THE EDGE VOL. 13 ISSUE 1 by The Edge Magazine

THE EDGE VOL. 13, ISSUE 1 ELON, NC

A Moment of Color Secrets Spilled on Bathroom Floors | For The Love of Liquor | Romanticizing Life | Life Through The Lens of Installation Art

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR I

f you are reading this letter, it means we made it. Another semester done, another incredible issue curated by a genuinely brilliant team. To the team, thank you. For all your hard work, responding to the many texts, showing up, and creating this unbelievable issue. I could not be more proud to work and create alongside you. It is a surreal moment to be writing this letter. It feels like yesterday I nervously walked into that first interest meeting and learned what The Edge even was. Reality check: it was actually four years ago. Since then, I have witnessed this magazine expand and endure a transformative journey. The Edge has always been a community that embraced creative freedom and expression. No idea is ever too small or unattainable which was and is all made possible by each and every member playing a vital role in the curation of not only our print issues but also our online content. Collaboration has been the backbone of our entire publication since day one. No article is published without the touch of the many hands. Yes, that means many brainstorming sessions, text messages, edits, and revisions. Still, in the end, the work ALWAYS presents itself as a truly compelling piece which, of course, has proved true again in this print issue. This semester, back together in person, we were again able to eextrude nostalgic energy—an energy we were not able to communicate through screens. In-person, there is no video lagging, voice “roboting.” Instead, we were present in real-time together, connecting over a shared passion, this magazine. The infectious enthusiasm of our team illuminated the light to this year’s theme—A Moment of Color. We wanted to celebrate, and we had much to celebrate: being back together, creating content together, telling stories. A moment of color encompasses all that and more. With everything that life has thrown at us in the past two years, we all just

need a little party, a celebration of life, appreciation of the good in the world around us. A Moment of Color was curated with a balance of celebrating life and romanticizing yourself while confronting the realities of when the party is over and the internal consequences of the digital age. While reading this issue, I hope that you feel our passion, dedication, and investment in this publication and the content that we publish. It has provided many moments of color for me during these last four years, as I am sure it has for many of our other members. So with that, I invite you to experience our moment of color.

Hannah Jablonski Hannah Jablonski, Co-Editor in Chief

BEHIND ALL OF THE GLAMOUR AND ALLURE OF HAWAII LIVING

DO IT YOURSELF COCKTAILs

a global look at high fashion in 2021

WHY WE NEED TO LEAVE DRESSING FOR THE MALE GAZE BEHIND

romanticizing life: a rose-tinted mindset will elevate the ordinary

THE SPIRIT OF FASHION

life through the lens of installation art

FOR THE LOVE OF LIQuoR: WHEN IS THE PARTY OVER?

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SECRETS SPILLED ON BATHROOM FLOORS

in this issue

disposable cameras: capture the moment and better your mental health

roaring '20s

AGE OF THE DIGITAL NOMAD: REDEFINGING THE GLAM OF A NINE-TO-FIVE

THE EDGE Editors in Chief Julia Oakes and Hannah Jablonski Creative Director Mel Jones Design Chief Emma Spencer Director of Photography Delaney Daniels Copy Chief Alejandra Gonzalez Fashion Editor Lydia Elste Assistant Fashion Editor Avery DeLacey Fashion Writer Madison Mursch Fashion Writer Emily Rogers Fashion Writer Elizabeth Beshar Fashion Writer Abby Allieri Fashion Writer Emma Geismar Fashion Writer Sasha Sklarov Beauty + Wellness Editor Anna Cave Assistant Beauty + Wellness Editor Taylor Beach Beauty + Wellness Writer Riley Otis Beauty + Wellness Writer Juliana Kuhno Beauty + Wellness Writer Avery Paulen Beauty + Wellness Writer Madi Keller Beauty + Wellness Writer Maya Drabczyk Beauty + Wellness Writer Lydia Buckius Lifestyle Editor Sarah Deloach Assistant Lifestyle Editor Jillian Mendoza Lifestyle Writer Ranya Russo Lifestyle Writer Rachel Simmons Lifestyle Writer Marissa Manley Lifestyle Writer Sarah Hennis Lifestyle Writer Mollie Lund Lifestyle Writer Palmer Boothe Analytics Director Lauren Rodgers Analytical Assistant Sarah Gombos Analytical Assistant Steven Mmari Podcast Director Sydney Steinberg Podcast Director Graceanne Gaudiello Social Media Director Maddy Lemone Social Media Designer Michaela VanDerVelden Social Media Assistant Libby Epstein Social Media Assistant Nia Griffin Social Media Assistant Maddy Phillips Social Media Assistant Sam Sutherland

Features Editor Hallie Milstein Features Writer Genevieve Smith Features Writer Caroline Donohue Features Writer Taylor Barbadora Features Writer Morgan Hack Travel Editor Ali Scheinfeld Assitant Travel Editor Catie Mannato Travel Writer Katie Everitt Travel Writer Naz Shokri Travel Writer Margaret Jacobs Travel Writer Leah Weinstock Travel Writer Grace Wade Director of Videography Jazmin Bender Video Editor Ayla Brongo Video Editor Georgia Ferguson Video Editor Sophia Gaeta Video Editor Kate Guthrie Video Editor Kendall Saulsby Video Editor Kate Spencer Director of Photography Delaney Daniels Photographer Sophia Valentino Photographer Michaela Brady Photographer Heath Foster Photographer Cameron Leslie Photographer Carlyn Marinaccio Photographer Camille Duplechain Film Photographer Kaliah Alford Online Photographer Jessica Skelley Online Photographer Georgia Daniel Online Photographer Rachel Goldstein Online Photographer Margret Jacobs

Designer Victoria Cuciniello Designer Michaela Ryan Designer Ella Bloomingdale Designer Leah Hottenstein Designer Liv Nevin Designer Kailey Casl

meet the staff What does a moment of color mean to you? Emily: A moment of color to me is bringing happiness and spontaneity into your life. I associate color with positivity and cheerfulness, so when people talk about a “moment of color” I think of bringing light and energy into the moment. Every day should have a moment of color! Avery: A moment of color to me means a way of embracing your differences and unique characteristics. It also means embracing life and all it has to offer. Jillian: To me, a moment of color is the experience of the present. A lot of us are either held up by our pasts or distracted by our futures that we forget to enjoy our present. It’s a reminder to absorb our surroundings and truly appreciate the “now” to create moments that make our lives as radiant, vivid, & colorful as possible.

Ellie: A moment of color to me means when a color creates such an energy that it is absolutely and utterly breathtaking. Lydia: A Moment of Color to me means being bold and taking risks. Over the last year we watched the world go from colorful to dull, and now we are finally getting the color back, and with that comes a motivation to try things I never thought I would and not wasting time on things that I don’t enjoy. A moment of color means finding happiness within myself so that I never have to worry about losing it again. Julia: Laughter, sparkles, happiness, love, and a whole lot of celebration.

What is your color? Avery: My color is yellow. It’s my favorite color, but it also reminds me to be happy and grateful for the life I have. Julia: Personality-wise, I’m somewhere between a soft blue and yellow, but I’m a devout navy blue enthusiast. Maddy: Light blue; It resembles the ocean which is ever-adapting. it connects to the emotional and transcendent water energy I also have. Mollie: My color is forest green. I think this originates from a very distinct core memory in the back of my brain. It’s the recurrent memory of driving home from school every spring of grade school and suddenly noticing that everything is green again. All the trees have regained their leaves, the flowers begin to bloom, the entire earth wakes up. I associate green with harmony; with summer days spent laying out on lake docks under the wandering eye of proud pines. To me, the color green evokes healing, growth, and balance.

Palmer: My color is definitely pink due to the fact that my hair is dyed a very vibrant shade of it. It’s the first thing people notice about me and what makes me memorable to them. For a while, it made me nervous to stand out so much, but now I love that you can easily spot me in a crowd and that my pink hair is one of the first things people think about when they think about me. Ellie: My color is blue, not just cause it’s my favorite color to wear! Blue is my color because it holds a variety of energies - as do I. It creates a sense of relaxation and lightness for me and brings me peace. Jillian: I aim for my color to be made up of emotion, particularly love. The mixture of appreciation/acceptance of myself, admiration of those around me, and affection of the physical world.

