THE SELF-DEFINITION ISSUE NO. 329
Nikita Jansen Photography Alexandra Arnold spring 2014
iD i-Deas, Fashion, Music, People
our voice our future
THE SELF-DEFINITION ISSUE
insi-De the issue The future is ours.
Features + Fashion 23COLOR TRENDS Splash of citrus
+ Fields of Green 28FASHION
TRENDS elysium,
joyful hues, puzzling patterns, oversized stripes, color blocking, cotton candy, jersey sure, performance pieces
42PAST PRESENT FUTURE who did you think you would be? who do you think you are now? who do you want to be in the future? 60CHILDS
PLAY photography aaron bernstine model kathleen sayler
72LOSING OUR RELIGION the past present and possible future of morality by andrea mCcarrel 74H.B.I.C. photography alexandrea arnold model nikita jansen styling devon bert 82GLOBAL finding realism in the dream by andrea mCcarrel 84A photography ester baller model cynthia conrad 90A
CAUTIONARY TALE textiles ross satterfield
MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN? a tinder tale
94GAME NIGHT tinder: a drinking game 100EARGASM vampire weekend by andrea mCcarrel
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The self-definition Issue no. 330 what do you want to be in the future?
editor-in-cheif: Shelby Katz ... disney princess fashion editor: Devon Bert ... inspiring the masses culture editor: Andrea McCarrel ... married to ezra koenig art director: Evan Knowles ... searching for spirit bears managing director: Anthony Miller ... a mensch amongst schlemiels and schlimazels
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fashion contributers: Aaron
feature contributers: Romy
Bernstein, Katherine Taylor,
Oltuski, Amy Levin, Melissa
Katherine Taylor,:Alexandra
Levin, Sammy Luterbach, Emilie
Arnold, Nikita Jansen, Arielle
Sobel, Aaron Lyle Leth, Pamela
Arnold, Cynthia Conrad,Ross
Fay McCarrel, Ross Satterfield,
Satterfield,Esther Boller
Foster Kamer
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understand it, accept it, embrace it and make your future all that it is capable of becoming.
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Today I sat at a local café, going about my usual business of flipping between Internet windows, catching up on pop culture’s most recent tweets, editing blog posts and watching Lena Dunham crying—while half naked— over a lost book deal. To be honest, the point of all of that was really just to avoid writing this. I was at a true loss for words and sticking with my story: “I have writer’s block.” But to be even more honest, I was just a little afraid. I knew that this letter would bring up some emotions that I wasn’t quite ready for, when, in fact, bringing up those emotions is the entire point of this issue. While utilizing any and every distraction possible, hiding behind the façade of every writer’s cliché excuse, the catalyst to the end of my procrastination walked through the door. A young girl, about 7, came in with her grandparents, looking for a place to sit and enjoy their afternoon brownie and coffee. I immediately offered to share my table with them. The girl was quiet, but wore a smile filled with satisfaction as the three of them fawned over their heart-shaped latte art. Between my inevitable attempts at eavesdropping (that most likely didn’t go unnoticed), and drowning out the noise of those around me, I began to see images of my grandparents taking me out for an afternoon snack, asking me all about my day and what I learned in school. I saw them taking pictures of me, looking at me as if I was the most beautiful thing they had ever seen, and giving me sweets while reminding me not to tell my mother. As the memories came flooding in, it took every ounce of my being not to cry and ask to hug each member of this beautiful family. Eventually, my respect for appropriate social behavior won over my heart. When they left, not long after, I immediately opened a new window on my computer screen and began to write. Ironically, at that very moment, Priscilla Ahn’s ‘Dream’ began to play over the radio. (You really can’t make this stuff up, people. And if you haven’t heard the song, make sure you do so.) It’s a wonderful thing, what music is capable of. It can take you away from wherever you are, whatever you’re doing or whomever you’re with, lift you up and drop you right off at Memory Lane. For me, the song reminded me that ‘I’m ready now, to fly from the highest tree.’ I’m ready to accept that change is constant and life is going to keep moving ahead, no matter how hard you try to stop it. As we all sit at this crossroads, preparing to graduate from college and take the next big steps in our lives, it’s important to think about what it all means, understand it, accept it, embrace it and make your future all that it is capable of becoming. Through in-depth articles about our generation, beautifully shot editorials and so much more, this issue is a tribute to growing up. Perhaps my favorite part, however, is our interview segment. Our team conducted a series of quick interviews with people in various places in their lives, at different ages, different jobs and with different goals. The three questions are as follows: 1) Who did you think you would be? 2) Who do you think you are? 3) Who do you think you will be? When you’re done reading this issue, take some time to answer those questions for yourself, and then read the issue again, hopefully with a new perspective; perhaps one reminiscent to that of a joyful young girl with her after-school brownie. I hope it does for you what it did for me.
iD
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THE SELF-DEFINITION ISSUE
Shelby Katz, Editor-In-Cheif
Photographer: Aaron Bernstein Stylist: Devon Bert Makeup: Katherine Taylor Talent: Kathleen Sayler Photo Assistants:Andrea McCarre,Shelby Katz
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Splash of Citrus A reoccurring theme has been seen across the runways of the world. Citrus hues have graced the modern silhouettes of this season. Oranges in every shade are a burst of passion to the cold days of the fashion weeks around the world. Both mens and womens wear are playing with the hue, injecting a vivacious pop of life into collections. Outerwear pieces are springing up in orange on the streets. Experimental designer, Issey Miyake took a stab at the hue with textured details. Fast fashion mecca Zara featured inspiring orange outerwear as well. Complete the sunny trend by mixing and matching shades or with contrasting blues. JOHN LAWRENCE SULLIVAN
American Apparel
Issey Miyake
PAUL SMITH
Yohji Yamamoto
ALTUZARRA Zara THE SELF-DEFINITION ISSUE
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Fields of Green Green hues are the new neutral this season, replacing our staple black garments from the chilly months. Olive and forest greens will compliment any pop of bright color. The army colors pair wonderfully with the popular orange tones of the season as well. Both men and women are replacing their blacks and grays for the utilitarian hue.
