Anne Chen
Writing Across Media Portfolio - 8 Short Writing Assignments Parsons the New School for Design Fall 2014
Assignment 1: Write a short article about yourself. August 30, 2014 BRB, I'm Not Here Right Now: How I Face Life's Difficult Moments Am I alone in often feeling that my life runs like a motion picture? A film, pre-scripted by some unknown power, in which I wander, confused and displaced, among other characters. There are certain moments which my sense of this heightens: the “acts” of life trauma which force me to try to remove myself from the scene - if not physically, than metaphysically. Am I foolish to believe that I can will my spirit to leave my body and hover above what’s happening, that I can shift so easily between the roles of actor and audience member? One such moment occurred recently, and I’m surprised that I can sit and recollect it now so vividly when, at the time, I’d resorted to my disassociating tendencies. Duran, my beloved best friend, the only one I’ve ever known to never fail to play co-conspirator, to lend a listening ear, passed away. Though I’d already begun my process of “moment removal” during the car ride to the doctor’s, I still broke down in tears in the waiting room. I admit, it was time for him to go. Thirteen years is beyond a German Shepherd’s typical lifespan. But yet, standing in that procedure room (brightly lit and decorated with flowers, as if these small touches could possibly hearten owners about to put their pets down), I still couldn’t grasp what was about to happen. How could a life end just like that, with two quick shots into his trembling body, with a reassuring “I’m sorry, it was the right thing to do” from the vet? Was he really gone, when his eyes were still open? Or was he just napping, and about to leap up, stain my clothes with his drool, and offer apologetic “Just kidding’s!”? I tucked that moment away, to join the others in a collection that was only growing: the visit to a psychiatric ward to visit a depressed friend, the long drive back home from Dan’s after realizing we were finally over. And I couldn’t help but worry: will there be more experiences like these to come? I fear I am running out of storage space.
Assignment 2: Write a column, a blog post or a piece of OpEd. September 10, 2014 Hedi Slimane: The Good, The Bad...The Profitable? A new brand name, typeface, and logo. More fast fashion-mimicking collections. Grungier ads starring rockers and style rebels. These are just a few of the changes Hedi Slimane’s introduced to legendary fashion house Yves Saint Laurent since his 2012 appointment as creative director. As controversial YSL’s hiring of Slimane may have been, it wasn’t surprising. The fashion industry has undergone significant change: brick-and-mortar’s debatable extinction; the reversal of the direction at which trends diffuse; the effects of an economy still reeling from downturn... Indeed, long-established brands cannot continue to rely on legacies and storied origins, as these very histories are what consumers craving newer, more affordable alternatives have rendered obsolete. So the big question on the minds of everyone in the fashion business: Can these brands be rejuvenated, without sacrificing their sense of elitism? Or is the latter unimportant, as stuffy luxury has become much too antiquated in consumers’ minds? For firms, the popular solution, it seems, is to bring in some youthful talent. YSL has Slimane; Balenciaga, Alexander Wang; Moschino, Jeremy Scott… But with younger creatives now their manning design helms, will their collections soon become too commercialized, too “cookiecutter”? I bring all this up after reading Cathy Horyn’s insightful analysis on the inevitable encroachment of commercial clothes on high fashion territory in T Magazine. “I’m no fan of Slimane’s, but he’s clever” - her statement captures perfectly why so many Slimane critics have been forced to swallow their words. Maybe he’s caused YSL to lose its seat as luxury: epitomized, but what’s the brand gained instead? Money. A January 2014 article from The Independent reads: “Barney’s New York reported a 60% sell-through on Slimane’s first spring collection.” Juxtapose this to Jane Larkworthy’s review in her March 4, 2013 Tweet: “When I get home, I’m going to hug my YSL clothes extra tight, tell them how much I love them and vow to never take them for granted again.” Financial results versus the opinion of W Magazine’s Beauty Director; staying true to its founder’s design aesthetic versus making sales – what/who should YSL listen to, how should it stack its priorities? As no industry expert, I’m open to ideas, but as a consumer, it’s nice to know that I may finally be able to afford some YSL clothes.