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lot of us live in fear of being “too much,” constantly doing anything and everything we can to avoid that curled lip of disgust and the “Why are you wearing that?” comments we all dread. Well, I’m hoping it’s a lot of us, because I certainly struggle with over analyzing how each and every outfit will be perceived. While I’m starting to let go of my constant fear of scrutiny, especially when it comes to what I’m wearing, the need to blend in as much as possible was basically my entire aesthetic in high school. One memory that sticks out was when I wore Birkenstocks to school for the first time, as the trend first was gaining traction. Multiple people—girls and guys alike—started poking fun at me, calling them “Jesus shoes.” I almost never wore them again. But, as much as judgment from girls killed me, it was the boys I feared most. It was my freshman year that I heard a boy, who I thought was cute, say he hated nose piercings because they were trashy. I’d been planning on begging my parents for one, but steeled myself against the idea after hearing his opinion. Key word here: opinion. Not a fact, nor an opinion held by all men—just one suburban white boy’s meaningless, unsolicited opinion on a choice concerning someone else’s body. And I held onto that bullshit for years. It wasn’t until I was a senior, when I took a gender studies class for the first time, that I heard the term “male gaze” and, immediately, something clicked in my brain. Suddenly, I understood something about myself that I hadn’t held before. The male gaze is much more than being aware of men looking at you and judging you—it is actually an awareness we all have about what is “normal” and “acceptable,” and these ideals are decided by, you guessed it, men. Pretty much, anyone who isn’t a cisgender male has a man in their head scrutinizing their every move and behavior. The term itself derives from the film industry, and is meant to showcase the way film and media portrays women in a way that is pleasing to men. It’s the athlete who “isn’t like other girls,” the bleached blonde with big boobs who is reduced to only a sexual object, and the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. There are a lot of

iterations, but these are the kinds of tropes a lot of girls take to heart, especially since we see them in practically every popular TV show and movie. After that fateful class in which we focused on the male gaze, I realized that every choice I was making in terms of my appearance was based on whether or not a guy would like it. Many of the trends I had shied away from, despite the fact that I loved them, were just choices that a voice in the corner of my mind, which had internalized the messages of men in the media, no matter how subliminal, disapproved of. It told me that if I made those choices, I’d be undeserving, undesirable, and unattractive. As mentioned before, the male gaze manifests itself in a lot of ways in film. In real life, though, many men don’t like girls who “try too hard” or wear too much makeup. Instead, they want the hairless, doe-eyed, casual-butsexy look that takes no effort at all. Because of this, being “basic” has become the safest option to quell the male-gaze voice. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this—it’s when you’re using it to hide who you really are, because that male-gaze voice tells you men won’t like it, that a problem arises. It’s no surprise we absorb this so well that it feels like it’s our own idea, since most of the women we saw on TV growing up were carefully crafted by men. There’s been no shortage of male gaze discourse in the media recently, either. What I’ve come to realize is the male gaze has been dominant for centuries, and it’s going to take a lot more than not dressing “basic” to create a world where the male gaze doesn’t affect any of us. For straight women, it’s hard to let go of those standards because they really do want to attract a man. Many try to present themselves in a certain way in the quest to get a boyfriend, instead of being themselves and letting the right man appreciate them. To be crystal clear: if a man rejects you because of what you’re wearing, he didn’t deserve you in the first place. FASHION | 9

Photographer I Carlyn Marinaccio Models I Cinda Birch, Sydni Brown

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Truthfully, the male gaze is impossible to escape from, no matter who you are, but queer women have had a slightly different experience. We were some of the first to start breaking away from the status quo in fashion because attracting a man isn’t a factor for lesbians, and is a much less important one for bisexuals and pansexuals. A lot of people think queer women’s fashion equals masc lesbian fashion. Quite frankly, it’s a narrow-minded conclusion, not to mention one that isn’t true. There are a lot of different styles under the masc umbrella. In fact, queer people actually pioneered many of the trends that straight women are now adopting: lesbians were the first to start wearing pants, suits, blazers, and other traditionally “male” clothing. Lesbians of the 1920s would wear men’s shoes not unlike Doc Martens, which were a queer woman’s staple shoe in the ’90s and early 2000s. Gay women were also some of the first to don shorter hairstyles and dyed hair, as well as imaginative makeup now popularized by Euphoria. We were wearing oversized-on-oversized clothes and rocking the cottagecore aesthetic before straight women even thought about doing the same. Although it can feel frustrating as a queer person to see trends we thought of as our own co-opted by the straights, it’s not a bad thing. Fashion has been and always will be heavily influenced by queer people, and that is a wonderful thing. It’s only going to evolve even further and, as we move forward, “basic” is going to be left behind and the statement will be “the fashion

currency of the future,” or at least that’s what TikToker @misterswofford thought when speaking of another user, @tinyjewishgirl. The latter gets a lot of hate and ridicule in her comments over her fashion choices, but I think @ misterswofford is right. He goes on to explain that we haven’t had a major fashion overhaul since the 1920s and that there are only so many silhouettes of shirts and pants before trends start being recycled, as we see now with jeans in the resurgence of the flared style of the ’70s and the boxy fit of the ’90s. Already, queer and straight people alike are starting to toe that line between “normal” and “camp”—if they haven’t already crossed it. I’d say that @tinyjewishgirl’s “Birth of Venus” printed dress—but with Betty Boop as Venus—that she boldly and confidently wears out is definitively on the “camp” side. As @tinyjewishgirl demonstrates, the only way to move forward is to be totally, 100% you because that’s the only thing that hasn’t been done yet. There are a lot of ways we can all start to be ourselves, but one notion I think we should all let go of is that we have to dress “slutty” when going out, or that showing a lot of skin and wearing tight-fitting clothes are more fashionable than the plethora of other options. I used to feel so weird in long skirts or dresses, and thought that I didn’t look sexy in my favorite oversized sweatshirt. While I love to show some skin, I have also felt vulnerable and uncomfortable when I wore those kinds of outfits, but didn’t change because I felt I’d be out of place otherwise. There’s a certain look people expect from you as a college-aged female on weekend nights, and if you deviate from it, you’re bound to get odd looks. I want that to change. I don’t want any person—queer, straight, whatever—to feel the need to become a version of themselves that doesn’t match who they are inside when they look in the mirror. Don’t get me wrong, that isn’t to say crop tops and miniskirts should be banned, or that anyone who chooses to wear them is automatically feeding into the male gaze. Put simply, there isn’t just one way to be hot. We have the power to change these impossible standards, and we can all do better in terms of supporting one another when we express ourselves. There’s no such thing as a dress code in real life. Men can think whatever they want about what we wear, but if we hold each other up and create our own ideals for what is hot and what isn’t, then the male gaze can someday be a thing of the past—and that sounds pretty sexy to me. ■ FASHION | 11

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Behind the Glamour and Allure of Hawaii Living CATIE MANNATO

t some point in our lives, we have thought about what it would be like to drop everything, book a one-way ticket and move away somewhere tropical and warm 24/7, spending our days by the sea on island time. What’s the first place that comes to our mind, you ask? Hawaii. In recent years, we have seen travel YouTube vloggers and influencers on Instagram or Tiktok who have shared pieces of their lives while traveling to or residing in the Aloha State. Before the emergence of social media, Hawaii was already a popular worldwide tourist destination. Now, though, the state’s tourism industry is seeing rapid growth as influencers, Hannah Meloche and Lexi Hidalgo to name recent examples, began to capture their experiences in Hawaii for millions of followers to gawk at on social media. Although the Covid-19 pandemic stunted tourism in Hawaii, people have been able to quarantine and participate in pre-testing before traveling to the state for over a year now. Back in July, the mandatory quarantine period and testing halted for fully vaccinated individuals and visitor numbers in Hawaii skyrocketed. Approximately 30,000 tourists entered the state daily this past summer, which is over 80% of the number that flew in during the summer of 2019 (McDonagh).

Vacation bliss aside, tourism in Hawaii is increasing harm to both the natives and the environment as the phenomenon known as “overtourism,” or when too many people flock to a vacation hotspot so much that the place becomes spoiled and life is made difficult for locals, occurs throughout the state. This past summer, Hawaii experienced a shortage of workers in the hospitality industry, as well as a shortage in rental cars as tourists turn the generally calm roads into constant traffic congestion. Although Hawaii as a whole has experienced an astounding number of tourists in recent months, Maui, the state’s second largest island, saw some of the worst impacts as the state put the tourists’ needs before their own citizens. In the last few months, residents have experienced extreme water shortages. In fact, Maui locals this past summer were fined $500 for “non-essential” water usage violations. Residents could quite literally not wash their cars or water their lawns without paying a hefty price (McDonagh). Significant environmental damage has been observed recently as the influx and ignorance of vacationers exploring the Hawaiian islands continues. Social media influencers have tagged Makua Beach—what previously was remote and far removed from the crowds on the main shore—as the “secret” beach on Instagram. TRAVEL | 13

Thanks to the Instagram promotion, Makua Beach is now covered with trash, toilet paper and other such litter carelessly left in harm’s way for the habitat’s species to find. Within the same beach, you can now find hikers searching the nearby caves and snorkelers exploring the surrounding waters. Tourists are undoubtedly captivated by the natural beauty and unfamiliarity of the terrain. However, what the non-locals don’t realize is that snorkeling disrupts the wildlife of the Makua habitat, specifically the Hawaiian spinner dolphins and their sleeping area. Not only that, but hiking in Makua is illegal. Despite that, you will often find tourists venturing into this area regardless. Since it is not a permissible hiking area, there are no bathrooms or trash cans on site for waste. Therefore, hikers will litter, causing trash— like toilet paper even—to build up and become hazardous to the wildlife. Although Makua Beach is just one example, this pattern of disruption to the environment is one shared between the Hawaiian islands, and it’s time we stop normalizing it. As overtourism continues to surge, the state has taken measures in efforts to reduce the number of tourists by increasing the overall prices of tourist attractions. Fees are being marked for public transportation, such as buses and pilot shuttles, typically frequented by vacationers. The price to snorkel in the Hanauma Nature Bay in O‘ahu, for example, has even doubled. Tourists

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pay the price even just for an extended stay on the island with hotel lodging fees continuing to increase. On a more local scale, some Hawaiian towns are considering a “visitor impact fee” for tourist attractions. To combat the environment from the effects of overtourism, locals have begun organizing clean-up groups across the island. Nonprofit groups like the Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawaii and Protectors of Paradise work to educate tourists about protecting the wildlife of the area. Remember, an image of an endless summer with beachgoers laid out among the crystal-blue ocean stretching for miles on end may be the Hawaii of our dreams as an outsider, but it’s imperative to realize that this same reality alas it has become a nightmare for natives and residents alike as overtourism plagues the Aloha State. Natives and residents want us, as visitors to their homeland, to recognize that trespassing and littering are not only disrespectful to the environment but are also to the island’s culture and history, something the older generations of natives hold close to their hearts. So, what can we do to become responsible tourists—not only in Hawaii but in any unfamiliar locale? First and foremost, be mindful that this is not your land. Then, immerse yourself in the culture by researching before you travel. Most importantly, be respectful to the residents—you are visiting their home! ■

TRAVEL |

THE SPIRIT OF

FASHION

Q + A with Elon senior Alaa Suleiman

GENEVIEVE SMITH

lon Universit y s enior, A l aa Su leiman, is using her work as a Mu lt ifait h s chol ar to combine the art of fashion, religion, and technolog y. Her creative and unconventional approach has gained the attention of international designers and developed a lifelong passion of using fashion as a form of religious appreciation. The Edge was thrilled to speak with Suleiman in an effort to understand her approach and applaud her creative vision.

