Francesca’s Boutique has been at the Oakway Center for almost two years, but the brand has been around since 1999. Their first store opened in Houston, Texas, and they now have more than 500 boutiques.

According to the store manager, Kymmi Hanks, “Francesca’s is not your average store — it’s a boutique. We only get five sizes per style and once it’s gone, it’s gone.” By having minimum merchandise, Francesca’s can roll over items quickly, and always have new things in stock.

The store itself is small, but they make good use of the space by keeping clothing predominantly on the outer edge of the store and using mixed wooden tables inside to display scarves, candles, books and other quirky gifts. The layout keeps it from feeling overwhelming. There are also two dressing rooms tucked into the back left corner.

“We sell tons of unique gifts — stuff you won’t find anywhere else around town,” Hanks said. While Francesca’s main selling point is clothes, Hanks said their goal is “to dress our customers from head to toe, accessories too.” One cool find is a unique pair of silicone molds for baking muffins. They’re blue with a denim pattern, so when you bake your muffins, they look like “muffin tops.”

Francesca’s also has room decor, including pillows with funny sayings and tons of cute wall art you won’t find anywhere else.

“I love the variety that they carry — it ranges from casual to classy, and the environment in the store is great,” student shopper Emily Squires said.

Francesca’s offers a 10% discount exclusively to UO students with a student ID. Getting to the register may be a bit difficult, though, because both sides of the register have large tables on both ends stocked with inspirational books, drinking accessories and various other goodies.

The staff is great as well. They greet you upon arrival and are ready to assist in any way they can.

As they just received their new spring merchandise, now would be a great time to check out the boutique.

Happy shopping!

Wondering what to wear for outdoor workouts in winter? This guide will help you put together a warm workout outfit to battle the cold.

Leggings will continue to be hot this year. In fact they are getting even crazier. If your feeling it try a crazy pattern mixed with a bright top. If you prefer to stay a little more laid back with your look try a solid colored legging in a color other than gray and black. You can mix this with a plain top to help you stay in your comfort zone and in style at the same time. Leggings are going to get crazy this year with all types of crazy graphics that and illusions that look crazy when you run. In addition to the graphic upgrade on leggings they will also be more breathable without being see through. Check out Nike’s latest legging for a comfortable fit and a crazy graphic.

Mesh Yoga also offers their crazy take on leggings with these yellow leggings. While these are specifically designed for yoga they are versatile for street style and running.

You can fight the cold bite of winter by layering up. For basic layers Target and Champion teamed up to create a budget friendly but effective workout line. They offer great apparel for both men and women. For men, try this compression shirt that absorbs sweat while maintaining a great fit. It can be worn by itself to the gym or under another shirt to give you warmth.

Women, try this shirt made with performance cotton that is both soft and warm. This long sleeve t comes in tons of colors to match any of your shoes.

H & M recently just launched a new sportswear line just in time for winter. In this new line they have created a jacket that is both budget friendly and cute. This jacket from H & M looks like other expensive down jackets but this one is only $50. It only comes in one color for now but of course black will match with anything. Additionally it is lightweight, perfect for hiking or running.

This vest is great for men who want and need a wind blocker for their outdoor workouts. This vest from H and M is light and easy to throw on, it even has a collar to block your neck from the wind. It has a great design and is very budget friendly.

Need a cute tee to sweat it out in? Check out Old Navy they have a great variety of workout clothing especially in their shirts. They offer tanks with funny fitness related sayings and they are a great price.

Old Navy also has developed a great material that works like dri-fit and whisks away sweat without leaving a sweat mark. They even make tank tops with built in sports bras

H & M Athletic also offers great T-shirts for men, they come in a wide range of fits, from fitted (compression) to fleece shirts and breathable cotton. Try this fit for a basic day out on pavement.

Is 2015 going to be your year? The year where you conquer your goals and accomplish something you will look back on and be proud of? Perhaps 2015 marks graduation, a new internship or the start of a new you.

No matter what you do within the year of 2015 , do it in style. If you want to redefine your style or perhaps just need a few new ideas for the year look to these four looks to give you some inspiration.