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FENDI
ALBERTA FERRETTI
LANVIN
VALENTINO
GUCCI
MAX MARA
BALMAIN
ANDREA POMPILIO
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A recent over-stimulation of consumerism has left us jaded and uninspired. Society has become indifferent in the face of this recent explosion of media exposure. In past seasons, trends reflected the lost desire and lack of passion with muted hues and mysterious silhouettes. Despite this, 2014 has seen a resurgence of zeal in people. Runways around the world mirrored this rebirth with euphoric colored palettes and playful designs. Both women and men are setting fourth on new journeys in style-- exploring cheery tones and silhouettes that inspire. Humans are inherently pleasure seekers, as a result stimulating patterns can be seem on the catwalk as well as the streets. As individuals, we are constantly yearning for variety in life. Whether this means in artistic endeavors or traveling to new places, people are getting outside and defining themselves in their culture. Societal spirits have been lifted once again, as an elevating shift in perspective washes over the world. The Elysium signifies those people who are once more connecting with their own inner paradise and euphoria.
Elysium
Joyful Hues
Colors this season reflects the high spirits of culture. Delightful palettes of bright tones were seen for both womens wear and menswear. Elysium is defined as any place of state of pure joy. The universal language of laughter brings to mind this paradise with inspired palettes and playful patterns. The pure happiness of Elysium can be seen in elated hues like periwinkle blue, buttery yellow, Clementine orange and shocking pink. Everything from denim to fur was seen in excitingly saturated colors this season. Despite the polar vortex forcing much of the nation to stay inside, Elysium inspires us to get out of bed and stir up some bliss.
Dior
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Issey Miyake
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Color and life have been brought back into prints this season. Bold graphic and vivacious prints walked many a runway. As we reevaluate what is most important, experimentation with these new thoughts and ideas reflect onto textiles. Geometric prints make for optical illusions that put the pieces together.
Puzzling Patterns
Miguel Jacob Henrik Vibskov
FRED PERRY
Oversized Stripes
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Alberta Ferreti
Bold and brave verticals and horizontals are being seen in saturated colors. This is a fresh take on the traditional stripe that is both revitalizing and cool. Designers like Kenzo and Louis Vuitton re-imagined the classic motifs, creating modern and inspired pieces.
Issey Miyake Hermes
MSGM KENZO
Burberry
John Galliano
Neil Barrett
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T by Alexander Wang
Bold and clean shapes continue to make color-blocking a strong trend. Burberry, Alexander Wang and James Long experimented with defined forms and strokes. For the gents, designers like Kenzo are taking a fresh look at he trend with angular panels that are reminiscent of vintage sport pieces. Playful colors splash against more modest hues like gray and navy.
Color Blocking
Cotton Candy
Runways all over the world showed soft and tactile furs. Shaggy garments were presented in candy-coated colors. Fabrics look whipped and weightless against tough leathers and refined suitings. Sugary textures in carnival hues reflect the present revival of culture. Menswear designers Paul Smith, Gucci and Givenchy toyed with the senses this year, letting loose many furry models down the runway. Jeremy Scott cause quite a sensation with his first collection for Moschino. The Milan show featured fast food and cartoon inspired pieces. SpongeBob motifs and McDonalds’ inspired color blocking made his fur pieces come alive. Brightly hued furs will be sure to make a strong statement this season.
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Paul Smith
Gucci
Mugler
Michael Kors
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Louis Vuitton
Calvin Klein
Tibi
T by Alexander Wang
Everyone is looking for comfortable and stylish pieces this season. Double faced jerseys and terry’s are perfect for multi-functioning wardrobes. This hassle-free cool trend is the ideal canvas for trendy oversized stripes, color blocking and wild graphics. ž Length sleeves and oversized silhouettes add an additional touch a relaxed confidence. Everyone is ditching their constraining couture, for the new casual chic look.
Jersey Sure
Givenchy
Performance Pieces
Miu Miu
Adidas X Opening Ceremony
Burberry Prorsum
This season, men and women will be mixing their high performance wears with more luxurious garments and textiles. This sporty look has been seen on the streets for a while now, but designer retailers are now taking note. Athletic fibers like spandex and neoprene are being experimented with, creating luxury garments out of unconventional materials. Colors this season have an air of athleticism with effervescent bright’s and neon’s bringing life to wardrobes. Paneling conforms to the body this season; making it easier to move about your day. For the ladies, sex appeal is added with shear panels. Exposed zippers, snap closures, drawstrings and mesh also give an active touch to high fashion.
Adidas X Opening Ceremony
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Who d i d y o u t h i n k Who do you think Who do you w a n t t o I’m one of the lucky ones (cursed ones?) who knew I wanted to write from an early age, so there were a few options for me: novelist, teacher, editor, publisher…I always figured I’d land somewhere in that world. As for WHO I would be, I had no idea. I still don’t ;) I’m figuring it out. Perpetually. I’m lucky to be working as an assistant editor at age 25 for a magazine that inspires me creatively and surrounds me with mentors. I’m constantly, constantly trying to make my ideas better and make my ideas heard – and I’ll never stop. I’m learning, about myself, about the industry, and about the city I grew up in but am living in as an adult for the first time. Part of what I’ve learned: People say this is an industry in which it’s easy to lose yourself to conformity, but it’s also one that respects a true individual a whole lot. I’m trying to stick with the latter. In the future, I want to be me but established enough to risk more, say more, and influence more.