Can you briefly describe what you are doing with your fashion research? Wh at I’m c u r re nt ly wor k i ng on i s Mu lt i f ait h re l i g i ou s stu d i e s re s e arch , an d my re s e arch w i l l b e f o c u s i n g on a f utu r i s t i c appro a c h t o re l i g i ou s s tu d i e s a n d f a s h i on . I’v e pre v i ou s l y d on e u n d e rg r a du ate re s e arch , w h e re I t a l ke d ab out h ow t h e re i s a f i n e l i n e b e t we e n appro p r i at i o n a n d ap p r e c i at i o n . I w o u l d s a y t h e m a i n t h i n g I ’m w o r k i n g o n , i n r e g a r d s t o re s e a rc h , i s t h at I’m b a s i c a l l y t r y i n g t o e du c at e my au d i e n c e on h ow t h e re i s a d i f f e re n c e b e t w e e n appropr i at i on a n d appre c i at i on a n d w h at s e t s t h e m ap a r t .

Tell us about what you did this summer and how it influenced your work? T h i s s u m m e r I w e nt t o M i l a n a n d w e nt t o a n i n s t i t u t i o n c a l l e d Is t i t u t o Ma r a n g o n i a n d I d i d t h i s s u m m e r pro g r a m , t h rou g h out t h e e nt i re m ont h of Ju l y, w h e re I b a s i c a l l y d i d t e c h n i c a l f a s h i on s k e t c h e s . T h e o bj e c t i v e w a s t o c re at e f a s h i on d e s i g n s a n d f a s h i on s k e t c h e s on l i n e a n d d i g it a l l y. In re g a rd s t o my re s e a rc h , t h e y w e re s up p o s e d t o re pre s e nt t h e It a l i an s t y l e of ar t , an d [ I w a s s upp o s e d t o ] c on n e c t t h at t o my re l i g i ou s s tu d i e s re s e a rc h . S o, t h i s s u m m e r w a s a g re at opp or tu n it y t o d o f a s h i on d e s i g n s a n d I w a s a b l e t o w or k w it h s o m a ny p e op l e i n t h e f a s h i on i n du s t r y.

You are a computer science major. What got you interested in fashion and do you see that moving forward in your professional life? I c ame i nto E l on w it h a c ompute r s c i e nc e m aj or, and t he n I me t my u nd e rg r a du ate re s e arch a d v i s or, D r. A l l o c c o, w h o i nt ro du c e d m e t o t h e Mu lt i f a it h S c h o l a r s pro g r a m . T h e t h i n g i s , I w a s i nt e re s t e d i n f a s h i on s i n c e I w a s a b out 1 6 y e a r s o l d , s o my v e r y f i r s t i nt e r n s h ip w a s a c tu a l l y i n t h e f a s h i on i n du s t r y w h e re I w a s w or k i n g w it h on e of K i m Ka rd a s h i a n’s for m e r s t y l i s t s . S o, it w a s a lw ay s a hu ge i nte re s t of m i n e. Wh e n I c am e i nto E l on an d k n e w 16 | FEATURES

I w a nt e d t o s t u d y c omp ut e r s c i e n c e , b e c au s e I’v e a l w ay s b e e n i nt e re s t e d i n S T E M a n d I’v e a l w ay s b e e n i nt e re s t e d i n t e c h n i c a l a d v a n c e m e nt s , my i d e a w a s t o l e a r n a b o u t c o mp u t e r s c i e n c e b e c au s e I a l w ay s w a nt e d t o d o s o m e t h i n g v e r y t e c h n o l o g i c a l l y a d v a n c e d a n d s om e t h i n g t h at i nt ro du c e d c o d i n g . Wh e n I g ot i nt o t h e Mu lt i f a it h S c h o l ars prog ram, I told my te acher ab out my interest in fashion. I tol d h e r I s om e h ow w ante d to c on n e c t t h at w it h re l i g i ou s s tu d i e s . I g re w up i n an Is l am i c h ou s e h ol d, but my p are nt s h ave a lw ay s b e e n ve r y f lu i d w it h re l i g i ou s stu d i e s . T h e y ’ve a l w ay s t o l d m e i f I d i d n’t w ant t o pu r s u e Is l am a s my re l i g i o u s a f f i l i a t i o n I d i d n’t h a v e t o, s o I g r e w u p l o v i n g re l i g i on b e c au s e it w a s n e v e r f orc e d up on m e .

That’s really interesting. I’ve never heard anyone talk about those two fields—they always seem so separate. Do you feel strongly they can work together collaboratively? T h e t h i n g i s , t e c h n o l o g y i s n e v e r f i n i s h e d . T h e re’s n e v e r goi ng to c ome a mome nt w he re s ome one’s goi ng to s ay “Ok ay, we c re ate d t he i Phone. T h at’s it , t h at’s t he ab s olute b e st we’re e v e r g oi n g t o d o.” It’s t h e s a m e w it h f a s h i on . We’re a l w ay s g o i n g t o b e c h a n g i n g a n d w e’r e a l w a y s g o i n g t o b e evolving.

FEATURES |

If you had to describe your work in three words, what would they be? In n ov at i v e . Futu r i s t i c . C omp l e x .

What inspires you? What keeps you motivated to combine the worlds of fashion and STEM? I don’t know. I get inspired by e ver ything. Almost literally e ver ything that I see I always get inspired by. I would say my background—I grew up in a ver y rough background and I had a ver y rough childho o d. That’s always my inspiration. It always pushes me to stay motivated and to find my way. I’ve always wanted to embrace that and turn my pain into something gold, something beautiful.

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Photographer I Rachel Goldstein Model I Alaa Suleiman

Where do you see this going? What’s the end goal? Id e a l l y, I w o u l d l i k e t o p u r s u e a f a s h i on c a re e r i n M i l a n . B ut a l s o, I w a nt t o d o s om e t h i n g t h at h a s n e v e r b e e n d on e b e fore . I w ant t o d o s om e t h i n g t h at i s m ore f utu r i s t i c w it h t h e f a s h i o n i n d u s t r y, s o I w a n t t o d o s o m e t h i n g t h a t c ombi n e s te ch n ol o g y an d f a s h i on . I d on’t k n ow w h at I w ant t o d o e x a c t l y, b u t I k n o w I w a n t t o d o s o m e t h i n g t h a t c ombi n e s t e c h n o l o g y an d f a s h i on . I’m s t i l l t r y i n g t o f i g u re it out .

There can be a lot of stigma around religion, whether it’s a specific faith or just religion as a whole. What do you want people to get out of what you’re doing? What can they learn about religion through your work? Ev e r s i n c e I w a s a f i r s t - y e a r at E l on , on e of t h e t h i n g s I’v e b e e n d o i n g w i t h my u n d e r g r a d u at e r e s e a r c h i s t r y i n g t o show people the difference between appropriation and appre c i at i on . T h e re’s a l w ay s g oi n g t o b e t h i s a r g u m e nt of w h at s h o w s ap p r o p r i at i o n a n d w h at s h o w s ap p r e c i at i o n , an d I d i d re s e arc h w it h c e r t ai n f a s h i on d e s i g n e r s t h at h ave b e en s o investe d in cre at ing s omet hing t hat is more c u ltura l. S o, t h e y wou l d go t o a s p e c i f i c re g i on an d t h e y wou l d l e ar n a b o u t t h e c u l t u r e , l e a r n a b o u t t h e r a c i a l i d e nt i t y b e h i n d t h at c u l t u r e . S o, w h at I w o u l d l i k e t o d o, e s p e c i a l l y w i t h my w or k , i s for p e op l e t o u n d e r s t an d t h at t h e re i s a d i f fe re n c e b e t w e e n ap p r o p r i at i n g a c u l t u r e a n d ap p r e c i at i n g a c u l t u r e , a n d i t a l l c o m e s d ow n t o y o u r i nt e nt i o n o f w h at y ou a re t r y i n g t o m a k e . ■

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Do It Yourself

COCKTAILS BY AVERY PAULEN

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step-by-step guide to making the most delicious alcoholic (and virgin) cocktails using simple and accessible ingredients.

We’re sure you’ve experienced quarantine fever and, as a result, resorted to drinking your problems away alone in your room. Sounds depressing though, doesn’t it? The Edge is here to fix that. We will be delivering tasty (and aesthetically pleasing!) cocktails that you can throw together in only a few minutes with your friends. Pro tip: make a competition for who can make the most Instagram-worthy drink and decorate the house for a themed night! We’ve compiled a list of recipes using the famous TikTok website, Make me a cocktail. All cocktails use simple ingredients that are likely already in your household. For your convenience, the recipes are broken down by alcohol type since we know everyone has a different liquor of choice. To top it off (literally!), we’ve also included some of the best decorating and garnishing techniques to make your cocktails certified stars. To make any of the drinks non-alcoholic, repeat the same process without alcohol. Cheers!