Assignment #3 - Now you're going to be an objective reporter. 9/28/2014 The United States' Heroin Problem: Catch Up on the Crisis Forbes, U.S. News, and Fox News call it an “epidemic.” Cincinnati.com summarizes it as “an explosion of addiction.” The Department of Justice and The Huffington Post describe it as a “crisis.” Though their definitions of it may slightly differ, the point behind these headlines is the same: the abuse of heroin is a rising issue in the United States. Now some publications credit our heightened awareness on the drug’s abuse to the publicity around the heroin-related deaths of celebrities, such as Glee star Cory Monteith back in July 2013 and Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman back in February of this year. But heroin addiction is not a struggle limited to the famous - a recent article from Auburn Chronicle recounts the life of Jessica Gentile, for example, and NorthJersey.com retells that of Christopher Pesce’s. Both were young adults who passed away from a heroin overdose. According to The Attorney General, “Addiction to heroin and other opiates – including certain prescription painkillers – is impacting the lives of Americans in every state, in every region, and from every background and walk of life – and all too often, with deadly results. Between 2006 and 2010, heroin overdose deaths increased by 45 percent.” Combatting this “crisis” has triggered much research into the reasons behind it. And findings have unearthed numerous root causes, including the decline of heroin’s street price, gateway drugs - such as OxyContin, Vicodin, and Percocet - being overly-prescribed, and Mexican drug traffickers expanding farther into the U.S. market. Pursuits for a solution, then, have required a collaborative effort: professionals in various fields, from law enforcement to medicine, have joined together under this mission. On the law enforcement side, states having been tightening prescription policies, and authorities are more closely monitoring suspicious activities along the U.S.-Mexico border. Both strategies hope to prevent smuggled narcotics from reaching American suburbs in the first place. In terms of treatment, new methods are being explored as well. Naxozone, an overdose reversal drug which was first developed in the 1960s, has recently been asked by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to be carried by police officers. It can be administered intravenously or through the nose, by spray. A more recent option is the drug Buprenorphin, sold under the brand name Subutex, though its market debut wasn’t met without much controversy. According to Dr. A.R. Mohammad, “[…] it has the potential to be abused itself.” But the NY Department of Health notes the drug’s benefits, including its lack of strong side effects and ability to stop withdrawal symptoms. The Fix summarizes the two opposing stances: “Enthusiasts view long-term buprenorphine treatment as the best available solution not only to the life of crime, unemployment, poverty and dope-sickness led by many addicts, but also to the chronic depression that can follow detox. The opposing camp casts a cold eye on the Suboxone fervour, viewing its prolonged use as potentially devastating and the movement in support of bupe maintenance as a looming disaster in the addiction-treatment field.”
Assignment #4: Write a short interview or profile. 10/12/2014 This profile piece is based on my recollections of a YMA FSF event I had the honor of attending this past summer. I of course took notes during Mr. Talley’s speech, but unfortunately didn’t transcribe him word-for-word. Since I wanted to include some exact quotations, though, I used ones (which are in bold in my piece) from this Vogue article. Mr. André Leon Talley: Advice from the Epitome of a True Fashion Icon To describe that Wednesday evening as anything but monumental and life changing would simply not do it justice. There I was, sitting excitedly at the legendary Sardis, hardly noticing what has earned the restaurant its fame: walls lined with celebrity caricatures, many of them I am huge fans of (De Niro, Franco, Pacino, to list just a few). I was simply too focused on the man seated before me. Swathed in a magnificent emerald African robe, Mr. André Leon Talley was truly larger than life (both in presence and in stature) in person. Chatting amicably away with fashion designer Isabel Toledo and her husband Ruben, he was easily the room’s focal point, despite his famous company. “Welcome, welcome!” he gushed to his audience of YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund recipients, his warm and genuine greeting belying his celebrity status. And so began a fascinating and intimate Q&A session with one of the fashion industry’s most renowned icons. Those who’d anticipated a discussion more about the “ins and outs” of style were surely disappointed, but I felt that the insights that Mr. Talley did impart were even more invaluable, at least for young students just beginning to launch their careers. Priceless wisdom interlaced beautifully with candid storytelling (“…When I was working for Mrs. Vreeland there were other interns far more fashionable than I was, far better dressed than I was, everything was Rive Gauche, all fluttering around there too, but she wasn’t listening or paying attention to the others. Because of the work that I had done from my own instinct.”); fashion history was brought to life through tales of personal encounters with the industry’s elite (“Karl Lagerfeld looks at me and says, ‘Follow me, follow me, follow me.’ And . . . in the bedroom, he opened these fabulous, printed Goyard trunks, and he was throwing things at me—his clothes—saying ‘Take this, darling, take this. This’ll look good on you and this’ll look good on you,’”). Refreshing, captivating, and always ready with a bit of humor - it’s of little wonder, then, that André Leon Talley has and continues to make his mark in the world of fashion.