I always knew I would be an entrepreneur but never thought I would at the age of 22. If I wasn’t running CollegeFashionista I would own a candy store :) Loyal, dedicated and passionate about helping others make a name for themselves. Me.
Romy Oltuski
Amy Levin
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you would be? k you are now? b e in the future? When I first graduated undergrad and started law school, I thought I would be a corporate attorney working in a 500+ person firm and wearing business suits. (Chic business suits, of course, if there ever was a thing...) I am an entrepreneur, journalist, lawyer, researcher, grammar enthusiast, amateur photographer, planner, student, teacher, problem solver, traveler, thinker, mentor and an extremely coffee-dependent individual. Working at a start-up requires you to wear a million different hats (some more glamorous then others), but that’s what is so thrilling about my job. It has required me to step out of my comfort zone, learn to adapt and get comfortable with being uncomfortable. I want to continue to take on new challenges, think out of the box and continue to learn. I think the process of learning only begins in college. I plan on being a student of life for life.
A misunderstood person living in Wisconsin with too many cats and dreams of New York. A half shellshocked, half surefooted person living her fashion and big city dreams. A calm, happy person who gets 8 hours of sleep a night and has yoga toned arms.
Melissa Levin
Sammy Luterbach THE SELF-DEFINITION ISSUE
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Who d i d y o u t h i n k y o u w o u l d b e ? Who do you think you are now? Who do you w a n t t o b e in the fut u r e?
The other day I found a notebook from when I was seven that included some very specific goals: I was going to own a dark green Mustang convertible, I was going to live in Australia, I was going to be a singer, and I was going to be famous. I own a dark green car, but it’s a 1995 Toyota Camry, not quite a Mustang. I’m a 22 year old who should still be in college that has a job meant for someone five years out of school. To my co-workers, I’m a baby, and to my friends, a senior citizen. I won’t have a dark green car because I’ll be living in a city, attempting to relive young and dumb summer nights while having to pay for it the next day at work (at a job that I love).
I use to think I’d grow up to be an artist. I painted and was very artistic growing up but realized that it’s very hard to make it as an artist career wise. Right now I think that I am a fashion loving, creative, random blogger. I’ve found that I enjoy doing many things and the fashion industry has so much to offer. I’m a bit all over the place when it comes to things I want to do, but I think that’s the fun part about fashion…there are so many options and opportunities. In the future I want to be the Editor in Chief of Seventeen Magazine. I think I could totally accomplish that goal with a few years of experience under my belt. Seventeen Magazine has and always will be my favorite publication so It would be a dream come true to actually be at the top of it, I feel like I could offer the magazine so much.
Aaron Bernstein
Emilie Sobel THE SELF-DEFINITION ISSUE
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When I was younger, I wasn’t always obsessed with fashion and style - but always interested in it. Growing up in Nebraska there weren’t many outlets to let this develop, but I remember using fashion as a way to stand out and as a leveler -- that if I was wearing what was in, I would inherently be “in.” We all know that’s a crock and true style doesn’t always mean high cost. But honestly, until I was about 15 I thought I’d be in theater and become an actor. I was always a creative dreamer, and still am... after all I’m a Pisces. I think I’m a stronger person, and a visionary. Having a vision to make achieve your goals is something I realized I’ve done so often without really planning on it. When I was 16, I decided I would make magazines, namely fashion magazines, a career, and I’ve successfully done so every step of the way since then. More personally, I think I’m also a teacher -- for people from a small town in the middle of nowhere, that you can be different and still achieve great things. That was never lost on me. I think I’m also still a dreamer, looking toward what’s better for me, not necessarily better than me, and how to get there every day. In the future I want to be a whole person -- not like “oh, I finally have it all - the job, the spouse & the house” -- but a day where I can sit back and say I did all I could with confidence and courage. Jane Fonda once said it’s better to lead a whole life than a rich life, and I think that speaks volumes. Every experience is rich in its lessons for your life, but it’s the good, the bad and the downright disappointments that complete someone. You are brought to each point for a reason, as strange and sanguine as that sounds. But of course, who doesn’t want to be rich for a day in the strictest sense of the word and wear Lanvin, eat Laduree and lounge on a lanai like a Kardashian just because? It’s the journey, not the destination. If you adapt the philosophy of “I’m awesome: without me, it’s just awe so” you can make it happen.
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Growing up in a small farming community in Georgia, not much was expected from a girl except to find a guy, get married, and have babies. I knew that was not the road that I wanted, so I moved at age 18 to avoid that life. So I guess I did not think of my future as what I was going to be as much as I thought about what I wasn’t going to be. The defining feature of who I am now is that I am a nurse. It is not just a career, it is a change in the way that you think. You become more analytical and have to diagnosis everyone. If you see a stranger with a red face, sweating in a non sweating situation, you want to slap a blood pressure cuff on them and start discussing life style changes. Passing a stranger with an asymmetrical mole that is visible, you are drawn to go back and check out the border edges and the color. You see a child in their car seat on the grocery and take noted of the fact that the straps are not correctly tightened in accordance with AAP guidelines. All of these weigh heavy on you, but you have learned that sometimes people to not want advice from a stranger and you have to simply shut up and walk away.At my age, suddenly my career is not what i want to define me. Now I find that I just want people to think of me and smile. I want them to hear my name in a conversation and to speak up and say , hey I know her- she is my friend. I want to be known for being fun, kind, lighthearted, adventurous, and witty. I want to be a good friend, a good mother, a good steward of the Earth. Those are the things that, in the end, truly matter.