Photographer I Carlyn Marinaccio Model I Caroline Mitchell

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TEQUILA Where are all our tequila drinkers out there? Whether it’s Casamigos, Jose Cuervo, Patrón or Kendall Jenner’s new 818 Tequila, there are endless tequilas you can enlist for go-to cocktails. First, let’s start with a classic margarita. LIME/STRAWBERRY MARGARITA (FROZEN OR ON THE ROCKS) Get ready to unleash your inner mixologist with this deliciously refreshing party in a cup. 1 cup tequila of choice 1 cup lime or strawberry margarita mix 6 cups ice • Place all the ingredients in a large blender and blend until smooth • Pour into four glasses • To create the salt rim, take a lime wedge and make circular motions around the rim, then take each glass and dip it into a plate of salt • Top it off with the lime for garnish • For on-the-rocks, repeat the same process, minus the blending TEQUILA SUNRISE With this one, you’re sure to feel like you’re sitting pretty on a tropical beach in paradise. 3oz orange juice 1 1/2oz tequila 1/2oz grenadine • Half fill a highball glass with ice cubes and pour in the tequila • Top off with orange juice and stir the cocktail • Once mixed, pour in the grenadine, which should sink to the bottom and add color to entire drink • Garnish with an orange slice (and maybe a cute umbrella and bendy straw?!) and serve

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VODKA Vodka is a staple in every college kid’s household (if you’re of age, of course!). Some of our favorites include Titos, Grey Goose, Svedka and Absolut. Although there are many different combinations, we’ve narrowed it down to these three classics. SEX ON THE BEACH This recipe only requires 4 ingredients and is so fun to make. Pretend your kitchen is a fully stocked bar, get behind the counter and start shakin’ it up with these ingredients: 1 1/2oz vodka 3/4oz peach schnapps 1 1/2oz orange juice 1 1/2oz cranberry juice • Combine all ingredients in a highball glass with ice and stir • Add an orange slice, a maraschino cherry skewer or a bendy straw (or all three!) and serve COSMOPOLITAN If you want to feel classy and boujee, this is the perfect drink for you. Imagine sipping it at a rooftop bar in NYC and all your dreams will come true. 2 oz vodka 1 oz Cointreau lime juice (or fresh-squeezed lime if preferred) 1 oz cranberry Juice • Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake until shaker feels cold in your hands • Strain into a martini glass and garnish with spiraled orange peels How to make orange spirals: You can buy a fancy peeler to assist with this, but a potato peeler would suffice just fine. Use the peeler to scrape off a large piece of the orange peel, then use scissors to cut strips and curl them. How cute! VODKA SOUR A vodka sour is a classic sour cocktail. It’s refreshingly sweet yet tart, and boasts a frothy egg white foam on top. The best part? It only takes 5 minutes to make. Hurry, grab your shaker! 2 oz Vodka ¾ oz Lemon Juice and/or Lime Juice (optional) ¾ oz Agave or Simple Syrup Without foam: • Add the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake for 15 seconds without ice • Add ice into the cocktail shaker and shake again for 30 seconds • Strain into a glass and serve

With foam: • Shake ingredients without ice to allow the protein in the egg white to begin to form foam • Perform a second shake with ice to cool the drink and strengthen the foam. Strain it into the glass and you’ll get a thick, white frothy layer LIFESTYLE |

RUM If you’re a Bacardi or Captain Morgan fan, these fun, sexy, nectarous drinks are definitely for you. Like other alcohols, rum has many different variations, including dark, aged and white. Sometimes, it just takes trying a multitude of different kinds to find your favorite. Perhaps these recipes will help! MAI TAI Mai Tais are one of the most famous Tiki drinks in the world, which means you definitely should try one out for yourself! 1 ½ oz rum 1 tsp grenadine 3 oz pineapple juice 2 cups orange juice • Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker full of ice and shake vigorously • Strain into a glass filled with more ice • To garnish, add a bendy straw or umbrella—we know you love them! Note: For Mai Tais, spiced rum is usually the way to go. If you’re looking for a fruitier, more tropical taste to accompany the juice, try a coconut-flavored rum like Malibu. RUM COLLINS If you haven’t heard of a Collins, it’s basically a sour cocktail made with a base spirit, lemon juice, sugar and carbonated water, and served long over ice in—you guessed it—a tall Collins glass. 1 lime juice 2 oz white rum Top up soda water 1 tsp sugar • Shake rum, the juice of a lime or lemon and a teaspoon of sugar with ice until properly mixed and chilled • Strain into a highball glass with ice and top off with soda water • Garnish with a slice of lemon and a cherry before serving

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CHAMPANGE & WINE If you’re not a fan of the hard spirits, these champagne- and wine-based cocktails may be right up your alley. They have a more low-key vibe to them, so you can sip them during a movie night or over dinner! ROSÉ SANGRIA If red wine is too pungent for you, rosé is the way to go. It has a light, airy sensation that is best enjoyed on a summer day—frozen or simply chilled. 1 orange 2 cups strawberries 2 tbsp sugar ½ lemon, sliced into rounds 1 bottle bubbly rosé, chilled 1 handful of mint (for garnish) • • •

Mix fruit and sugar together, and let it macerate for 20 minutes (this will allow the fruit flavors permeate the wine even more) Add the rosé and throw in some lemon slices Refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours, as this will allow the flavors to harmonize and develop, before serving. Voilà!

QUARANTINI This delicious little number comes packed with some delightfully common ingredients you may already have. Add the bubbles and you’ve got yourself an absolute star of a cocktail. Talk about the ultimate quarantine cocktail! 1 oz Cointreau 1 oz cranberry juice 1 ½ oz gin ½ oz apple juice Top up with champagne • • • •

Add the Cointreau, gin, apple juice and cranberry juice into a cocktail shaker with ice Shake well for 10-15 seconds or until the outside of the shaker becomes frosted Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and top off with champagne Garnish with a slice of apple and serve

WHITE WINE SPRITZER The easiest, most refreshing cocktail: a white wine spritzer. Add bubbles to your favorite wine to make the ideal summer drink. 1 bottle chilled white wine ¼ cup soda water, approximately • • •

Pour a serving of wine into a glass Top off with however much soda water you prefer (we recommend 25%) Stir gently and enjoy ■ lifestyle |

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r o s e - t i n t e d m i n d s e t w i l l e l e v a t e t h e o r d i n a r y .

HALLIE MILSTEIN

hen the day-to-day is glamorous, everything becomes a bit more exciting. Your life is cinematic—we promise. The key to seeing it this way is upgrading your perspective. Perception matters, so uplifting yours has the power to enhance the way life is experienced. It’s more than optimism and yet, we’re not suggesting that everything is great. It’s 2021 and we’re in a pandemic and climate crisis—among other ordeals— and long story short, life right now is far from perfect. But, by slipping on a pair of rose-tinted lenses and augmenting the way you see your own life, you become the main character in your own breathtaking life story and every moment holds the potential to become a significant memory. Suddenly, you’re not just driving to work on a rainy day. Instead, you’re starring in your own dramatic music video and the lyrics are about you. And you’re not just doing your homework, you’re in the hard work journey montage part of a film. Allow the flowers in the shop window or an especially blue sky to make your day. Glamourizing your life, though, may be interrupted by comparison with others, especially with social media as a prime setting for this mental downfall. People post the highlights of their life on social media and photos are often staged and lack context. They show only the best and leave out both the worst and the mundane. Still, it can be hard to think this way when scrolling through others’ snapshots of happiness featuring friends, travel destinations or other enviable features. The ability to put social media into perspective and stop comparing

yourself to what others are posting is crucial to being happy with your own positionality, creating a foundation to romanticize. Not everything is bright and shiny, either. Some things in life don’t deserve the positive sentiment of romanticization. There has to be a line of recognizing reality and checking in on yourself; living a fantasy is not the answer. This includes accepting the bad with the good. This may mean opening your eyes to an unhealthy relationship rather than basking in the allure of a new partner, or even acknowledging the failures of the systems you are living in. Don’t shut your eyes to injustice, both today and for times previous. Remember that nostalgia for a glamourized past might ignore the hardships of the time. Romanticizing life means instilling a rose-tinted mindset to elevate the ordinary. However, to create positive change, it is important to maintain balance in your life—elevating the good and appreciating details without ignoring violations. Orient yourself as the main character and embrace the role, but don’t overlook transgressions and don’t lose track of the rest of the world. Here are some tips to romanticize your own life, maintaining that balance, and thereby making the details of daily living more attractive and intriguing.

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Take advantage of the power of words. Be the narrator in your own life story. Whether you opt for manifesting, affirmations or a dramatic retelling of your life in a journal, taking control by putting your own narrative or autobiography out into the universe (but probably for your ears only) can reshape and enhance your experience of reality. It’s okay to be a little materialistic sometimes.