Casual Cute: This look has its roots in fall fashion with its knit sweater and vest, however, the plaid adds a twist that takes this look from fall to winter. This fall, vests were huge. Men and women alike rocked vests either for an athletic look or simply as an additional comfy layer. This look will keep you warm on your walk to class by layering either a thick knit sweater or a long sleeve shirt under the quilted vest. Another quirky twist this outfit features is gray Timberland boots. I think boots are a great way to conquer the puddles and whatever winter might bring us. (Make sure to spray your boots with water proof spray before hitting the pavement.) Additionally, I added some classic black leggings, for the winter time I would opt for something a bit thicker than Forever 21′s $3 leggings though. Keeping it simple and tying the whole look together is a basic backpack. If you want to add a little more to this casual look, try a polish the color of your sweater and some bangles.

Sophisticated: On the opposite side of the spectrum we have a sophisticated and polished look. This look is inspired by Instafamous fashion bloggers who rule the popular page of Instagram. Try this look and see what happens when you post a #OOTD pic on Insta! I predict this year that a loose fit pant will be very popular. It has already crept back into our current trends with Harlem pants and bell bottoms. If you want to try this trend go for something that is loose, but mimics the tailoring of a skinny jean. It is loose at the top and bottom, but the pant slims a little as it goes down. This look is very flattering on most people. Black and white always goes with anything so it’s a good pattern to start with. For Winter you can use a cranberry colored top like the one pictured. This look can also be styled with a lace halter bralette for Spring or Summer under a blouse tank top. If your cold, wrap yourself up in a long trench coat and add a floppy hat or a cute knitted turban. Finish this look with any type of shoes, if you want to make your legs look longer go for a heel!

Grunge: The Grunge look can be bold and out there at times, but that’s what makes it so cool. Not everyone thinks they can pull the look off, so if you feel yourself being tempted by the style try it this year! This look can be easier than you think to put together. Often it relies on basic colors such as black and gray that you can already find in your wardrobe. Grunge style plays with lengths of pieces and a Kimono is a great piece to start with. Grunge also incorporates layering If you have any additional pieces you think might look good with a grunge outfit throw it in the mix. There are two looks in this board, but both rely on the same shoes and kimono. For warmer weather try a basic tank and knotting it in the front or on the side. Pair it with a dark bandeau and a single gold long necklace. For bottoms you can add a skirt with a cool hem line and even some hip unique socks tucked into Doc Martens or the like. For cooler temperatures try a crop top with some high waisted jeans. Ideally the crop top and high waisted pants won’t leave too much skin out and keep you a bit warmer. Add a beanie, wool socks and boots for a unique look. Grunge also relies on accessories so the more unique pieces you can find the better. These Meow earnings are super cute and use the basic dark colors. Grunge is such a cool style and it looks best when people are using their own creativity in their style. Have fun with this look!

Athletic: If you met anyone new over break and told them you go to the University of Oregon, their next comment probably may have contained the word Nike. This look is a style for students who live in their comfy workout clothes. Workout clothes are perfect for winter because each piece may have Dri-fit technology and other things that can keep you warm while you work out in the cold. Walking to class, depending on how far away you are or how tired you are, can feel like a workout, too! Sometimes under all those layers we can become sweaty, but Dri-fit material will soak up that sweat and nobody will ever notice. For a winter look I paired a sports bra with a long sleeve top that has thumb cut outs (to keep your hands warm while you text), and a thick pair of leggings. The pattern featured on the leggings is going to be huge this year. Many stores already have tons of pieces of clothing that reflect this gray and white pattern. Also to keep the look bright and away from boring workout clothes, I brought in a pink wind breaker. With proper layering this look can keep you at the perfect temp. For spring swap the long sleeve for a t-shirt and the leggings for running shorts. These shoes are perfect for both seasons and for running of course.

Keep in mind that these are just a few ideas and that style should always reflect your personality. With that in mind, if you want to portray yourself differently make sure to always represent yourself and have fun with new things. Sometimes wearing bold pieces in public can be scary, but it helps you figure out your style and you might just own it.

