Unmasking the Latest Fashion Trend

I know many of you must be thinking, what type of fashion knowledge could someone such as I drop on a group of fashionably informed readers? Perhaps the latest trends in menswear? Boring. How about the evolution of Chuck Bass's basketball outfits on Gossip Girl? Maybe next time. No, instead my maiden voyage into the sea of fashion blogging will shed some light on the latest fashion trend that you may not have heard of yet. That's right, swine flu masks!

In case you haven't heard, there's a major swine flu pandemic sweeping the world. Sadly, it has inflicted several casualties, including one in our own family. However, being a glass-half-full kind of guy, I look for a silver lining, even when the survival of the human race may be in question. So I encourage you to jump on board this latest fashion craze, because pretty soon it will be sweeping the world as quickly as the swine flu virus itself!

Now some may ask, "Do I really need to wear a face mask?" or "Are face masks really effective at preventing the spread of the swine flu?" According to my extensive research, if someone coughs near you, masks can stop or slow the larger droplets that might infect you. Take it from somebody who rides the Boston subway to work everyday with some pretty sketchy folks, you do not want large droplets of infected spittle making contact with your grill.

Now that we've established with scientific certainty that you must wear a mask at all times to avoid getting infected with the swine flu*, let's talk about the fashionable advantages to such face-wear. The possibilities of self expression through your choice of mask are endless. This lady is already offering some "fashion surgical masks" for $10 a pop. However, if you ask me, those are pretty weak/ugly.

I prefer my masks to come from a more reputable source. Consider this Louis Vuitton mask, paired with a very practical nurses outfit. I am a little concerned however that this mask is a little too dainty and may not provide adequate protection against the "larger droplets" that were referenced earlier.

Or, if you want to break free of the traditional "mask" mold, you may opt for the Sophie Hulme Sequin Jacket. At $519, it may be more than you are willing to spend, however you can never be too stingy when it comes to protecting yourself from the swine flu. The more economical Unisex Mustache mask from American Apparel may do the trick as well. However, I'm not quite sure a mustache can ever be "unisex" and I might recommend against some of the female readers from choosing this mask.

Finally, with the swine flu spreading so quickly, you may feel it is just too dangerous to head outside to pick up a new mask. If that is the case, consider some options you already have in your closet at home. This MacGyver-inspired gentleman shows how a little imagination and ingenuity can go a long way toward protecting against the flu. Just make sure you don't accidentally pull something from the dirty clothes hamper...

Who knows what the future holds for the exciting world of swine flu masks. As some of you know, Laura recently announced the soon-to-be-released Lolly Brand t-shirt line. My fashion crystal ball is telling me that t-shirts are so last season. This season, it's all about flu masks. Perhaps with my guidance, Lolly Brand can release a limited edition line of masks decorated with Lolly's traditional cupcake logo in an array of fashion forward colors.

Until next time, stay healthy, and look great doing it.