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The fact is that things sometimes do have the power to make us happy. Silk pajamas or an aromatic candle can add a special feeling to everyday things. Making the things around you aesthetically pleasing can create a sense of peace, too, even if it’s plating your dinner in a way that looks nice or taking the extra time to tidy up your room the way you like it. Appreciate the little things. It’s okay to slow down and reject Elon’s culture of busyness every once in a while. Find joy in the daily details. Be intentional. Give love to everything that you do. Regardless if it’s choosing a playlist to drive to or just sorting out your schedule, breathing life and purpose into every task makes them more meaningful and suddenly you’re not just going through the motions. Get to know yourself. Take a break from what you have to do and figure out what you want to do. What are you passionate about? What makes getting out of bed in the morning worth it? Discover your ideal day then live it. Take a long moment to check in with yourself and consider your health. And, don’t be afraid to be alone. FOMO can be stifling, but taking time for yourself is important. Learn to enjoy a party for one. Don’t be afraid to care. We’re sick of playing it cool. It’s fun to be excited about the future. Find reasons to celebrate and look forward to them. It’s okay to be in love with life. ■ 28

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Photographer I Cameron Leslie Model I Naiya BankS

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Photographers I Mel Jones, Michaela Brady, Cameron Leslie ModelS I Liv Nevin, billie waller, jordan haywood

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Disposable came ras : Captu re the moment & bette r you r me ntal health SARAH HENNIS

he majority of us have grown up surrounded by technology, never truly experiencing life without it. In this digital age, we have grown accustomed to always having our phones with us, giving us continuous access to a camera, as well as unlimited and immediate access to the photos we take. This unlimited access can ultimately become more harmful than beneficial and generates a lot of unavoidable toxicity. It’s important to escape from this virtual world and come back to reality. Disposable cameras are a great way to improve your mental health and combat the toxicity that comes along with digital cameras. Unlike digital cameras, disposable cameras emphasize delayed gratification, being present and ultimately prevent self-criticism.

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Delayed Gratification:

When using our phone cameras, we are given instant and unlimited access to the photos we take. This continuous access gives us instant gratification of immediately seeing the photos and being able to share them with others. Although this can be beneficial, the delayed gratification that a disposable camera provides gives us something to look forward to. Nowadays, technology has never been faster, but there is something special about the slow process of developing photos. When using a disposable camera, you are forced to wait up to two weeks when developing your photos. This creates a level of excitement and anticipation that just doesn’t happen when using digital cameras and can ultimately Photographer I Delaney Daniels ModelS I Alexa Merheb, Sophia Gaeta, Kate Salvatierra

better your mental health. In this life, it’s crucial to learn how to appreciate the little things. Although it may seem silly, finding joy in something as small as using a disposable camera can be extremely beneficial for your mental health.

Prevention of Self Criticism:

It’s safe to say that ever yone has fallen victim to self-criticism, especially when it comes to getting your picture taken. We’ve all spent time picking apart how we look after taking photos and have all deleted photos based on how we look. We tend to put a lot of worth into our self-image, which stems from our individual insecurities and societal pressure. Society places a lot of pressure on women to uphold a certain, unrealistic image, which has made us more self-conscious of our appearance and how we are perceived by others. This has forced women to feel like they aren’t pretty enough for societal standards. When using a disposable camera, you are unknowingly preventing yourself from self-criticism. Photos on a disposable camera are unable to be viewed right away, which takes the pressure off of the act of taking photos, prohibiting you from obsessing over your appearance. When taking photos with a disposable camera, it’s impossible to get caught up in how you look or how others will perceive you, ultimately preventing any automatic or instantaneous criticism.

Being Present:

Disposable cameras allow you to appreciate the moment you are in and allow yourself to be present. When we take photos on our phones, we are captivated by the device and end up taking hundreds of photos, ultimately completely missing out on the moment you were trying to capture. It’s necessary to break away from this digital captivation. Disposable cameras have roughly 30 available shots before running out of film, causing us to be more careful when shooting. When using disposable cameras, you aren’t able to become wrapped up in how the photos are turning out, or how you are appearing in them. This allows us to capture the moment, while actually being present without any distractions. Although it may seem silly, disposable cameras are a great way to romanticize your life and improve your mental health. Disposable cameras add a certain charm and sentimental value to your special memories through anticipation. If you haven’t used one already, we at The Edge recommend heading over to your local drugstore and purchasing your own.■ lifestyle |

LIFE THROUGH THE LENS OF INSTALLATION ART JILLIAN MENDOZA 40

| FEATURES Photographer I Jillian Mendoza Model I Hampton Taron

rt is mistakenly thought of as a loose term, as just about everyone will have a different definition of what art means to them. But all art, no matter the form, manages to play a factor in both influencing and reflecting society. Art is an experience that satisfies our senses, and it’s all about emotion. Contention arises, though, on whether art has to hold an intent, a goal or a meaning. The answer is unclear and some may argue that it is subjective, but the evolution of art can provide us with endless insight into the progression of humanity and culture— specifically, the rise of modern day installation art. Installation art is a relatively new art form, which began to appear around the end of the 19th century with the wave of modernism (think: Pablo Picasso, Édouard Manet, Paul Cézanne, and Georgia O’Keeffe). It comes in many forms and various combinations of video, sound, performance, virtual reality and even the Internet. It uses these methods to transform the way we see, feel and think about the world through changing the perception of a space. What makes installation art so unique is that it truly immerses the audience by providing a broad sensory experience so that they become a part of the art. In short, it blurs the boundary between art and life. How did this all begin? The walls of museums began to feel restrictive among some artists. Artists needed a new method to stray away from the traditional sense of art, so they began experimenting with everyday objects to make their art more relatable to everyday life. Kurt Schwitters, a German artist, is often credited as the father of installation art. He built “Merzbau,” a house where the house itself was the work of art. The objects were not the art—the sole transformation of the space was the art. Schwitters’ “Merzbau” inspired other artists to construct entire spaces to create a work of art. This allowed artists to craft an experience that oftentimes stimulated many or all of the viewer’s senses. Yayoi Kusama is an artist from Japan who began debuting artwork back in the 1950s and continues to do so today. She is known for her avant-garde pieces of work including pumpkins, polka dots and infinity mirror rooms. The inspiration from her work supposedly derives from hallucinations she endured as a child. Kusama often states how when she creates art, everything around her disappears. She completely immerses herself into her work, and one of the main goals for her installations is to allow viewers to take a glimpse through her lens. The intention behind her famed infinity mirror rooms is to display the cosmic image beyond the world we live in using lights and reflection. It’s about viewers discovering different sides of themselves as they constantly morph and change shape

relative to their position in the work. It’s also about life and death, as the lights fade in and out, like a heartbeat. By the same token, it alludes to an afterlife as many other lights and shapes remain. Ai Weiwei is another esteemed contemporary installation artist from China and has been dubbed as “the voice for the voiceless.” He serves as an activist for human rights and came to fame by using art to criticize the Chinese government. His work intends to affirm the destruction required for construction. He repurposes everyday materials in order to create his installations and collaborates with other artists to truly embrace the potency of the hand-made. He aims to demonstrate “the part in relationship to the whole.” Perhaps one of the most well-known installation exhibits is his “Sunflower Seeds,” as it was made up of one hundred million hand-crafted porcelain sunflower seeds. There are copious implications behind the masterpiece, but there’s an especial emphasis on symbolizing the unity of individuals as a collective and the power of working together. A singular seed can easily vanish or disappear on it’s own. However, these singular seeds are what make up the entirety—without one, the strength and astonishment diminishes. As one part of the Gen Z/Millennial era, chances are slim that you are familiar with the work of Kusama or Weiwei if you are not directly intrigued by and inquisitive of the art world. But, unless you’ve been living under a rock (or, respectfully— removed from social media), then you are almost definitely familiar with works inspired by them. These two showcases are a perfect example of how “traditional” installation art has transformed. And, the odds that the Museum of Ice Cream or the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit have shown up on your Explore Page, Feed or For You page are probably pretty high. There are obvious foundational differences between modern and more dated installation art, including the fact that these newer types of installations are not created for a specific space. Instead, there are multiple locations for the same type of exhibit. The Museum of Ice Cream has permanent locations in New York City, Austin, Chicago and even Singapore. Immersive Van Gogh is a traveling exhibit with locations in just about every big city in America and over ten cities across Europe and Asia. When there is a particular set space, an artist designs around it because how someone may interpret a piece relies heavily on how they physically correspond to it. An important difference that should not be ignored is that just about all the modern exhibitions cost money. Traditional artists have had work placed in museums, so there are clearly admission fees. However, with artists such as Kusama and Weiwei, there is almost always an alternative. They have FEATURES |

public works of art available for anyone’s eyes. For example, with The Museum of Ice Cream and Immersive Van Gogh, if you’re not paying for admission, the only way to observe this work would be digitally. The admission tickets aren’t cheap, either. For anyone above toddler age, admission for The Museum of Ice Cream starts at $39 and tickets to see Immersive Van Gogh range from $20 to $70 per person. Cost of admission allows for exhibitions to become widespread by enabling travel and, thus, allowing for them to be viewed by more eyes. However, it must be understood that these types of exhibitions are not necessarily as ‘universal’ as they aim to be. The installations may be seen by a larger number of people, but they are people of the same audience. They remain inaccessible to those who cannot afford or do not see the value. It’s an age-old debate—with more and more modern exhibits just looking to turn a profit, art is continuingly being wrongly reserved for the elite. Despite the importance of the aforementioned contrasts, the utmost crucial difference is the intention. Thanks to social media, modern installation exhibits are highly popularized. By having viewers share their experiences through their individual platforms, it inspires their friends to want to visit these places. Unlike in the days of Kusama and Weiwei, these modern places feature art with the absence of a message. They are lighthearted and meant to simply please aesthetically. The sole goal behind The Museum of Ice Cream is for viewers to walk through a sweet, ice creamfilled space and pose against cute backdrops for pictures. Immersive Van Gogh is a bit more complicated. Van Gogh’s original paintings undoubtedly have great depth, but it is important to remember the recent exhibition is not a piece by Van Gogh—it is an explanation of Van Gogh through