Pamela Fay McCarrel
Who d i d y o u t h i n k y o u w o u l d b e ? Who do you think you are now? Who do you w a n t t o b e in the fut u r e?
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I want to be known as an endless reservoir of compassion and listening and kindness for the people in my life.
Foster Kamer
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I'll go with the first thing that comes to mind, which is that time in seventh or eighth grade I was asked by an English teacher where I thought I'd be in ten years. My response then was something like—and I'm totally serious, here—"Drunk in my dorm room, working on a brilliant paper for college." That response assumed a few things: (A) That'd I'd be in college for four years, which goes to demonstrate my ambition for finishing school early, (B) That, as soon as I was old enough to drink, I'd take up the romantic notion that is the luxury of day-drinking, working, and being able to produce brilliant work while drunk. None of those things came to be: I didn't last more than three semesters in college, I still have yet to write anything I consider brilliant (but may have met the bar for 13 year-old me), and the few times I've written drunk have produced a lot of patently amusing results, none of which have been anything even remotely brilliant. Those were more or less the broad strokes I painted in when I considered what I thought I'd be, most of which changed at some fairly pivotal moments in my life: When I failed out of college (which is around the time I thought I'd live in LA and become an agent), when I realized I didn't want to live in LA (which is around the time I thought I'd become, at best, a catatonic destitute vagrant), when I realized I might have a shot at living in New York (which is around the time I thought I'd re-enroll in college, and become a hard-working playwright), when I realized I wasn't going back to college (which is around the time I thought I'd become a theater/film agent or producer), when I realized I wasn't going to become an agent and then a producer (which is around the time I thought I might make a decent magazine person/blogger). And that's where you find me now: Magazine person/blogger. There's also, of course, the far more personal aspects of who I thought I'd be, which at 13 was probably some slick bachelor looking for The One and having varied levels of success, until I found The One, cue the John Hughes credits music. At 18, it probably involved more anger and drugs. At 20 and again at 24—when I failed out of college, and when I was broken up with by a longtime girlfriend—I was genuinely worried I'd lost all sense of self, and I thought I'd die alone, with nothing to keep me company but my regrets. As hilarious as that sounds now, it was serious as shit when I was going through it, or to paraphrase a far better writer, these memories have mostly lost their edge now and seem survivable in the way that things only can once you've survived them. So at my worst, I've thought I'd be someone who always thought they'd know who they'd be, and then, become that person. At my best, I've thought the absolute worst of my future, and survived all of the thinking I did at that point in time, and have avoided (at times, narrowly) becoming any of the things I thought I might become at those points in time. Not to get too philosophical, but I don't think anyone really knows who they are, at least not in a meaningful way. They might be self-aware, but that's a matter of basic cognizance and like, knowing when you're talking too loud at a restaurant, or being an asshole, or alienating other people when you're in conversation. That might be the best answer, here: I'd like to think I'm the kind of person who people think of as being a good listener, but I'd also like to think I'm the kind of person who wants people to think of him as a good listener because he cares about listening, and not because
he wants to be thought of like that just for the sake of being regarded as something decent. I don't spend enough time in my subconsciousness to know which one of those people I am, but my therapist might be able to tell you. I do know for a fact that, regardless of why,(A) I am someone who aspires to be a far kinder, less self-involved person than I ever did when I was a teenager, or in my early 20s. That guy kind of wanted to be an asshole, even if he didn't know it.(B) I actually do kind of resemble, for better or worse, the guy who works at a magazine and has had some cool writing gigs and got some decent attention for the things he did decently that I wanted to when I was 13, or 18, frighteningly enough. But I also didn't think I'd considered too deeply the side of it I'm on now: Too much success too quickly both jaded me and put me on a pedestal that stunted the growth of both my innate talent and ambition to do great things with it. And that's who I am, now: Someone who fell into the risks they ended up taking. A writer who found a easy way to stop writing, a guy who moved very quickly up the food-chain once he stopped being afraid of failure and success, who's now stuck in a bit of a velvet ditch, who's gonna have to make a very serious play sometime soon if he truly wants to be more than a magazine guy with a superficially cool job, a totally decent (though by no means spectacular) salary, and some halfway decent clips to his name. But I'm also something enough to have an awesome girlfriend, which again, is something I both never thought I'd be, always kind of aspired to be, and suddenly woke up and found myself as. That's pretty goddamn incredible. Or it is to me. So, I'm a guy who doesn't exercise enough and who eats really well, but terribly. And whose credit score is lower than it should be, and note that I didn't say thought it should be, because my credit score was one of those things I held off on giving a shit about until recently. Better. I want to be a loving friend, a loving partner, and—maybe one day, because it's something I want but not something I'm on board with yet for a variety of reasons—a loving father. I want to be known as an endless reservoir of compassion and listening and kindness for the people in my life. That's the most important aspiration. I also want to be fulfilled on a personal level. I want to be someone who takes more risks. This is the part where people might talk about professional fulfillment or spiritual fulfillment or creative fulfillment: For me, those things are by no means mutually exclusive. The most fulfilled I've ever been is when I've felt like I'm working towards something great, in my job, in my personal life, in any creative endeavors (and the 'towards something great' caveat also isn't even something I realize is happening at the time). I'm not someone who believes in the power of fate, or god. I believe in the power of sleeping well, of going to bed knowing that I made the most of that day, and confident that I might have a shot at doing the same tomorrow. I've found that, when that's happening, everything else kind of falls into place, or at the very least, becomes manageable in a way that manifests decent things. And that's who I want to be in the future: Someone who consistently sleeps well. Someone who's always working towards something better. And of course: Someone in better health, with a better credit score, who finally starts to get to the goddamn gym in the mornings. I was once a morning person. I aspire, one day, to become one again." THE SELF-DEFINITION ISSUE