Emerging in a world full of dazzling diamonds, Alex and Ani bangles and fuel bands is a new form of jewelry hitting the market in March 2015: Cuff jewelry is a multitasking piece of jewelry originally designed with women’s safety in mind. If you ever find yourself in a scary predicament, you simply press the discrete button on your Cuff piece and it sends live audio, your location and an alert to emergency contacts of your choosing.

But this smart jewelry doesn’t look like an actual cuff. They offer an array of beautiful designs.

On top of their safety feature, Cuff also added a feature that vibrates when you have an incoming call from an important contact, or when you have left your phone far away, reminding you not to leave it behind. It also calculates your footsteps and compares it to your calorie intake on their free accompanying app Cuff.

While the concept behind Cuff seems practical and helpful, UOPD Sergeant Scott Geeting advised, “It doesn’t replace calling 911. If you have time to dial, you should.”

UO Safe Ride is also skeptical. “It sometimes feels like these products are a little gimicky and skirting around the real issue,” Marina Claveria said. “Most cases of coercive rape or assaults perpetrated by acquaintances or friends would not be as easily prevented with this type of product. In this way, I think they’re kind of furthering the idea that assault will all be happening when walking home late at night by a stranger.”

There are many alternatives that exist on campus for students to feel safe and how you utilize them is up to you.

For sophomore Samantha Wang, Cuff seems like a good idea. “When people get kidnapped they don’t ask you to take off your jewelry. I think Cuff might make me feel more assured when I go on runs around town.”

Kevin Burgan, a junior at UO, noted, “It’s similar to the app Circle 6. Regardless, I think it is better to call 911. But it does seem like a fast way to communicate that you need help.”

Since Cuff pieces will not be available until March of 2015, it’s unclear how they will affect their users.

Here on campus, product design student Kathlena Anderson designed a bracelet called Siren with a similar concept in mind.

“I’m very concerned with issues surrounding sexual assault and rape culture both as an employee at Safe Ride and as an individual,” she said. “I realized the best approach would be to make something that was nonviolent, easily accessible, intuitive and empowering.”

Anderson’s product is still a work in progress but it shows the impact rape culture has on UO students and how some are taking proactive steps to make our campus and individuals even safer.

Technology has consistently brought us innovative technology that helps us but we cannot forget the telephone. For now if you feel endangered, don’t forget you can always call 911 with a click of a few buttons too.

Tuesday night, G-Eazy tore the roof off of the Roseland Theater in Portland.

From the Bay to the Universe tour began its run about two months ago and features E-40, Jay Ant, Marty Grimes, a handful of talented DJs and surprise guest, Bobby Brackins.

The show started at 8 p.m. and opened with Jay Ant, who reps the HBK Gang (think Sage the Gemini and friends). Jay performed a few songs and then introduced E-40.

E-40 took the stage and the crowd went wild when he performed “Function,” “There She Go,” “You and That,” and the classic banger, “Snap Your Fingers.” He told the audience that he will be releasing a two new CDs on Dec. 2. E-40’s last song was “I Don’t Fuck With You,” eliciting a wave of screams.

After a thirty minute break and a few DJ sets of the most popular hip hop songs spun by DJ Fatboy, the lights dimmed and a minute countdown was reflected on stage. G-Eazy came out in all black with a long trench coat when the clock zeroed out and opened with his song Downtown Love. Blue lights flashed everywhere and matched the more tranquil vibe of this popular song.

Then, G-Eazy introduced himself as Gerald and stated that the first time he came to Portland, he performed at a coffee shop around the corner from the Roseland Theater. Throughout the show, he repeated how honored and humbled he felt because his last show hardly had 200 people and most people in the audience didn’t know who he was. For this tour, he sold out the Roseland, which seats 1,410, in a few minutes.

Gerald decided to play some of his older songs since a few people from that coffee shop a few years ago were in the crowd and to my surprise, almost everyone knew the lyrics.

He contrasted these older songs with his most popular song, “Far Alone” featuring E-40, toward the end of his set. This song was amazing live, sounding almost identical to the recorded version. The crowd absolutely lost it with the combo of G-Eazy and E-40 — at least 15 bras hung from the mic stand by the end of the song.

The show also had a cinematic component to it. There was one main screen that projected parts of his music video for songs like “Let’s Get Lost” and “Far Alone.” G also utilized this simple screen to display solid colors that reflected the emotions of each song and then mixed an interview with his mother into the mix. The whole effect turned out very unique and authentic.

