SS15
Editor’s Letter
Time is a complicated concept. It dictates our day as well as our circadian clock; we wake up; go about our busy and eventful day, and finally recede to sleep at night. Repeat again, unless you are a night owl or running off of that venti brewed coffee. And yet, despite the repeating of our daily lifestyles and rituals, we physically, mentally, or even spiritually grow and change. It was this train of thought from which I found inspiration for this season. Fashion Quarterly’s spring/summer issue is dedicated to our circadian rhythm: exploring how our daily activities and habits can be based on the time of day, and how fashion can reflect the complicated nature of time. Daybreak at 6 a.m. signals the heralding of a new dawn or perhaps an opportunity to refresh and start over. Sunlight allows us to see and be seen with early morning hours offering San Diego’s skate scene a perfect opportunity to hit the park. Thanks to natives like Tony Hawk and Adam Taylor, San Diego is home to the skateboard industry, and by incorporating Y-3’s current spring/summer collection, creates the perfect surf and skate combination. With timely milestones and bucket lists in mind, we sat down with Charlie Yip, an up-and-coming leather goods designer and current UC San Diego student who has certainly made a significant breakthrough in his professional career; Initiating your own business is no easy task and often requires more failing versus succeeding and a lot of time spent learning from those mistakes. Success comes to those who work hard and stay dedicated, and we certainly find inspiration in Charlie’s process. Sunsets signify the end of the natural day and its sunlight, but that doesn’t mean that you have to turn in for the night already. Boardwalk lights turn on at this hour, offering the day’s active and bustling scene to continue on throughout the night. And after that sunset dinner, why not grab drinks in the Gaslamp District? We play with fashion’s minimalist moment with a clean black and white color palette that is, while on the contrary of our issue, timeless. Our goal is for each issue to be an inspiring and reflective experience for each contributor and reader involved. For many of us on FQ, this is our final contribution to the magazine and a bittersweet ending to our college experience. As do all cycles, with ours coming to a close, a new one begins.
Jessica Chee
STAFF
JESSICA CHEE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
SAUMYA KUMAR CREATIVE DIRECTOR
MIA MAGUIRE FASHION DIRECTOR
ZIWEI ZHAO EVENT COORDINATOR
JUDY SAMATMANAKIT LAYOUT DIRECTOR
RICHARD YING CREATIVE ASSISTANT • PHOTOGRAPHER
ANGELA NAM PR DIRECTOR
DAISY TONG EVENT TEAM
RACHEL BIRNAM BLOGGER
ALLISON WIN WRITER
Jessica Chee I have found that the most meaningful items in my closet are the ones connected to an important event or milestone in my life. During my time interning at Band of Outsiders, I was fortunate to be involved with the design and production process and was able to see how a garment went from concept to final product. This is a simple and classic Band of Outsiders cropped & boxy shirt that I received and my favorite aspects are the small details that I know a true Band customer would know; an angled back yoke and red & blue stitched placket.
Saumya Kumar These are some rings that I picked up this summer while doing an internship abroad in India. Shopping in India is in itself an extremely tiring process- maneuvering through hoards of people, trying to yell above everyone else, staying aware of pickpockets, while trying to get the best price possible for whatever you’re looking for. However in my opinion, it was what made shopping fun. The whirlwind of colors, people and merchants create magic in the air, which I have never been able to find anywhere else, and each item is extremely unique and handmade.
Mia Maguire This is my paternal grandmother’s engagement ring that I inherited on my 21st birthday. Although I rarely wear it because it is so special to me, it signifies a tradition within my family of passing down engagement ring to the oldest daughter when they become a woman. This ring serves as a reminder of true love (as cliché as that may sound) because it is a tangible symbol of the way in which my grandfather has treated my grandmother for almost fifty years of marriage. Every morning he puts a love note under her pillow while she is still asleep and has done this throughout their entire marriage. For me, this ring signifies that love is precious and existent but needs to be nurtured in order for it to be kept alive. This goes for any type of love - whether it be romantic, platonic, or directed toward family members.
Ziwei Zhao I love pieces in my wardrobe that stand on their own and don’t need to be overly accessorized or styled to look great. I bought this Harrington jacket at Brick Lane market, one of my favorite spots in London. Its practicality and versatility saved me so much time and effort in planning outfits, allowing to do what I really wanted to do - explore. I wore it in Amsterdam, Rome, and Lisbon... In just 3 months, I had lost count of how many times I wore it. It has become very meaningful to me, as it reminds me of many wonderful moments that I don’t want to forget.