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During the beginning of my “coming of age” years I was headed straight for sorority land in a cheerleading uniform; bleach blonde hair and all. After my father passed away when I was seventeen, my entire outlook on life changed. I found art important to me. I relied on films, books, and old memorable music very heavily (and still do). I took myself way too seriously and saw a very detailed forecast for my life. I wanted to be fiercely independent, make a lot of money, and never get married or have kids. I imagined all of my friends and I would go to university and move to New York and become successful because we were the smartest, funniest, and most well-rounded humans in the universe. Single and twenty-two years old with zero future commitments, I revel in my ability to go anywhere on this exciting earth. I desire to tell stories in a hands-on, creative field. I have the grooviest friends, but we are probably not the smartest, funniest, and most well-rounded humans in the universe. I don’t take myself too seriously anymore. I value experiences before material items every time. I think about astrology more than it really matters, however I am a pretty true Scorpio. I smoke too much hookah and drink too much whiskey. I love people, music, art, fashion, and nature openly and as wholeheartedly as possible. I believe everything happens for a reason. I currently believe in reincarnation, but that will probably change in a week. I am patient to a fault, and I intend on making a million more mistakes before I accept full-fledged adulthood. I will always care the most about being trustworthy, patient, and happy. I will strive to learn from anything and everything around me. I want to be a caring stranger, friend, lover, and one day, a mother. I hope to adopt and have many children. I want to pass on the value of a gentle heart and thoughtful nature, as my parents did to me. Before I die, I hope to see a world where people care about understanding and helping people and nature rather than asserting dominance upon those around them.
I was always attracted to the idea of a woman in high heels, racing down New York City streets on the way to her office at the top of a Midtown high-rise. It’s only now that I’ve realized it wasn’t the red-soled shoes and reflective windows that caught my eye; it was the fearlessness and confidence that came inevitably with them. (Jenna Lyons girl-crush alert.) I wanted to be a brave, bold, extroverted individual, and I think I was well on my way. She was just hiding behind the façade of a shy, frizzy-haired, lace-sock-wearing, ‘NSYNC-obsessed pre-teen. Undefined. I’m a college student, creeping up on graduation, excited and terrified for the “real world” and all that impending adulthood entails. I’m a child, innocent and curious. I’m an over-thinker, afraid of too much. I’m a daughter and granddaughter, sister and aunt, nostalgic and family-oriented. I’m learning about life, love and friendship—and sometimes doing it the hard way. I’m changing every day, indecisive and anxious to grow. I’m discovering what I’m good at and where I need work, as an artist and as a human being. I’m compassionate and empathetic, sometimes too much and dangerously so. Essentially, I’m just a Pisces looking for her missing marbles. I really can’t say who I will be or even who I want to be. I’ve learned that nothing will ever turn out the way we intend for it to or be the way we imagine it. I just want to be a better version of myself; someone constantly absorbing life’s beauty in all its facets, learning every day and growing every minute. I want to have a strong voice. To whom that voice will matter, I’m not sure yet. Perhaps only to my friends and family, or to the readers of a particularly high-brow publication. Or even (as unlikely as it may be) to the whole world. Above all, I really just want to be a girl who never stops singing into her hairbrush.
Andrea McCarrel
Shelby Katz
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As a kid, it took me a while to find my niche. When all my friends were trying out for field hockey or soccer, I couldn’t have been less interested. I was the girl who would make up excuses in gym class until I discovered the beauty of cutting gym all together. My brother took a stab at theater when he got to high school and after seeing him under the lights and at the center of attention, I was intrigued. Being the little copy cat that I was, I joined him at a local community theater where we could disappear from the woes of high school life for awhile. Breaking out of my shell on stage helped my realize I had a creative side that was unlike my friends. I was definitely not the most talented actor; I was completely content hanging out in the chorus line. I don’t think I ever wanted to be the next Broadway star; I was inspired by the production process and everything happening behind the scenes. I was surrounded by so many young individuals who had an incredible amount of drive and passion. This taught me to find what I am meant to do and run with it regardless of how many doors close in my face. I wasn’t exactly sure who I wanted to be, but I realized at an early age that I was destined to create beautiful things. This answer could easily change depending on the type of day I’m having. However, At this very second I believe I am a someone who is meant to help people feel good about themselves. Now that I am approaching graduation, I know that my passion lies in others joy. While I still gaze in awe at the glamor of fashion, what really gets my heart pumping is helping a person blossom and transform. Style has the ability to alter one’s perception of themselves. Additionally, I find inspiration through my friends and family, nature and history. Through this, I believe I have a unique and an unwavering adoration for helping others discover their personal style. In the future, my goal is to inspire the masses in one way or another. I would like to travel the world and immerse myself in as any cultures as possible. I hope to explore what makes others around the world feel beautiful and translate that into my own practices. I’d like to use my talents for more than just some pretty pictures in a magazine or red carpet events. Understanding why people put what they do on their bodies fascinates me. Yves Saint Laurent once said, “Fashions fade, style is eternal.” It is my hope that I will instill this in others throughout my life.
