Cholos

So you want to be a Cholo? According to wikiHow, to be a ‘cholo’ there are three certain steps you should follow: The first step is to look like a cholo. Wear black, navy, or brown pants that are 8 sizes too big; remember you’re going for the ‘baggy’ look. Buy some plain white tees, striped polos, or button up shirts. If it’s winter time, wear plaid flannel jackets. Again, the shirts should be at least 3 times larger than what you usually wear. Wear some tight shoes that won’t slip off easily when you have to run. Knee high socks, military belts, and black beanies are a must. The second step is to lean like a cholo . Don’t let anyone disrespect you. Don’t back down. Don’t move out of the way for anyone unless it’s a homie or a lady. Be mean and aggressive. Learn how to fight. The third step is to speak Spanglish. Mix your English and Spanish. Use a Spanish accent when speaking in English. Add “vato”, “foo”, “way”, “ese” to your vocabulary. If you see one of your friends yell out “Orale vato!” or “What up, homie!”

You’re almost ready to be a Cholo but not quite there yet. Get some Cholo music like oldies, funk, homeboy rap, old school. Guys, get cholo haircuts like fades or shaved heads. Ladies, draw your eyebrows on your forehead with a black sharpie and put on a dark shade of lip liner on those lips, but remember no lipstick, I mean, you don’t wanna look dumb. Don’t wear the wrong colors unless you are ready for a beat down. And if you don’t know anything, don’t say anything at all.

“Cholo” usually refers to a Mexican-American youth associated with a street gang. Cholos became very popular in 2007 with Down aka Kilo’s popular song “Lean Like a Cholo”; Fergie and Gwen Stefani have also used the chola image in their music videos. If you thought Cholos could only be found in L.A., you were wrong. This Mexican-American movement that originated during the 1940s to the 1970s has now reached Japan.. Lowriding has become very popular in Japan in recent years and you can now find youtube videos of Japanese cholo artists mixing English, Japanese, and Spanish. These konnichiwa homies can now even do their shopping at a store that caters specifically to them, located in Shibuya.

Frida Kahlo

When we think of style icons, Frida Kahlo is probably not the first person to come to mind. Most of us had probably not even heard of her until Salma Hayek starred in her movie. Born on July 6, 1907 in Coyoacan, Mexico to a German father, Frida Kahlo was destined for controversy and fame. Her father Guillermo Kahlo was born in Germany but migrated to Mexico in 1891 at the age of 19 and her mother Matilde Calderon y Gonzalez was of indigenous and Spanish descent. Frida had three sisters and remained close to her dad through most of her life. In 1910, the Mexican Revolution began and Frida would claim she was born in this same year so people would associate the revolution with her.

When Frida was six years old, she was infected with polio which made her right leg thinner than the other; she learned to disguise this by wearing long skirts or dresses. Adding to this, Kahlo suffered a car accident when she was 18 that left her spinal column and pelvis broken in different places. It was during this time of recovery that she began painting as an emotional and spiritual outlet. Most of her paintings are self-portraits and they are very graphic clearly showing her pain and suffering. Because of her accident, Frida was never able to have children and would even have a leg amputated years later. Frida married the famous Mexican artist Diego Rivera in 1929, divorced him in 1939, and remarried him in 1940. Frida Kahlo was openly bisexual and had many extramarital affairs with both men and women.

We can still see Frida Kahlo’s influence in fashion today; take for example an editorial from last year’s Mexican Vogue. Many fashion designers have also drawn inspiration from the tragic Frida Kahlo including Anna Sui, Sussane Bisovsky, Liu Xing, and Armando Mafud. Frida Kahlo loved mixing different eclectic patterns and prints, primitive styles, and bright colors both in her paintings and clothing. Frida loved to wear long skirts, indigenous blouses, and braids interwoven with big hair accessories such as bright flowers or head bands.

Studs & Spikes

I bet most of you guys have noticed the trend right now is to have studs and spikes on everything you own. I bet most of you own a piece of clothing or accessory with studs or spikes. What's great about this trend is that you can dress it up or down. Studs and spikes go with everything! So if you wanna be rock glam or cutesy girly, no worries!

This trend can be found in many price ranges from the most expensive one like a Burberry trenchcoat to the DIY accessories.

Etsy and Ebay are also great websites to find your studs and spikes. You can buy your studs and spikes and embellish your own clothes like I do!

I also found these cute shoes on Ebay that I just had to get! I mean, are they not cute or what??