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another artist. The exhibit highlights the visual appeal of his work and leaves it empty by unintentionally erasing his emotion behind it. It is claimed that the purpose of Immersive Van Gogh is to demonstrate what flashed before his eyes upon death’s door. The purpose is completely valid, thought provoking, and respectable if it is looked upon as another artist’s interpretation of Van Gogh. Yet, it is a bit sickening to think about the exploitation of the work of an artist who died broke and alone (without acknowledgement of the fact) to create profit for others. The majority of visitors to Immersive Van Gogh and all the visitors to the Museum of Ice Cream attend for social purposes, to please their senses aesthetically, or for a laid-back time with friends or family. Just because more and more places are becoming popular for their aesthetic nature doesn’t mean that all meaningful installations are a thing of the past. In fact, Christo and J e a n n e - C l a u d e’s

“L’Arc de Triomphe—Wrapped” just received worldwide recognition for the masterpiece it served as. The way installation art has moved from artists like Weiwei to places such as The Museum of Ice Cream reveals a lot about us. In terms of our taste in art, we seem to value base-level aesthetics over depth. Art is largely publicized and widespread due to social media, which is amazing because it opens the art world up to more and more people. Nonetheless, social platforms easily let the original intention of artwork to be overshadowed. This has permitted us to grow into people who do not necessarily see the essentiality for meaning in artwork—instead, visuals are enough. Initially, we enjoy art for its appearance—but we need art for its meaning. To be quite frank, most people don’t care about art until they need it. We look to art when we suffer—when there’s a death of someone we love, when we go through a heartbreak, when new

hurdles are introduced to us in life, when we’re in physical or mental pain. As actor Ethan Hawke has mentioned when explaining human creativity, we need and look to art to understand and explain our grief. Humans become desperate to make sense of their experience so much that we wonder if anyone has ever felt the way we have before. Art is viewed as a luxury when it is actually a necessity. Art is a necessity because of the powerful messages and meanings behind it, but this does not mean that all art has to have meaning. Exhibits such as The Museum of Ice Cream are still art and we should not feel guilty for enjoying art that does not have great depth. Art serves as a visual avenue for curating connections between individuals, regardless of background. It allows us to relate to each other with a common draw towards visual appeal. So no, not all art has to have meaning—but not all art should lose its meaning, either. We would lose an aspect of human empathy and self-identity with the lack of perceptions available. We need art that has substance and if all art loses substance we lose a part of recognizing ourselves. A quote from the Dead Poets Society best sums up the importance of art: “Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.” For now, the world of installation art is a beautiful mixture of being profound as well as lighthearted. It will continue to do so for the near future, but we cannot allow our craving to impress to become stronger than our desire to understand.■

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e are all familiar with distinguished high fashion brands such as Gucci, Prada and Chanel. These clothing moguls have dominated the global market for decades, and their influence on the culture of couture is not difficult to discern. However, in the modern era of expanding interconnection, the spread of technology, markets and ideas have supported the rise of new high fashion brands in numerous countries across the world. Many of these brands are led by young designers who work to fuse local cultural trends with the cosmopolitan conventions seen in the Western high fashion industry. Global high fashion designers have been on the rise for the past two decades, dispelling long-held industry assumptions that luxury is reserved for the West, and we’ve rounded up some of the best.

CAMEROON One such designer is Cameroon-born Imane Ayissi, who started his Paris-based haute couture label in 2004. Ayissi’s designs combine traditional African art and unique material bricolage to create a union of Western fashion and African tradition. Personal creativity integrated with African-style recycling work and the structure of Western haute couture creates a unique global fashion that appeals to international audiences. His most recent collection, “Tseundé,” which means “exchange” in Cameroonian Ewondo, reflects the exchange of ideas and goods between different cultures. In this collection, Ayissi seeks to examine the relations between world cultures, especially between Africa and the West. Drawing upon historical interactions of colonialism, Tseundé represents the emergence of popular African

clothing that mixes the two opposing fashion cultures. While this fusion was once an act of resistance on the part of Africa, Ayissi hopes his collection can be representative of “more harmonious, balanced exchanges between the two cultures.” GHANA Another notable African designer is Aisha Ayensu, a Ghana native whose brand, Christie Brown, was founded in 2008. Ayensu’s luxury label features various designs targeted at the “global citizen.” Ayensu’s designs blend traditional craftsmanship with modern motifs to create beautiful pieces infused with Ghanian culture and heritage. By incorporating gorgeous Ghanian prints into modern concepts, Ayensu’s work has nurtured a renewed consumer demand for African fashion. Since its 2008 debut, Christie Brown has b een endorsed by celebrities such as Alicia Keys and Beyoncé. Ayensu’s brand characterizes the women who wear it as unapologetically bold, inherently audacious and capable of endless strength and confidence. Ayensu’s work illustrates a more accurate and positive vision of Africa by encouraging women across the world to be definitely authentic. NIGERIA Adebayo Oke-Lawal is a Nigerian fashion designer and creator of the luxury brand Orange Culture. Growing up in the Nigerian state of Lagos, Oke-Lawal struggled with issues of hyper-masculinity, as well as the identities imposed on boys from a young age regarding their role in society. This struggle contributed to Oke-Lawal’s interest in fashion, and he founded Orange Culture when he FASHION | 45

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Another up-and-coming Chinese designer is Qiu Shuting, who established her eponymous label in 2018. Shuting’s designs are known for their bright colors and bold patterns, which express a uniquely baroque charm. Since her label first debuted, Shuting’s name has quickly become a fixture in global couture. The inspiration for much of her work comes from her travels; however, she also works to honor her home country by including traditional Chinese silk in her designs. Shuting’s most recent Spring/Summer ’21 collection was inspired by Russian artist Natalia Goncharova, who was celebrated for her experimental art and design. The collection’s CHINA vibrant mixture of colorful prints is perfect for the Asian designers have led the charge in street fash- “Virginia Woolf kind of woman.” ion for decades. In recent years, Asia has also emerged as a leading creative force in global high fashion. COLUMBIA Chinese-born Huishan Zhang’s London-based label, Esteban Cortázar was only 17 years old when he Huishan Zhang, is one Asian high fashion brand that introduced his first collection at New York Fashion has exploded in recent years. Established in 2011, Week in 2002. The Columbian-born, Miami-raised Zhang’s brand has been shaped by his national heritage, fashion prodigy has gone on to design clothes for A-list and much of his work fuses Eastern traditional hand- celebrities, including Beyoncé, Rihanna and Lady Gaga. work and design with Western influences. Zhang Cortázar’s critically acclaimed label is deeply inspired produces typically feminine garments that illustrate by his Latin heritage. This influence is prominent in his high-quality Chinese craftsmanship to offset narratives most recent collection which reflects his experience of China as a “fast fashion” capital. The highly interna- growing up in South Miami Beach in the ’90s. The tional brand is sold in various countries across the globe, collection is a product of collaboration between reflecting Zhang’s characterization of his customers as Cortázar’s eponymous label and the luxury Spanish those who are “well-traveled,” “intelligent” and “really brand Desigual. The project includes an ecological understand and appreciate other cultures.” element, as Cortázar seeks to implement the precedent of sustainability within the fashion industry. FASHION | 47 was only 21 years old. His brand pushes boundaries with clothing that challenges society’s assigned gender roles for both men and women, promoting a lifestyle of fluidity in terms of both gender presentation and sexuality. Orange Culture’s newest collection, “Honest,” honors fathers who accept and celebrate their sons for who they are. The collection utilizes traditional Nigerian fabrics such as aso-oke alongside Western materials such as frills and corduroy, creating garments that include both masculine and feminine characteristics.

Photographer I Sophia Valentino ModelS I hallie Gardham, Taneen Davari, MICHAELA RYAN Mollie Lund

PERU Sandra Weil is a Peruvian-born luxury designer whose label, Sandra Weil Couture, was founded in 2012. Growing up in Lima, Peru, Weil developed a love for fashion during her time spent in her grandmother’s dressmaking shop. Drawing inspiration from the powerful and spirited women in her family, Weil’s designs emphasize the creativity and strength of the women who wear them. Her experimentation with opulent fabrics as well as her attention to detail has allowed Weil to develop a loyal customer base. Weil’s work is also highly sustainable, and her goal is to create pieces that are high-quality, low-impact and durable. Many of her materials are sustainably sourced from Peru, and she has even partnered with Neutraloop, ensuring her products support Amazonian reforestation projects. 48 | FASHION

MEXICO Carla Fernández is a Mexico-based designer who launched her eponymous brand at the turn of the century in 2000. Her couture brand was founded with an ethical production model, which partners with indigenous communities throughout Mexico. The goal of the brand is to revitalize the material traditions of indigenous and Mestizo culture; thus reviving traditional Mexican textile patterns. Fernández’s brand works chiefly with female co-ops who specialize in handmade textiles, and she is sure to provide these artisans with fair compensation. The result? Luxury garb flaunting a modern avant-garde flair. Fernández’s model is not only ethical but also extremely successful. Her brand has won numerous awards for its designs as well as its ethical business model. The brand’s collections are showcased in museums and other high-profile venues across the world.