Devon Bert
Who d i d y o u t h i n k y o u w o u l d b e ? Who do you think you are now? Who do you w a n t t o b e in the fut u r e?
Ever since i was little i have wanted to be famous, i’ve always been fascinated by the idea of being so interesting or uninteresting that people obsess over you. Shit, i can’t even decide on a favorite color, that changes daily. i don’t really know who i am right now, i like it that way. I think i’m on my way to being the person i’m supposed to be, but at the age of 21 i’m constantly changing. I really see myself doing something noteworthy, even if it’s isnt recognized until some time later. i want to be that person they make up the crazy stories about in tabloids and follow around constantly. it’s art, all of it. i hope to be a part of that someday.
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Andrea McCarrel Shelby Katz
child’s play
Photographer: Aaron Bernstein Makeup: Katherine Taylor Talent: Kathleen Sayler Stylist: Devon Bert Photo Assistants:
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“KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!” THE SELF-DEFINITION ISSUE
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“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself Any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go. You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)”
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Andrea McCarrel
Losing Our Religion The Past, Present and Possible Future of Morality
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halts marital engagements, determines lifestyles, and fuels political campaigns. It has been intertwined with almost every war fought in the history of mankind. It is ever evolving. It is one of the most defining aspects of cultures, geography, and decision-making all over the world. Even more than politics, it is the most taboo subject in the world. Religion and other belief systems have changed and altered over time, but now, more than ever, we see ourselves at one of the biggest religious crossroads of all time. As globalization increases, religious extremities are decreasing. As we look to the past and examine the present, it begs many questions of the future as religion is swiftly evolving. It’s easy to say that any generation is generally religiously discouraged or unaffiliated in the young adult stage of their lives. Although this generation may have rebelled in their youth, they are retreating to their roots as they venture through adulthood into seniority. In recent years, the “baby boomers” have retreated back to churches, synagogues, mosques, etc. Still, this generation has edged further away from the strict ideals of religion and spirituality. Most baby boomers reportedly turn to religion for a community rather than an actual spiritual solution. Spiritual individuals in this generation see leaders or members of the clergy as a leader of the cultural community rather than a literal medium between God (or gods) and themselves. Having been raised mainly by baby boomers, the millennials (Generation Y) have been exposed to a far less strictly religious upbringing. There are, of course, exceptions; but in general, Generation Y has not feared veering from religion the way past generations might have. Young adults today are recorded at a record high of non-religious affiliation. This does not necessarily mean that the agnosticism
and atheism are the primary routes, however. A growing number of millennials consider themselves among the “nones” or the religiously unaffiliated. Fascinating, however, is the growing number of “spiritual but not religious” (or SBNR) individuals in this generation. In general, they are drawn to the idea of a God, gods, or an all-encompassing godly like universal power of many sorts. As a general whole, this generation does not appreciate the idea of heaven or hell, instead being drawn to the idea of reincarnation. Generation Y has a lesser appreciation of heaven and hell concepts in comparison to prior generations because of many reasons. The main idea that does not sit well with this new crop of young adults is the idea that religious people may only act morally because they are threatened eternal damnation. In general, it is the extremities that are associated with religion that have turned Generation Y off from many religions all together. Of course, this is what has led many young adults to considering themselves spiritual, but not religious. A professor of a comparative religion course at University of Southern California encountered an interesting view into the way millennials prefer to approach religion. Professor Candace Chellew-Hodge assigns students to form groups and create a new religion. The religion has to include several aspects of belief systems, such as dogma, rituals, reformers, etc. Religious leaders were not seen as necessary to the new religions for the majority of these students. Surely, this stems from the way they were raised; with religious leaders being seen and treated as more of a moral compass within community rather than a middle-man between the congregation and God. In general, these new religions were extremely lax, in that members could come and
go as they please. There were no set meeting days for the congregation. In fact, the approach to worship in these new religions reflected a very personal and individual approach to spirituality. The concept of heaven and hell were commonly done away with; and many times replaced by reincarnation with the guide of karma. While there are clearly many faults to these idealistic religions, these belief systems could reflect exactly how the generation of our children will be raised. These new young adults favor ideals like yin and yang (balance) to guide a proper way of living life, rather than a set good-or-bad morality ideal of sinning nature. According to Professor Chellew-Hodge, the students consistently feel that religion is far too judgmental. To these young adults, there should be more leeway for perspective and personal morality within religion. If Generation Y craves a world with less room for judgment and more room for perspective, maybe optimistic and accepting idealism isn’t the worst thing that has happened to the philosophical world. While there will always be a strong existence of traditional religion, the horizon shows a different moral compass for future generations. The primary importance to a Generation Y moral compass lies within moderation. Balance is a proper guide to moral decision-making for these new thinkers. This idea leaves room for perspective and differences of opinion, while declaring neither inherently right nor wrong. This way of thinking only declares “wrong” that of extremity or excess. This surely will make for an open-minded and tolerant future of individuals. The goal of humanity is to coexist happily, which seems much more doable under a less structured set of rights and wrongs. THE SELF-DEFINITION ISSUE
