the leftovers of the “Super Typhoon” will get caught into the jet stream to come into the Pacific Northwest,” Stapleton said.

Teleconnections are what keeps all of the weather systems connected across the planet and are often the culprit responsible for abnormal weather patterns over long distances.

“Something happening in Japan can affect us here in the northwest, much like the Arctic Outbreak we saw not too long ago. Its something we watch carefully with potentials of big storms as they often are caused by getting caught in the jet stream,” Stapleton said.

It is very likely that this will be the case next week with heavy rain storms.

“I am expecting some of the leftovers of the typhoons here in our neck of the woods. They take about seven to 10 days to make their way over here,” Stapleton said.

The weather does not call for snow.

Follow Hailey Geller on Twitter @hgeller30

The University of Oregon generates approximately 30,000 to 40,000 pounds of hazardous chemical waste every year.

Environmental Health & Safety on campus work with academia, research and administration to manage and regulate environmental programs.

So what exactly is hazardous waste and where does it go?

According to Craig Biersdorff, who manages the safe use and proper disposal of hazardous materials on campus, there are two ways to define hazardous waste.

“One is by the listing in the regulations (specifically by name) and the other is exhibiting the characterizations of ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity and toxicity,” Biersdorff said.

It is important to have basic knowledge about hazardous waste and the consequences of a simple action. “Hazardous wastes improperly handled can lead to harmful exposures to individuals and the environment,” Biersdorff said.

UO takes care of the hazardous waste by properly identifying the waste, collecting it as directed and then disposing of it properly depending on the waste product.

The university has a designated location for the storage of hazardous chemical waste before it is shipped off site.

“If placed in a local landfill, it can impact the environment by leaching to ground waste. Hazardous waste in the sanitary sewers can interfere with procedures at the municipal treatment facilities. Hazardous waste in storm water drains can lead to pollution in local rivers,” Biersdorff said.

Gwynn Daniels is the Department Director of Environmental Health & Safety.

“Due to the volume of hazardous chemical waste generated, the UO is designated as a “Large Quantity Generator” by the EPA and Oregon DEQ, as is the case for any large research university,” Daniels said. “As a Large Quantity Generator, UO must ship hazardous waste off site at least every 90 days and for maintaining proper documentation in compliance with the ‘cradle to grave’ responsibility for hazardous chemicals.”

The “cradle to grave” responsibility is the company responsibility for dealing with the hazardous waste and overall pollution control from creation to the final disposal.

The Environmental Health & Safety programs at UO put providing education and programs to help reduce the volume of hazardous chemical waste produced on campus as one of its highest priorities.

“This is accomplished through substitution with less hazardous chemicals (e.g., “green chemistry”) and by managing a chemical re-use program in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,” Daniels said.

As a nationally recognized leader in environmental awareness of university students, the UO supports the creation of a bridge between the campus and the community.

“I think the most important thing for everyone to understand is that safety is their responsibility and to use a common sense approach in making safety a consideration in everything they do,” Daniels said.

Hallie Hoskins keeps employees protected from hazardous materials that are often encountered in their jobs, as well as advising researchers on safe work with microorganisms and human pathogens.

“UO has some regulatory requirements for this work, such as the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and the NIH Guidelines, so I help make sure we are complaint,” Hoskins said.

Biosafety professionals develop and participate in programs to promote safe microbiological practices and procedures and proper use of equipment and facilities.

“We achieve this by establishing safe containment controls, equipment usage, work practices and personal protective equipment,” Hoskins said.

Everyone at the university who generates waste has a responsibility to make sure our campus community stays safe.

“The best advice I can give is to routinely wash your hands,” Hoskins said.

Follow Hailey Geller on Twitter @hgeller30

Forecasters issued an ice storm warning at 4:13 am this morning for Benton, Polk, and Lincoln counties above 500 feet, including Corvallis and Albany.

The winter storm watch continues for the Central Willamette Valley and snow appears to be staying in the Portland area and Gorge.

The forecast for Eugene calls for rain, rain, and a high possibility of freezing rain.

Heavy ice will make traveling around Eugene potentially very dangerous as temperatures continue to drop to near or below freezing. Falling branches and trees is a possibility as well as power outages. Use caution while driving as roads will be flooded and slick.

Don’t forget about frostbite: If you lose feeling in your extremities or have extremely pale fingers, toes, ears, and nose get medical attention right away.

To prevent loss of body heat, change wet clothing often and try your best to keep dry.