Judy Samatmanakit Simplicity and comfortability are the two major elements I look for when choosing my outfit. These black wedges are the most simple and comfortable pair of heels I own as of today. And did I mention that they are from Crocs? When I tried these on for the first time, I felt as if I scored myself the perfect pair of everyday shoes. I can honestly say that they are more comfortable than my pair of Converse. Who knew that Crocs came out with such a comfortable yet chic looking pair of heels!
Richard Ying These boots represent what I look for in my clothes and material goods. Handcrafted by Hiroki Nakamura’s label Visvim, they maintain a utilitarian and unassuming subtlety despite their high price and rarity. They’re a perfect example of handcrafted quality without regards to cost in a world of fast fashion and disposable goods. Nakamura places high regard on old world manufacturing techniques with modern technology, exemplified here. The Vibram sole is hand Goodyear welted to Italian leather uppers, but between them is a bamboo shank and rubber heel stabilizer, characteristic of Visvim’s footwear. I wear these boots nearly every day, and they just improve with age, developing waves and patina in the leather over time.
Angela Nam If there is one item in my closet that I could not live without, it would be this coat. First, I love its color, with its finely interwoven fibers of royal blue and navy, two shades that I favor a lot. I also adore this coat for its masculine fit on my body. Overall, it is simple and keeps me warm while complementing my effortless aesthetic.
Daisy Tong At first glance, this piece of jewelry is nothing out of the ordinary. It is a simple thin silver chain with an arrowhead shaped pendant, easily overlooked and pretty underwhelming. I came to possession of this necklace in the most typical online shopping story; I needed a few more dollars in my bag to reach free shipping. This seemingly insignificant purchase became a staple item in my closet because it works with everything and I always find it lying around when I am getting dressed. In fact, I swore I lost this necklace countless times and I always seemed to find it again, whether it is within a few hours, days, or even months. I guess this necklace represents the beauty and diversity of plain, everyday aspects of life and how you never know when something that is so little can become important to you.
Allison Win My most significant accessory as of now would have to be my Philip Stein watch. Philip Stein products have natural frequency technology embedded into their pieces, which are said to help with overall balance and well-being. I first heard about these watches while on a Caribbean cruise during the summer of 2012. I obsessed over these watches for a long time. They’re quite expensive, so I was waiting until I could save up for one. About two and a half years later, my boyfriend drove from LA to SD for my 21st birthday; he ended up surprising me with my own Philip Stein watch. The watch has a Roman numeral face, silver case, and black strap. I feel like it suits my style perfectly since it’s simple, yet classic, and can be worn with any outfit. It happens to encompass my boyfriend, well-being, and style all in one!
Rachel Birnam This is my Burberry wallet that I got while studying abroad in London. Burberry has been my favorite designer for years, and I have religiously followed every fashion show and development in the brand. It’s always been a dream to own something from Burberry, so I splurged and got the wallet while I was in London (what better place to get a Burberry item than London itself ?). Not only is it one of my favorite items because of how much I love the brand, but because it reminds me of my time in London, a city that I completely fell in love with.
Optimizing The Circadian Rhythm by Allison Win
The circadian rhythm controls your body—when you wake, when you sleep, when hormones are produced, and when other bodily functions occur. With the millions of tasks people juggle nowadays, we often fight such a regulated schedule. We press our bodies to maximize any time we have (all-nighters anyone?). But our internal clocks should be treated as an ally, not an enemy. Your body is naturally programmed for certain functionalities during certain times of a day. Knowing and working with your body’s schedule can optimize productivity, better sleep, and improve overall health.
6 A.M. – 9 A.M. When your body is in sync with your current time zone, your body temperature is at its lowest at 5 a.m. or two hours before waking. Early in the morning, just after 6 a.m., your body experiences its sharpest increase in blood pressure. Around 7:30 a.m., production of melatonin (the sleep hormone) ceases. From 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., your body begins to warm up, making this period the optimal time to wake and begin your day. 9 A.M. – 12 P.M. The first peak of alertness occurs around 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. During this time, people are typically at their best functioning ability. The fog in your mind clears—so definitely tackle important matters here. This is a great period to schedule for productive studying. If you are seeking to improve your eating habits or lose weight, eating at your most active times of the day can benefit your metabolism. Your body will process glucose more efficiently, lowering risks for high cholesterol or diabetes. Stick to eating during the eight most active hours of your day. 12 P.M. – 3 P.M. Ever feel that post-lunch sleepy slump? When your concentration slips, and you want to be lulled to sleep…Lucky for you, 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. is your body’s own assigned naptime. After lunch, around 1 p.m., your circadian rhythm hits a dip. Alertness decreases, so avoid important tasks here. If you are struggling to focus during this period, take a break or a nap to rejuvenate yourself. You will feel even more alert when you reach a later energy peak.