After a break, he came back with a new song, Lady Killers featuring Hoodie Allen.

The best moment of the concert was his encore. The stage went pitch black, the screen said “loading” and Gerald started singing his banger, “Loaded.” Smoke and confetti and champagne covered the crowd on every drop of this song. Balloons stamped with the words, These Things Happen, the name of his album, floated along in the hyphy craze.

No matter where you are going for Thanksgiving or whom you are spending it with, these fashion boards created specifically for Ducks will help you find an appropriate outfit. Thankful yet?

1. Women’s Fancy Thanksgiving

This outfit features a cranberry color dress to keep you seasonally stunning and layers a fur coat to give the outfit some dimension and a little warmth. Hopefully, you will be inside. If not, feel free to add a black peacoat to maintain a classic look, some tights and maybe colorful tall socks that peep out from the gray booties.

2. Men’s Fancy Thanksgiving

This outfit is just so nice, I think girls everywhere would be thankful to see a man dressed like this at their Thanksgiving celebration. While the backpack is not necessary, consider stashing some champagne for you and your significant other to enjoy later, or to store that leftover turkey to bring back to the mini fridge in your dorm room.

3. Thanksgiving with Family

Top two reasons why you don’t want to wear anything tight for Thanksgiving dinner with your family: 1. For once in your life you don’t have to wear tight clothes (Rejoice! Especially since you’re about to eat three times your weight in mashed potatoes.) 2. While you might be thankful for the way body con skirts look on your body, your grandparents won’t be as thankful. Opt for a more conservative appearance. To maintain a polished look, you’ll need to find comfortable jeans that maintain some shape, I suggest jeggings. Jeggings will provide the stretch and the shape you need, plus they will fit nicely inside your boots. Throw on a nice long necklace, perhaps the one your grandma gave you a few years ago that you never wear. Sorry grandma!

4. Cold Thanksgiving

If your headed somewhere cold this Thanksgiving bundle up and choose the right boots for the terrain. A cute knitted sweater will keep you warm along with a colorful beanie and some gloves.

5. Men’s Casual Thanksgiving

This outfit is very put together for men but still looks laid back. The scarf adds an unexpected element and incorporates fall and winter colors.

6. Night out Thanksgiving

This super fancy outfit is perfect for either spending a night out on the town with you significant other or if you’re going to a more formal Thanksgiving event. You can do no wrong with this black dress and the cut at the bottom keeps this dress from being a plain LBD.

If you haven’t seen the University Theatre’s new adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, I highly recommend you do. The show, which runs until Nov. 22, is three hours long and is filled with laughter and ornate, hand-crafted costumes.

“The costume element of this production is of such a high caliber, from design to creation to performance of each piece,” said Matthew Ober, who’s acting in the show. The University Theatre decided to take a more modern spin on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, published in 1813, which included a major creative opportunity in the costume department. The head designer behind the whole production is Alexandra Bonds.

Bonds is the Professor of Costume Design at the University of Oregon and manages a team of designers for the theatre.

“We have a full time shop manager, Vicki Vanecek-Young, who also makes all the patterns for the clothes. There are two GTFs, five or six work study positions and up to 20 students from the introductory technology sequence who contribute to the construction of the clothes,” said Bonds.

While Bonds had a whole team to help create costumes, finishing them took a long time.

“I did the first sketches in August, shopped for the fabrics and finished the design in September and we started building the costumes at the beginning of fall term,” she said.

The play’s costumes reflect the Regency era, known for it’s detailed columnar dresses and exquisite tailoring. Every character of the play has their own unique styling that contributes to their attributes as a character. For instance, Bonds described the dress of one of the main characters, Kitty, whose dress has more of a “silly cotton candy” look to it because her character is a bit ditzy. While each character is distinct, they all circle back to a main look that fused old-world Jane Austen with modern day fashion.

“They all had the high-waisted line and the pastel colors to unify them with the past and present qualities of fashion,” Bonds said.

The element of costumes in a production is crucial. They can better help the audience understand the characters and the play as a whole.