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H .B .I .C . Photography:Alexandra Arnold Talent:Nikita Jansen Styling:Devon Bert Makeup:Arielle Arnold Photo Assistants: Shelby Katz, Andrea McCarrel
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Coat: Free People Blazer: Vintage Shirt: Vintage Pants: Trina Turk Eye-wear: Holes Eye-wear Purse: Bats on Trees
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Sequin Blazer: Buffalo David Bitton Leotard: Forever 21 Skirt: Naf Naf Paris Scarf: Hermes
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Blazer: Red Clover Boutique Pants: Red Clover Boutique Shirt: Vintage
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Coat: Free People Blazer: Vintage Shirt: Vintage Pants: Trina Turk Eye-wear: Holes Eye-wear Purse: Bats on Trees
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-OFFICE MEMOTo: Future Me From: Me Date: 03/10/14 Subject: Don’t Fuck This Up—Or Do 1. DO NOT go to that bar. You know what happens when you go to that bar. You get sloppy, real fast, and it’s not pretty. 2. Don’t oversleep. Wake up when your alarm tells you to. A postSunday-night hangover is no excuse. Do you really think you can miss a board meeting because you had one too many Appletinis? 3. Don’t bring that guy home. Enough said. 4. Don’t quit your meds cold turkey. For now, you still need it. Deal with it. Don’t make everyone else have to deal with you. 5. Don’t put your career before your friends. They won’t admit it, but they’ll hate you for it. 6. Don’t be too harsh when dealing with that new intern. You know what it feels like to be in his shoes the closet crying. 7. DO take the extra time off to go to your parent’s 30th wedding anniversary party. While you’re at it, plan the party yourself. 8. Do buy that Hermes scarf you found in a Paris thrift store. That kind of deal only happens once in a lifetime. You’ll eat Ramen every night for the entirety of the six months that follow, but it’s worth it. 9. Do eat that last cupcake from your friend’s birthday party. Just know that you’ll be required to attend every yoga class for the next two weeks. Red velvet beats a little sweat any day. 10. Do read that ridiculously trashy romance novel. Give your brain a vacation. Just don’t share those fantasies with your significant other... or do. 11. Your past doesn’t define you. (Clearly, because you didn’t turn out too badly.) Everything is subjective. You may remember it one way, but everybody else really doesn’t give a shit. 12. Do everything you every planned to do, everything you ever wanted to do and everything you never imagined to do, even if it scares you. I promise it won’t be as bad as the time your ass showed up (55 times) in the copy machine tray last New Years Eve. That’s all you’re getting. As for the rest, you’re on your own. (Sorry I’m not sorry.) Sincerely, Me
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fur collar: Anthropologie Blazer: Top Shop Skirt: Forever 21 Belt: ABS
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Andrea McCarrel
Finding Realism in the Dream
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n the insanity of the current world, branding is infused in every single experience, thing, and place imaginable. So much so, that it is sometimes hard to imagine the world without these identities or sentiments. The United States was well before its time when many began advertising and associating the newly found country as a paradise filled with opportunity. Many different viewpoints on this idea were formed throughout the years, many of which still exist. Perceptions aside, one thing is certain: this was some powerful branding. More than two hundred years later, this idea is still a completely recognizable topic, not just to Americans, but many internationally. In 1931, this idea was finally coined as the “American Dream”, a term we still use today. Last year, China introduced a “Chinese Dream” ethos which is fundamentally very different from the American counterpart, but serves the same purpose. Both create an identity for the nation which aims to paint respective country in an attractive light as lands of opportunity. Most interesting is how differently such branding is received in our day of technology versus the day of word-of-mouth. The American Dream quite honestly may have been so successful because of a lack of
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communication methods and globalization. There simply were not enough methods of communication available to fully actualize the idea in the minds of onlookers. The idea was extremely vague and spread through word of mouth. The word was partially spread in person by those who had heard of the new country. Some heard of the United States through mailed flyers and other documents dispersed throughout Europe. The American Dream concept was so foreign that the harsh realities were not apparent: it was idealistic, it wouldn’t work for everyone, and it wasn’t easy. This ambiguous idealism worked in America’s favor, as immigrants flocked from near and far to work hard and fuel the budding economy of the great and mighty U.S. of A. Of course, this notion has been greatly criticized over the years, but it surely was pulled it off in the beginning. China is facing a far more challenging rebranding situation when it comes to the Chinese Dream. Education is one of the most important aspects of this concept, with the idea being to create a stronger middle class. The creation and implementation of this idea has been a far bigger challenge in the day of social integration. News today is constantly infused with personal judgments and bias. Many people today gather news from social media sources such as Twitter and Facebook. As these outlets allow users to voice their personal opinions, everything is painted in the most extreme light imaginable. Everything that happens in the world today is the “best ever” or the “worst ever.” Social media users don’t exactly leave room for perspective. Since these initiatives are so new; only time will be able to tell the true, unbiased, and full narrative of the Chinese Dream.