3 P.M. – 6 P. M. If you do not know when to plan your workout time, it should be here. Research has found that hand-eye coordination, muscle strength, and cardiovascular activity are optimal at this time. Joints and muscles are also most flexible, so risk of injury is lower. By this time, your body has warmed up and is ready for exercise. 6 P.M. – 9 P.M. The next peak in mental alertness happens around 6 p.m. From then on, alertness starts to decline until it hits an absolute low late at night. Blood pressure and body temperature also start to decrease after they reach their maximum around 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. For a healthy diet, your last meal should be early in this time frame. Metabolism productivity lessens as the body starts to wind down and prepare for rest. 9 P.M. – 12 A.M. Around 9 p.m. is when the melatonin starts to kick in. This is why many feel initial drowsiness around this time. The body reacts to the darkened night and signals it to sleep. Surprisingly, although 9 p.m. –12 a.m. is the period with most fatigue, research has found that sleepiness can benefit creativity. Fatigue can free the mind, and give room for creative sparks. 12 A.M. – 6 A.M. From midnight to dawn, your body reaches its deepest sleep around 2 a.m., and its lowest temperature around 4 a.m. It is important to be asleep during these times to keep your internal clock consistent. Staying up late can disrupt the circadian rhythm and affect performance the next day. And as always, be sure to get eight hours of sleep for optimal functionality. By 6 a.m., cortisol (the stress hormone) is secreted, preparing the body for another day. The circadian rhythm is undoubtedly different for each person. Variations in the time frames can depend on whether you are an “early bird,” or “night owl.” Nevertheless, finding the schedule your body is attuned to can uplift your energy and keep you happy throughout the day.
CLOTHES COURTESY OF Y-3, LA JOLLA
MODELS: DANIEL KULINICH, JENNA MCCLOSKEY
THE FEMININE THE ANDROGYNOUS & THE EXPERIMENTAL
by Jenna McCloskey
Timely Milestones
by Allison Win
From the time we’re born, our lives are marked by milestones—our first steps, our first words, our first day of school. Whether it’s owning your first Easy-Bake Oven or graduating high school, most of our lives seem to follow the same timeline. There are some things you will only ever do at a certain point in your life. To make sure you get the most out of your stage in life, here is a bucket list meant for college students.
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Plan a road trip with your friends
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Go on a fancy, expensive date
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Go out on a late-night food run
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Run a long distance race—since this may be the only time you
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Attend a college sporting event
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Stay up late with your friends for non-academic reasons
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Travel and experience life through another culture
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Stay up late with your friends for academic reasons
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Have a kickback with friends
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Learn how to cook—something, anything
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Join a club or organization
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Explore scenic tourist destinations
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Write an article for a campus publication
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Visit Disneyland or Disneyworld
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Sit in on a lecture just because you’re interested in the subject
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Las Vegas
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Go to a bar or a club (if you’re old enough, of course)
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Watch a sunset & sunrise
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Go on a spontaneous trip anywhere
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Have a friend teach you a new hobby
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Try a cuisine you’ve never had before
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Read a book for your own enjoyment
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Go on a challenging hike
ever do
matter
Illustration by Michelle Lee
Tell us a little about yourself. My name is Charlie Yip and I’m currently a 2nd year Economics major from San Francisco, CA. I was born and raised in the city and grew up with an athletic background (football, basketball, track). I’m also a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity at UCSD. How do you start your day? What happens during your daily routine? I typically start my day by stretching once I get out of bed. I have some back injuries from sports so by stretching, it gives me time to get ready for the long day and to just relax and think. My typical day consists of school then straight to the workshop to work on orders or experimenting with ideas. I’ll take some breaks for food or to skate around and get some fresh air, but usually I’m just hanging out in the workshop with music playing. Music plays a big part in my daily routines. It keeps me on a rhythm and makes the day much more enjoyable.
MODELS: CHARLIE YIP, JASMINE STRAW, JENNA MCCLOSKEY
I started the brand because I wanted to give a sentimental gift to my dad for Father’s Day. I’ve seen his wallet and that thing needed to be put to rest. I decided I wanted to craft him a wallet. After failing the first wallet (it didn’t even fit cards), I wanted to infuse my belief in simplifying your materialistic needs in your everyday essentials with how I designed the wallets I would make. From there, I fell in love with design and knew that my past interest in fashion could be brought to life with starting my own brand. I try to design in a way that evokes a thought or emotion within the person and make them critically think of what the design/function means. Some things are also just made solely because of need or because I thought it would be cool and fun to make. The logo was inspired by the symbol of Yin & Yang. The curvatures in the lines represent the flow of how the brand should be and the balance between the hill-like structures. There’s a certain balance and slowness to the formation of hills and I believe it perfectly represented how I lived my life and the lifestyle I would want to lead.