“You can see from my designs that I place a high value on all the details of silhouette, color and ornamentation. I use these elements of design to create distinct characters so that the audience will come to understand who each is through their visual image,” she said.

Costume design is a great way to contribute and experience theater if acting isn’t quite for you. Any student can apply for a job in the costume shop or enroll in TA 122. “We can teach you how to sew while you are working on simple parts of the costumes and more experienced stitchers will be assigned more complex projects,” Bonds said.

Follow Sarah Vella-Labrador on Twitter @SarahKiana95

Vance Joy and Jaymes Young stole girls’ hearts one song at a time last night at WOW Hall. WOW Hall was packed with people varying from high school students to couples sharing the romantic experience of Vance Joy.

Starting off the show was artist Jaymes Young. Young played one of his newer songs, “Habits of my Heart,” to open his set. He played with a modest band that consisted of a bass player and a drummer. This small band allowed Young’s voice and all it’s octaves to remain the main focus of his set. He performed for thirty minutes, and within that time everyone experienced chills and disbelief of the raw talent that Young exhibited on stage. While his face did not express many emotions, he graciously received the audience’s screaming especially during his banger “Dark Star.”

Thirty minutes after Young performed, a curly haired, tall, handsome man by the name of Vance Joy took the stage to screaming fans. Joy appeared to look like a fellow Eugeneian with his facial hair, plaid shirt and dessert boots.

He opened his set with a classic romantic song named “Emmylou” from one of his older Ep’s. It was apparent from the moment he started singing that all his emotions poured out through his performance. His voice and facial expression appeared as if he was singing this song directly to the girl he wrote it about. This, of course, made the crowd go wild.

After a few more songs: “Redeye,” “Georgia,” “Winds of Change” and “Wasted Time,” Joy’s Australian accent and kind, modest demeanor were displayed when he discussed how he was inspired for some of his songs. One way was from his Uncle’s post on Facebook.

While encouraging us to sing mid-song Joy momentarily forgot the next line but played it off cool and, within a heartbeat, started singing again. This made him seem even more down to earth and elicited giggles and adoring stares from the crowd.

After chatting a bit more and agreeing to sign a hubcap, Joy swapped guitars (as he did many times that night) and closed with “Riptide.” The crowd immediately threw their hands in the air and belted the well-known lyrics. This made Joy smile especially after the song when someone yelled “curl game on point” in regards to his perfectly messy curls.

Despite turning down the crowd’s request of an encore, it was obvious Joy enjoyed the venue. “It’s a good vibe in here tonight, and I like how it got very quiet for that song I like to perform it when it’s quiet, so it’s really a pleasure to be here,” said Joy after he sang “My Kind of Man.”

King Sama dropped his most recent EP, Oregon, on Oct. 31, 2014.

The EP must have been released on Halloween because it is full of treats. Oregon, the EP, features a consistent flow of Neo-Soul rap and melodic tunes that mix with King Sama’s lyrics that describe his experiences in college.

Emiro Blom, a sophomore at the University of Oregon, is the lyrical genius behind the stage name King Sama. Blom is not only a rapper: he dabbles as a DJ on the weekends and has recently directed and produced his own play. Blom is also an experienced actor and improv performer.

Blom originally hails from Long Beach, California and got his start rapping when he was 15. “I was just writing raps with buddies in class instead of taking notes and on the drive home we would spit them for each other and see if they were any good,” said Blom.

King Sama says his music has evolved a lot since when he first started rapping, and his most recent EP showcases his musical development.

“I was getting use to rapping on beat and writing lyrics to a beat versus writing song first then hearing the beat. And then I purposefully released the Cloudy EP, which was suppose to be a beta test,” Blom said.

The main focus of this EP is fluidity. King Sama worked to produce a sound that is fluid throughout the whole EP. “I tried to create some of a reoccurring feel to it so that if you listen to it all the way through nothing stands out, and everything sounds like it belongs on this EP,” said Blom.

Oregon features 10 new songs and also features various producers.

Track number nine, also known as “62″, is a rap that King Sama wrote to his mom. If you listen closely, you can hear intimate details about his childhood and relationship with his mother.