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ITALY Alessandro Tricone is an Italian-born designer and founder of the haute-couture brand which bears his name. Tricone’s unique designs have become increasingly popular in the global fashion arena since rap artist Young Thug posed in the brand’s extravagantly ruffled pants for the cover of his 2016 “No, My Name Is JEFFERY” album. Gender presentation is a major theme in many of Tricone’s designs, which feature traditionally feminine fabrics shaped into silhouettes for male

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consumers. Tricone’s work blurs the lines between traditional gender roles, a goal inspired by the prejudiced backlash he experienced for his work while growing up in Naples. His latest collection, “Areinmi,” is meant to represent the power within, celebrating those who have the strength to be themselves despite society’s narrow standards regarding gender. Giorgia Andreazza is another Italian designer who has been making waves in the fashion industry with her unique designs and bold social statements. Andreazza’s potent designs are inspired by global social, political and environmental issues. Giorgia’s most recent A/W ’20 collection criticizes the wastefulness of the global fashion industry, featuring deconstructed designs formed from scrap materials. The collection is styled with innate Italian craftsmanship and focuses on how clothes fit the shape of one’s body. The material choice and design style emphasize Andreazza’s critique of the industry while also providing consumers with quality products. 50

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SPAIN Juan Carlos Pajares has emerged as one of the most recognizable names in Spanish high fashion over the past few years. His craft was initially self-taught, and he later went on to study at prestigious design schools in Madrid and London. After his first collection won the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers in 2015, Pajares’s career took off. His designs have since appeared in some of the most important Fashion Week productions across the world. Drawing inspiration from art and architecture, Pajares’s work seeks to define a new feminine identity. While Pajares’s early work was largely self-funded, his steady rise in popularity has allowed him to become more adventurous in his designs. More recently, he seeks to create designs that display quality craftsmanship while also remaining current and modern. ■

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What You What Yo ecially p s e , e m u s nt we con e t n o c d e alistic e them r n l e u v a n r a t f p with mount o u a e e h m t o h c t i e W does hav y e l n w o , t a o i N d k like. cial me o o o s l h o t g u o d r e th ut it pos b p , u s s p i s r i t l r e plan ou hat trav e w w f o w o a h e id ’ of nge s a s h e c c c n u o s i ‘ t o of the eived n g c n n i o d c n e r a t p s r this tent has our unde n o t c c e e f v f i s a expen tively d n a d e t i can nega e stop , ed w c i e t s m i i l t a e s ’ r t trip. Un —and i e l n o h w o w r a u o ustry as d n i l e v a r he t changed t g it. normalizin EINST W H A E L

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OCK

See is Not ou Get

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icture this: You’re in Rome. You’re with your lover, enjoying a picnic right next to the Colosseum in the most gorgeous, ridiculously expensive dress you can imagine. You two are the only people there, drinking fancy wine, eating an exquisite pasta dish, and watching the most beautiful sunset you’ve ever seen. You can picture it, right? Well, of course you can because that’s exactly what it is—a picture. It’s the same picture you’ve seen on the Instagram page of a travel influencer whose life seems more extraordinary than yours ever will. You know, someone who jets off to Europe on a moment’s notice to stay in the most luxurious hotel and experience the same things you jot down on your bucket list or see in your dreams at night. This picture—the picture you can barely believe is real—is, in fact, not real. It’s a perfectly timed, meticulously edited and unnaturally curated photo that was meant to look like it was candidly taken and without a second thought. Now, following the onsight of a global lockdown, and seemingly more than ever before, we have had this unquenchable thirst for travel. And so, it only makes sense that the amount of travel-themed content we consume has increased exponentially. From travel vlogs and dreamy TikToks to Instagram reels and beyond, these posts are making us crave travel more than ever, yet making the act itself seem increasingly more unachievable. Why? Without knowing so, we are consuming curated, unrealistic, edited content that we tend to accept as fact. Popular tourist destinations with almost no people, ideal weather, and picture perfect moments. You know the type. Not only has this had a dramatic negative effect on how we perceive travel, but also how we feel the need to flaunt our travel to others. According to a study from Stackla, “eighty-six percent of people said they’ve become more interested in a specific location after seeing user-generated content.” We are rewriting our bucket lists because of the mere snippets of the experiences of strangers we’re consuming through social media.

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In an article from Travel Weekly, a journalist discusses how influencers have changed the travel industry as a whole, and credits this change to the influence that social media has had on how much we trust what we scroll through. “People trust influencers like they trust their best friend.” This content however, is not only affecting us, but the entire travel industry. Travel companies and brands now have to compete to keep up with this new travel ideology that values exclusivity and luxury. And while we all can envision and dream of a movie-esque level of luxury, it is important to remember what we lose when we focus on or prioritize a glitzed-out itinerary. From small remote villages with local fishermen who have never called another place ‘home’ to small business owners who have operated their shops for generations, these individuals exist in the most special places in the world, and with the most extraordinary culture and stories to share—if only we look for them. Local, unique communities who rely on tourism usually do not have the infrastructure to compete with these expensive travel destinations or itineraries. What they do have? History, culture, unique nuances, the list goes on. Subconsciously, the content we consume changes how we plan, what we want to do, and how we do it. We begin to think more about visiting restaurants and hotels that have been frequented by celebrities and socialites rather than seeking out local groups who have never left their town or way of life. Social media hasn’t always changed how we traveled, though. Before it came to dominate our everyday lives, we traveled for ourselves and our own personal experiences—to draft our own itineraries and to fully experience a place without the intention of sharing it with our followers. Now, we travel and take pictures to show off to others. When we begin to travel again, there are many important things for us to remember. First of all, we must keep in mind that what we see online is not always real. If you edited and curated as much as some people, you could probably have very similar content. Which

leads us to our second point: don’t travel for the content, travel for the experience. By all means, take pictures and capture memories, but don’t let it take away from your experiences. Lastly, remember why you travel— be it for the experience, for the culture, for the

memories. Travel for the moments that we remember as picture perfect, not because they were, but because of the people we met, the things we experienced, and the memories that will never be forgotten. ■

Popular tourist destinations with almost no people, ideal weather, and picture perfect moments.

You know

the type . TRAVEL |

SECRETS

Spilled

ON BATHROOM FLOORS MAYA DRABCZYK

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The party has changed.

t’s late, but you aren’t sure what time it is precisely. The music is blaring, and it’s the third time this song has played. The makeup you spent the better half of the night perfecting is barely noticeable anymore. As the night goes on, your desire to be at a party decreases. There are sweaty people brushing against you, dirty floors, and loud crappy music. You grab your friends—which always seems to take way longer than it should—and check locations to ensure everyone is safe. Then, you Uber home. Going home comes with a sense of relief. Walking through the door allows for makeup to come off and dresses to be unzipped. The stress seems to slowly fade away as the venting and post-night rundowns begin. Letting everything out feels like a breath of fresh air—the stressors that have been bouncing around your mind all night finally escape as the conversations flow effortlessly. The height of the conversations always seems to come to fruition on the bathroom floor—for it’s here where we let out our true feelings about those same sweaty people, dirty floors, loud music, and everything in between. The expectations and pressures that coincide with going out create a sense of stress that only builds up as the night goes on. Of course, there have always been expectations tied to college partying and going out; however, after spending nearly the entirety of the past two years confined to four walls and vetting inner circles thoroughly, the pressure to compensate for nights spent at home feels more intense now than ever before. Pressure comes in all shapes and sizes, too. There’s pressure to dress like an off-duty Victoria’s Secret model. Pressure to be skinny. Pressure to not care about being skinny. Pressure to be funny and witty—but not too funny or too witty. Pressure to make up lost time from two years of quarantines and lockdowns. Pressure, pressure, pressure. It feels nearly impossible to juggle these unachievable expectations surrounding

us. And while we feel the need to socialize to countervail social lockdown losses, the act itself can be a stressful reminder of the unrealistic expectations we’re held to by society. The pandemic forced people to have fun in small, intimate groups with the people that they trusted the most in the world. There was an entirely new pressure introduced to friendship dynamics: trusting that everyone was being “Covid safe.” But, with that came a precious dependence on one another—physically and, when necessary, virtually. There were groups of Covidsafe bubbles sitting in the living room, playing Monopoly and drinking mimosas, which quickly became a normal Friday night. Every night felt almost like getting home from a party—sitting, talking, laughing

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on the bathroom floor with your best friends. While

college students longed for the heat of a fraternity basement, there was a much-needed sense of rejuvenation that came from “partying” at home. In these difficult, unprecedented times we began to realize that the most fulfilling part of the night was not the party itself—it was getting home from the party and being present with your closest friends. And we loved it. Now, though, we find ourselves at a sort of crossroads. We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But are we ready to go full-force back into post-Covid life? It’s a difficult question to answer. We all know masks have become shields that many have become all too comfortable behind, and prioritizing more intimate friend groups has been refreshing. But are we prepared to jump back into a hot, loud room with too many people? Or, better yet, do we want to? Small intimate gatherings reduce hangxiety, too. Hangxiety is a form of anxiety that presents itself

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after drinking a lot of alcohol. According to Alcohol Rehab Help, a study conducted in October of 2021 found that 22% of people report having anxiety while experiencing a hangover. While drinking is the main cause of hangxiety, socializing in small groups with people you are comfortable with can combat stress and anxiety. Plus, waking up to supportive friends and the reassurance that everything is OK might just be the best hangover cure. Although the Covid-19 pandemic didn’t stop the ruthless flow of these societal expectations and pressures, it did allow for individual reflection and a mental break. According to the Pew Research Center, 67% of Americans said that the pandemic largely impacted their lives in some way, shape or form. For some of us, perhaps that meant adjusting to spending significantly more time at home. Although it may have been difficult at first, we quickly became accustomed to Zoom meetings in sweatpants and home-cooked meals typically longed for in our college dorms.