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a cautionary tale
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Textiles: Design: Ross Satterfield Talent: Cynthia Conrad Photography: Esther Boller Out-post editing: Devon Bert & Evan Knowles
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“A lot of my ideas are somewhat dark, but I’m not a very dark person. I like to mask things with bright colors and funny subversions of things we already know to make my ideas easier to digest. Comedy, for me, usually comes from a really dark place, so I like to use that is a jumping off point. I think it’s fun to make people think, try to see things the way that I see them. I’m fascinated by psychology and that’s probably why I love tragic celebrities so much. I try to think like they did when they were in their darkest hour. Why did Kurt Cobain kill himself? Why did Britney Spears shave her head? I constantly am thinking about these things, and I think it helps give my work a little more depth. It’s also therapeutic for me in a way. I feel like if I can figure out these problems that the stars had, it might help me figure out my own.” -Ross SatterfieldTextiles THE SELF-DEFINITION ISSUE
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A Match made in Heaven? A Tinder Tale
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Although Tinder was first released as an application in 2012, it has recently been gaining massive attention. Created by Sean Rad and Justin Mateen, the concept is simple. It is a dating app that draws from a wide pool of Tinder followers and finds the ones closest to you. All you get is a first name and age, a handful of photos and a small list of mutual Facebook interests. Armed with those bits of knowledge, you can decide to swipe left on your smartphone for a resounding ‘no,’ or right for a more tentative ‘yes.’ Essentially, the app is based solely on your own judgment and which pictures the other person thought they looked the sexiest in. For some reason, in the South, a lot of these supposedly sexy photos include large fish or guns. Over-compensating for something? After you say ‘yes,’ the other person must say ‘yes’ as well. And you have a match! Tinder is now generating over 10 million matches a day, as opposed to half that last December. The excitement is immediate, and short-lived. Then the creepy opening messages fly. They range from the rather generic, “Hey, cutie!” to the super gross, “I know you’ve lost your virginity, but can I have the box it came in?” or the straight to the point and gross “Why aren’t we naked yet?” If you are able to look past some of the overt propositions, you might just find a nice stranger that is willing to buy you a drink. Or you might join the growing list of cringeworthy Tinder stories about overly obsessed matches and disastrous first impressions. Tinder is more spread through word of mouth than anything else. A great opening line for any conversation, “Hey, are you on Tinder?” generally starts the swiping obsession. There are now over 750 million swipes everyday, a growing addiction of singles worldwide. And with the number of users increasing everyday, Tinder has become a dating phenomenon. Even going so far as becoming a verb; “Tindering.” A lot of people simply play it as if it was a game, using the matches as a virtual self-esteem boost without actually committing. Others use it as a gateway for quick, nostrings-attached hook ups, which more often then not end in some sort of regretful one-night stand. It is not for someone who believes that they are a true romantic at heart. And for me, it was a monotonous session of continual left swipes, half-heartedly searching for The One—or at least a semi-attractive guy that didn’t look like he might kill me in my sleep.
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Andrea McCarrel
TINDER DRIN The Tinder drinking game is intended not under any circumstances participate next week. This example is intended are a whole different set of standards
The guy holding the animal. This is the Tinder classic, everyone. Puppies are frequent chick-magnets; however I’ve seen a guy holding a kangaroo once… and I wasn’t within 50 miles of Australia. Rule: Take a solid drink for these guys. There’s far too many of them to even consider anything more.
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only for those of legal drinking ages. Do in this game if you plan on driving in the for those interested in men. Surely, there for the female counterparts of these guys.
The guy who is clearly not single.
The guy who has many friends.
Don’t hate the player, hate the game.
…who are all more attractive than him. Many guys choose to use a profile picture with two or more people in it, slowing down your rapid-fire swiping.
Rule: Take a shot for every guy who is kissing a girl. Chug your drink for every marriage photo.
Rule: Everyone in the group must choose who they think it is based only upon the information listed on the first page: name and age. Swipe through and find out who “Sean, 24” is. Whoever didn’t guess the guy in the middle has to take a shot.
NKING GAME
The guy who likes to take pictures of himself taking pictures. The mirror pic Rule: Take a drink. For shirtless mirror selfies, take a shot.
The guy who you know . Awkward!! Rule: Whoever knows him takes a shot.
It’s a Match! It could be love... but probally not Rule: Whoever drank for this guy in the first place takes a shot. Good luck remembering!
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W e e k e n d
In 2006, Vampire Weekend exploded in the indie genre market. This young band of Colombia students were able to create sounds so critically acclaimed that they were commonly compared to classic and sounds such as Paul Simon. Last year, Modern Vampires of the City was released after more than three years sans album. The guys spent these years writing what is arguably their deepest album thus far. The sound is much more mature, while still keeping with their signature poppy-indie rock sound. There a lot of jams with slower tempos than usual for Vampire Weekend. The album serves as an almost existentialist piece in their progression towards adulthood. The writing looks to the past, present, and persistently to the future; as Ezra serenades the preciousness of time. These artists have made their way into music festivals in the past year; headlining Boston Calling, Lollapalooza, Firefly, and others. Lead singer Ezra also appeared at the Academy Awards with Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, performing her song for award winning film, Her. Clearly, the band’s third album grew the bands popularity so much that they are now becoming immersed in commercial pop culture. Don’t believe us? Check out @arze (Ezra Koening’s twitter) to see much fan-girl action. This band is definitely one to watch, as it’s almost too late to have “known them before they were cool”. This year they are taking over the more common festival headlines from Bonnaroo to the Governor’s Ball to the New Orleans Festival. Lollapalooza is also having the guys back in Illinois, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. As they dominate the festival scene this year, remember where the band started. Picture the guys: twenty years old, writing songs in their dorm rooms, and arbitrarily producing music on their laptops. But don’t get it twisted- this band isn’t all smart charm and good musical writing. Vampire Weekend does have the cool rock-n-roller vibe with a bit of Ivy League rebellion. After all, the lead singer’s an English teacher who doesn’t give a fuck about an oxford comma.
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V a m p i r e
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O w n it! This magazine will change your life. Nower than now, wower than wow, style isn’t what but how! Why fit in when you were born to stand out? i-D is your ultimate style bible, celebrating youth culture, fashion, music and art because being grown up isn’t half as fun as growing up. Be surprised, be inspired, and if you believe that anything goes and everything is possible, subscribe to ensure you recive a fresh slice of i-D on your doormat six times a year. From a disorderly queue, get it before it’s got, always remember, if in doubt wink, peace, and pout! i-D x
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