Assignment #5: Write a review readers will want to read. October 26, 2014 As a huge McQueen fan, I chose to review one of his earlier collections (Spring / Summer 2001), so apologies if this “review” is dated. But I wanted to write about his Voss runway show because I feel that it (a) is the epitome of fashion genius, and (b) alludes to a variety of deeper cultural codes. VOSS - McQueen’s S/S 2001 Show Doesn’t Fail to Impress (and Disturb) September 26, 2000 Since his jaw-dropping Highland Rape show in 1955, Alexander McQueen has time and again turned industry conventions on their heads. His recent Voss collection was no exception. Things kicked off before the first model (waifish Kate Moss) even stepped onto the stage. We’d already been impatiently waiting for nearly two hours, during which all we could do (besides complain) was stare at our unhappy reflections mirrored from the giant glass cube installed before us. Immediately, I knew: This isn’t just going to be a presentation of clothes - McQueen’s about to hit us with a social commentary as well. Moss’s appearance didn’t alleviate any of the room’s unsettling aura (more asylum than high fashion): her ghostly complexion, the hospital headband wrapped tightly around her skull, her peculiar walk (more random amble than runway strut)… they all seemed to simultaneously clash and complement the extraordinary beige gown of cascading feathers and tiers of silk donned on her fragile frame. McQueen didn’t shy away from unexpected media experimentation in the looks that followed: mussel shells, pearls… even entire stuffed birds and a living mouse had their moments on the catwalk. But often, the models would draw more attention than the clothes: one after another, they’d saunter into that transparent chamber, then wander - even laugh hysterically! - aimlessly around, as if still fighting off the effects of post-surgery anesthesia. If all of this wasn’t enough to shock show-goers, then surely the finale was: journalist (and very curvy) Michelle Olley, with breathing tubes protruding from her mouth and nothing but moths covering her body, lounged coolly on a coffin in her cage of glass. She lay in stark contrast to the skeletal girls who’d appeared before her - McQueen’s unapologetic challenge to the fashion gods who’ve set the industry standard at 00. I left the show breathless - still trying to grasp all that I’d just witnessed. A visual orgy of violence meets horror meets theatrics meets high fashion meets exceptional craftmanship… “God, I’ve had some freaky shows,” McQueen reflects, not without a mischievous grin. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.
Assignment 6: Write a press release, corporate blog or for an in-house newsletter. 11/10/2014 I decided to write a piece on H&M x Alexander Wang's recent collaboration, since the launch just happened. Plenty of recent news articles narrate how long the lines ran, how crazy consumers were to nab a piece for themselves... so I thought it'd be interesting to write a version of the collaboration's initial announcement, from the standpoint of Alexander Wang, Inc. For immediate release. Alexander Wang to design for H&M Alexander Wang, Inc. 386 Broadway New York, NY 10013 April 13, 2014 Alexander Wang is pleased to announce that he will be the next designer to be collaborating with H&M in designing a new, exclusive ready-to-wear collection. The line will include apparel for both men and women, and also a wide range of accessories. Styles which embody Wang’s distinct aesthetic - cool downtown chic meets rock-and-roll grunge - will now be available at H&M’s affordable prices. The collaboration was confirmed by the Swedish high-street retailer during a party at the Coachella Music Festival in Palm Springs. Says Wang: "I am honoured to be a part of H&M's designer collaborations. The work with their team is an exciting, fun process. They are very open to pushing boundaries and to set a platform for creativity. This will be a great way for a wider audience to experience elements of the Alexander Wang brand and lifestyle.” Says H&M’s creative adviser, Margareta van den Bosche: Wang “is one of the most important voices in fashion today. He understands exactly what people want to wear and does it with an energy and passion that’s infectious." The collection will be unveiled at 250 H&M locations on November 6, 2014. Select pieces will be available exclusively on the designer’s official website. Please check H&M’s Instagram for regular sneak peeks About Alexander Wang Since the launch of his eponymous brand back in 2007, Wang has won the hearts of fashionistas everywhere - his urban, youth-driven looks can count various style icons, such as Mary-Kate Olsen and Nicole Richie, as avid fans. Other significant accomplishments include a CFDA win back in 2008, and being named Creative Director of Balenciaga in 2012. Known for his androgynous pieces which seamlessly blend polarities - utility and luxury; refinement and imperfections; energy and ease - Wang will be the first American designer to be partnering up with H&M. Previous designer collaborators include Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, and Versace.
About H&M H&M was built upon a business model that seeks to marry high fashion and affordability. Today, the Group’s portfolio includes H&M, COS, Monki, Weekday, Cheap Monday and & Other Stories, as well as H&M Home.
Assignment #7 - Write a short piece for TV or radio. November 23rd, 2014 Fashion Frenergy: H&M x Alexander Wang Collab Draws Crowds at Flatiron Store [VISUAL: Roll bottom caption - "Sade Baderinwa, ABC Studio" and pan camera to Sade Baderinwa.] [AUDIO: Play Channel 7 theme music.]
SADE BADERINWA: Good morning, everyone, I’m Sade Baderinwa, welcoming you a chilly Thursday, November 6th. Our first news for tonight: the frenzy surrounding the store debut of H&M and Alexander Wang’s recent designer collaboration. Kemberly Richardson is at the scene at the retailer’s Flatiron location. Kemberly, here’s to you. [VISUAL: Switch footage from studio to outside H&M’s Flatiron store, roll bottom caption - "Kemberly Richardson, Flatiron District" - and zoom into Kemberly Richardson.] [AUDIO: Play general background noise - clamor of crowd, upbeat music in background.]