Another notable track, “Nearby Creek,” took King Sama around two years to finish. Blom explained that by working with other producers and rappers, the production process slows down. “Just because you’re ready doesn’t mean they are yet. They might take the beat and practice now, but not drop their rap until a while later.”

When Emiro is not rapping or creating beats, he can be found in Villard, acting or working on his most recent production, “Our Own,” a play about two roommates who are recent college graduates that must face the unforgiving world of life after college with no safety net.

If he is not in Villard, he may be at parties as a DJ spinning his tracks with other producers and rappers to create an eclectic hip hop mix. “My friend Chris Lee just produced a new song that I like to play at parties, too. It’s important to support your local artists who work hard every day,” Blom said.

You can download King Sama’s Ep Oregon here, and check out his past Ep’s on his Soundcloud here.

Remember those lists you use to make as a child of things you were thankful for on Thanksgiving Day?

For most students they can be very long, as we are all very fortunate. We are being educated and we have people that care about us, whether they are friends, family or both. This year if you find yourself too busy to do one extra “assignment” try turning in some clothes or other gently used items at a shelter this Thanksgiving.

If you have been in Eugene for a while you have noticed all the homeless people that are a characteristic of our town. Many of these people struggle daily to find food, shelter and other necessities.

Here is a list of places where you can donate things, or even volunteer your time. While you may not hear a direct thank you from the people who receive your items, know that you are directly making a difference in somebody’s life.

WomenSpace
WomenSpace is a crisis center and support center for women who have been subjected to physical, emotional, sexual and economical abuse. This “space” provides shelter for women and their children. They work hard to help women’s children go back to school with the supplies they need to succeed (ah the days of crayons and rulers). They are always accepting school supplies, gently used and car seats for children. On top of that they also accept household items, clothing and personal hygiene products. While they have many programs they are all focused around women and their children. If you have a donation for them please call (541) 485-8232.

Eugene Mission
Eugene Mission accepts all types of donations. They accept appliances, household goods, food, furniture and more. The Eugene Mission is a Christian based shelter that provides beds, clothing, meals, childcare, personal care and a gospel message. They also provide a program called, The Life Change Program, that helps many people each year restart their lives and incorporate the message of God in their everyday lives. They also have a program that focuses on recovery from addictions. If you have a donation you can bring it to their offices at 1542 West 1st Avenue, Eugene.

White Bird Clinic
The White Bird Clinic has been serving underprivileged people for over 43 years. You may have seen one of their crisis van’s, CAHOOTS, picking up and assisting people on the streets at anytime of day or night. This is one of their many services. The White Bird Clinic provides homeless shelter, dental services, acupuncture detox mental health counseling and many more services. White Bird Clinic is in desperate need of tarps, clothing, backpacks, blankets and travel size toiletries. The White Bird Clinic is located at 323 E 12th Ave, Eugene.

St. Vincent de Paul-Society of Lane Co.
With 12 retail stores and a car lot all in Eugene St. Vincent de Paul is a large-scale charity that helps thousands of people each year. The closets store to our campus is located at 100 East 11th, Eugene. St. Vincent de Paul has a multitude of services that provide employment for people via their recycling and manufacturing aspect of the charity. They also provide shelters and help connect people with affordable housing for life after shelters. They provide emergency services and help people find jobs. One major aspect of St. Vincent de Paul is their thrift stores. The 12 thrift stores of Oregon all accept donations and in turn sell them and create crafts for sale. All the
profits go back to the charity so they can help the community. These retail stores also provide jobs and job training for many under privileged people in the area. St. Vincent de Paul accepts almost anything. Visit their website here for a comprehensive list of things they accept and where to bring your donations. Some things they accept that might surprise you are single shoes, which they send to amputees and pieces of fabric (used to create something new). If you have any questions or donations, call them at (541) 687-5820 or visit their location on East 11th street.

Each Thanksgiving, or anytime of the year actually we have the opportunity to help one another rise above the curve balls life throws us. The only difference with people who benefit from these amazing charities is that they struggle with basic necessities, while we struggle to stay awake when we are studying for our midterms. Thank you in advance to anyone who donates time, money or items to these astounding charities and happy Thanksgiving.

*All of these places accept monetary donations and most count as a tax write off as well.