With the pressure to make up for lost nights out at an all-time high, we wonder if the mark is being missed on how to approach post-pandemic partying. Rather than compensating for the lost time and forcing ourselves into uncomfortable situations, we can transform the idea of partying and fun altogether by trading muddy floors for clean couches, strangers for close friends, loud music for the sounds of our friends’ voices, and form-fitting everything for sweatpants. If we can take any lesson from the pandemic it is to not miss opportunities for human connection. College is a time where pressures flow like booze from a keg. Expectations are at an all-time high, and sometimes it feels as if we are mindlessly succumbing to the temptations and expectations of what are notoriously supposed to be the “best four years” of our lives. Although there are expectations to find a connection at every chance, this does not mean forcing yourself to go to every function. Listen to your body—if you do not want to go out, stay in and take care of yourself.

Photographer I Delaney Daniels ModelS I Taylin Cain, Jillian Engles, Corinne Snowie

It is so recognizable, yet so difficult at times to pay attention to our feelings. When the pit in your stomach at a party doesn’t go away until you enter your door, that means something. When you feel at your best and most at peace with your best friends at home, that means something. Becoming comfortable with what’s socially uncomfortable is a healthy start on the path towards dismissing expectations and resisting social pressures. We learned a lot from the pandemic, but now the question is how we can implement these realizations into our post-Covid lives. So, the next time you are sitting on the bathroom floor discussing the events of the night, consider this: human connection can come in all shapes and sizes; the pressure to connect post-pandemic does not have to mean going to every party. Perhaps, deeper, more authentic relationships that make you feel good are what is most important. ■

lifestyle

FOR THE LOVE OF LIQUOR:

WHEN IS THE PARTY OVER? SARAH DELOACH | LIFESTYLE EDITOR

| FEATURES

hether we all want to admit it or not, it is hard to ignore the stereotype of college/ university students who drink—a lot. You know, the one you see in all the movies? The one where they all live in a disheveled house and throw crazy parties with way too many people, but somehow still manage to come out the end of it with a degree? We know the type. So, when is this party over? When is it no longer socially acceptable to get drunk with your friends five nights a week? Is it after graduation? Everyone knows that it is not only dangerous but widely unaccepted for adults to binge drink, so why is it more normalized between students?

We cannot sit here and speak about heavy drinking without also acknowledging that there are very responsible drinkers out there who can have fun without going over the top or facing the repercussions later on. But for some, having that control over liquor does not come as easily. This can be a slippery slope into binge drinking, which is defined as a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08%. For a typical adult, this pattern includes consuming five or more drinks in a two-hour period.

"It is OKAY for me to party like this now, but after graduation I WILL stop."

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When talking to college students about this behavior, most will tell you something along the lines of, “It’s okay for me to party like this now, but after graduation I will stop.” This is true for a lot of people—they do stop partying as t he y did in school, but that is not the case for all. For a lot of people who spent time drinking in college, the party does not stop after graduation. No matter which way you spin it, whether it is drinking every day or having a drink every couple of weeks, the fact is that 3 out of 5 people who drank alcohol in college will struggle with addiction (drugs and alcohol) at some point in their adult lives. This statistic is not only shocking, but it makes you wonder how variables lead to college being such a large factor among this group. Upon further thought, it is not hard to think of why college life contributes to this startling statistic. Think of every coming-of-age, college-themed TV show or movie you’ve seen—most of the time, the characters are heavily drinking. The stereotype of young adults drinking is everywhere, not only in schools.

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In a perfect world, people would be able to enjoy a time with alcohol and it would not have negative effects later on. When looking at the statistics, more than 80% of college students admit to drinking heavily at least once, and currently, there are 15 million people under the age of 21 that report struggling with alcohol, with more than two-thirds of those being 18 to 21 years old. Telling young people that they should not binge drink is practically pointless because people are experiencing freedom for the first time in their lives and they are going to do whatever they want, even though addiction could sneak up on them later down the road. The repeated behaviors of partying and drinking with friends are what a lot of people say make the “college experience,” and who doesn’t like to have a good time? But is getting drunk or blacking out weekly leading to consequences once we leave the college bubble? For some, yes. For those who have a family history with addiction and are engaging in risky drinking behavior, be cautious and aware of your drinking habits. There is a way to have fun and soak up your college years without soaking up the bottle. Above all else, be sure you know when the party is over. ■

Photographer I Jessica Skelley ModelS I Bryant Pride, Britney Hope

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Photographer I Michaela Brady Model I Sophia Gerth

ALI SCHEINFELD | TRAVEL EDITOR

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Age Age of of the the digital digital nomad: nomad: redefining redefining the the glam glam of of aa nine-to-five nine-to-five

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ost of us can admit to entertaining fantasies of dropping everything, moving to an island and traveling the world. For digital nomads, that dream is an everyday reality. Working remotely to support travel cravings is not a new concept, but the pandemic has given us the opportunity to define for ourselves what a nine-to-five job looks like. For some, that definition may not include being tied down to just one place. So what does it mean to be a digital nomad? The answer is entirely up to you. It may mean working several jobs to sustain the lifestyle. It may mean staying in one place abroad, or it may mean putting down roots in a new city or country each week or month. In the era of Zoom and remote hiring, it can even mean working a steady job from your computer at a charming café in Paris or seaside in Greece. Anything is possible if you know how to plan and find the determination to truly make it happen. When it comes to getting employed as a digital nomad, it’s important to know what you’re good at and be open to trying new things. Start by asking yourself what you have to offer others or what gaps you can fill, then ask how you can use the Internet to make money off of it. There are remote work opportunities for every skill set and passion if you know where to look and how to pitch yourself. Alyssa Gilbert, a content creator and digital nomad currently exploring the United States in her van, said “I love referring to myself as a digital nomad because in my eyes I’m just using the Internet and my resources as a digital creator to create a lifestyle that I love, which is travel.” If the entrepreneur lifestyle isn’t for you, there are plenty of consistent remote jobs. Keep in mind that the digital nomad lifestyle will be harder to enjoy if you’re sitting at a computer five days a week for eight hours a day, so flexibility is key. Look for paid vacation time and flexible hours, and apply to everything you find. Once you have money coming in, the world is your oyster. But with that freedom comes time and money management. Luckily, it’s not as daunting as you may think. “It’s actually very affordable to digital nomad,” said Mickelle Sleyster, a digital nomad and mindset mentor currently living in Spain. “What it costs me to travel full-time, eat out every single meal… it costs me more to live in Florida and just go out on the weekends. People think it’s so impossible to achieve, and [they] have all of these reservations that it’s really expensive, but it’s just not true at all.” 66 | TRAVEL

When budgeting, start by calculating how much money you typically spend at home. The number may surprise you and make the cost of travel seem less daunting. Then, look at where you can cut costs. If you can sublease your apartment, sell your car or find other ways to supplement your income, your life will be so much easier. You could also look into signing up for credit cards that give you miles or points towards hotels. That way, you’re saving every time you spend. Kelsey Weaver, a digital nomad currently based in Mexico, said her key to saving money is living and thinking like a local. Cooking your own food, planning out excursions and talking to people who have traveled the area before to find the best deals is a great way to plan. Slowing your travel and staying longer in each place can also help build a routine, learn the best ways to budget and live the local lifestyle. Co-livings can also cut down on accommodation costs while you’re on the road. A hub for digital nomads, they’re a great way to meet new people and ensure you’ll have stable Wi-Fi access. Ann Dsouza, a digital nomad currently in Goa, India, recommends travelling off the beaten path for the best experience and lowest costs. When planning trips, she finds close substitutes for more expensive cities she wants to visit and adventures there instead. Pinterest and Instagram are great platforms to find new places to explore. When planning destinations, some great locations for digital nomads are Puerto Escondido, Mexico and Lisbon, Portugal, which Sleyster referred to as “the new Bali” and “the mecca of digital nomads,” respectively. Prague, Madrid and Bali also have growing or established digital nomad communities and have easy access to Wi-Fi and affordable accommodations. With your first trip planned and budget set, there are a few important things to remember before embarking on your journey. Although exciting, the digital nomad lifestyle is not always easy-breezy. First, the lifestyle is transient by nature, and it’s hard to establish roots and romantic relationships. You’ll constantly be adjusting to new people, cultures, currencies, languages, etc., and a lack of routine can sometimes be a hard burden to bear. Second, not every city you visit will have the same access to consistent Internet coverage, superfoods or other necessities you might expect in the United States, so it’s important to stay flexible. Now that you know how to build a digital nomad lifestyle and some words of warning, let’s talk about why it’s all worth it. The simplest answer is that you have complete freedom to adventure whenever and wherever

O G E O K S G R O U WH O Y E RE

you want. You could wake up one morning in New York City, feel pulled towards Europe, and be drinking champagne in front of the Eiffel Tower by the evening. Sleyster described this freedom as “invigorating” and said she has thrived through her solo travels. The digital nomad lifestyle pushes you to really get to know yourself and experience things and meet amazing people you never would while living in one place and going into the office every day. “I have had so many moments where I’ve said ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy in my entire life.’ And then I’ll have another moment two days later,” Weaver said. “Being inspired by the places I’m in and the people I’m around just hits different.” Convinced yet? We’ll leave you with one last piece of advice: Tune out those who don’t support it, and do it because YOU want to do it. Many people won’t

understand your decision and you might get some loving push back. Just remember that if you want it, it will all be worth it. Anything is possible if you believe and trust in yourself. “It’s not an easy lifestyle, but if you have a passion for it, it’s a beautiful life, ” Dsouza said. We’d like to thank Alyssa, Mickelle, Kelsey and Ann for sharing their insights with us. If you want to see more of the digital nomad lifestyle, follow them on Instagram: @mickelle_sleyster, @bykelseyweaver, @ sofearlyss and @lifestylewithann. ■

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PHOTOGRAPHER | Delaney Daniels

ELONEDGE.COM @THEEDGEMAG THEEDGEMAGAZINE