KEMBERLY RICHARDSON: Thank you, Sade, and a good morning to all. Now it may be drizzling, but this hasn’t stopped plenty of fashionistas from flocking to this 42nd and Fifth store. As you can see, fire fighters have had to close off the surrounding street. [VISUAL: Pan out and show fire trucks and queue, then DJ playing by the door.] [AUDIO: Play Richardson’s voiceover.]
RICHARDSON: Doors will open at 8 AM, but it’s barely 6 and the line’s already stretching a few blocks. The first 420 people will be given bracelets, allotting them a mere 15 minutes to shop. So is it worth the wait? Well, it seems that standing in line is part of the fun: shoppers appear to be in high spirits, chatting and jamming to the blasting music. [VISUAL: Pan back to Richardson, now standing beside a shopper.] [AUDIO: Play general background noise.]
RICHARDSON: I’m here with Danielle Cotter, who says she’s been standing in line since 4 this morning. Danielle, why all the effort? [VISUAL: Roll bottom caption - "Danielle Cotter, Wang devotee" and zoom into Danielle.] [AUDIO: Play general background noise.]
DANIELLE COTTER: Are you kidding? I am a huge Wang fan, but could never afford any of his clothes. This new collection will let me finally wear a full Wang look - without breaking my wallet! RICHARDSON: I see you’ve brought some friends with you. Hi there, ladies. What pieces are you guys hoping to snag? [VISUAL: Roll bottom caption - “Michelle Petersen, Danielle’s friend” - and zoom into Michelle.] [AUDIO: Play voices of Danielle’s group of friends in background.]
MICHELLE PETERSEN: I’m making a beeline for his coats. My boyfriend also wants some tees, so I’m going to have to budget my time and make sure I can fight my way to the men’s section! [VISUAL: Roll bottom caption - “Tori Chang, Danielle’s friend” - and zoom into Tori.] [AUDIO: Play voices of Danielle’s group of friends in background.]
TORI CHANG: My strategy: grab everything I can get my hands on before the racks are decimated! But I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for his moto jackets and snake-skin knits. [VISUAL: Cut back to Richardson.] [AUDIO: Play general background noise.]
RICHARDSON: There you have it: why this designer collaboration is enjoying iPhone-worthy hype. The line’s reaching up to 120 people now, but only inching forward. Waiters continue to kill time by socializing and reviewing the rules sheet handed out by staff. Sade, back to you. [VISUAL: Cut back to studio and Baderinwa.] [AUDIO: Play swooshing noise.]
BADERINWA: Thank you, Kemberly - we’ll be checking back in with you when the doors open at 8. But this just in: H&M’s website has since crashed due to all the buzz. Good news for those who’ve been camping outside since yesterday evening. Now, onto other developing stories... [VISUAL: Switch image to next story.] [AUDIO: Play Channel 7 breaking news theme music.]
Assignment 8. Pitch an idea or write a query to an editor. 12/8/2014 Dear Mr. Imran Amed
I am a huge fan of your publication, but especially adore the in-depth interviews regularly showcased in its “People” section. From budding designers to corporate titans, The Business of Fashion lets readers step into the intimate worlds of the who’s who of the fashion industry. I’d love for BOF to include photographer Evan Sung in its extraordinary portfolio of talent. Though best known for his exceptional food photography - he can count Bon Appetit and Art Culinaire as clients - Sung is also well-versed in capturing fashion’s most candid moments. For instance, his behind-the-scenes snapshots of Alexander Wang’s runway show are especially moving. Though Brooklyn-based and born, Sung sees the world as his canvas. His sense of wanderlust has taken him to countries including Senegal and Taiwan, and the results of such travels are remarkable photographs which are so raw in their honesty and breathtakingly real. BOF already has interviewed a running list of remarkable photographers: Hans Feurer, Karim Sadli, and Viviane Sassen, to name just a few. Similar to how these conversations were structured, I think that the interview with Sung should focus on the man behind the lens, rather than his career. Childhood recollections on what led him to the camera; his creative process; the people who shaped him along the way… etc. It should reveal his modesty and general fascination with people, places, and things - endearing traits which undoubtedly are what have gifted him with the rare ability to somehow record the sublime and the ephemeral. When asked about his advice to young photographers, for instance, Sung says graciously: “[…] remain open to the world around you. Meet people. Open your eyes. You never know what the next connection might bring.” Mr. Amed, I hope you find Sung’s story and my idea for an exposé on him interesting. Though this would be my first interview piece, fashion is a topic I’ve written on profusely before, including wardrobe guides and trend analyses. If you’d like to see some writing samples, I’d be happy to send them your way. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing back from you.
Kindest Regards, Anne Chen