Who are your favorite designers (fashion, art, lifestyle, etc.) at the moment?
What are you currently obsessed with or looking forward to in fashion right now?
At the moment, I find inspiration not only from fashion designers, but also designers in other fields such as architecture and music. One person I look up to is Jeff Staples of Staples Pigeon and Design. We may have varying differences in design views, but his journey and mentality behind design gives me a sense of purpose and solidifies why I chose my own path. Kevin Lyon also plays a large influence in my mentality. He’s done creative work for brands like Nike and Stussy. I admire the story behind his designs and his style of art.
Fashion tends to go in cycles, but with certain tweaks. There seems to be a shift towards placing importance in quality goods and knowing the process that goes on behind the scenes. I enjoy the emphasis put on minimalism and attention to detail with more and more hand-crafted brands in their respective crafts.
What type of person is the Charlie Yip customer?
What kinds of products do you currently have available? What are some that you would like to eventually create?
One who finds meaning in the everyday. Who truly doesn’t limit themselves to one specific style, but combines various influencesacertain influences of my life... just put in leather-form. The audience I typically aim for are those who enjoy the visual appeal of modern day design, while acknowledging the importance placed in subtlety within my designs. After all, this brand is still growing and developing and will continue to grow and develop with the customers.
I currently have made a lot of basic leather accessories such as wallets, key clips, and bags. They represent the essentials in our life, but just designed with my own interpretation of how a bag or wallet should be designed. I focus a lot on function with a touch of quirkiness and ideally would design beyond just leather accessories. I’ve been getting into a bit of home decor and just experimenting with different forms of leather use. I’d eventually like to get into cut & sew and other forms of design not just within the fashion industry, but perhaps more for living like furniture.
How do you go about your design process (design, materials, colors, etc.)? Where are your leather goods made? Design initially begins with a thought. It can be sparked anywhere at anytime and I try to write or draw it out immediately. Then the next step is turning the sketch to a pattern then prototyping. After the prototype, we figure out what the best look for the product would be in terms of material and color (that would fit well with the brand identity). All designs and goods are made in house at the workshop I’ve also built myself.
How can one properly care for a leather product? The leather goods are made for long term use. In order to get full use of it, there are certain oils and conditioners available if your leather begins to dry or crack over years of use. For the brand, we specifically use chromexcel and veg tanned leather. Chromexcel leather has oils stuffed into it during the tanning process so conditioning early on isn’t much of a necessity. Our veg tanned products will age well and develop more oil over time, but tends to dry out more often than chromexcel so I personally use neatsfoot oil. This wouldn’t be too necessary in the first couple years.
Imagine your brand in 5 years. Where would you like to see your company? I’ve always told myself that if I’ve committed to a goal, I would try my best to exceed it. This brand isn’t just a goal however. This is a commitment and belief. I’ve had this inner drive and longing for something bigger than myself. In 5 years, I’d ideally see the brand at a much bigger spotlight in several stores around the country and have opened up my own store. I want to keep it as authentic as possible and build up the respect that many brands nowadays lack. That will just come with time and work and in 5 years, I believe my work will pay off.
Charlie Yip Brand was recently featured at Fashion Week San Diego. How was that experience? Is there anything coming up that you are looking forward to? It was definitely a new experience. It was so sudden that just a couple months of starting the brand, I’ve been given the opportunity to compete at a larger level with other designers that have been doing this for years. Being in fashion week has made me realize that there are many appeals to different types of audiences and I enjoyed bringing something different to the table in terms of injecting a youthful vibe to a conservative playing field of higher fashion. We actually have the fashion week coming up in a couple months and that’ll be the time to showcase some of my new work and the new collection underway.
Managing Time by Allison Win
“Time is of the essence.” “Time is money.” Time after time, we hear how important time is. It is truly a valuable thing; we cannot control it, and we cannot gain more of it. What we can only do is manage what we have. As time continually passes, we can do our best to capture moments and dedicate our desires for each instant. Sometimes tasks dictate time. We become submerged in our work, and sooner or later, months pass as we drown in deadlines. Half a year can fly by. However, with some time management techniques, we can hopefully slow down passing time to appreciate it closer.
Prioritize
Utilize Extra Time
Try to rank your work by what is most important, and what is most urgent. Major obligations should require your attention first before you burn out of energy. Don’t waste time on smaller, easier tasks that won’t give overall progress. Figure out what depletes your time and remove it from your routine.
Don’t underestimate the value of 30—or even 20—minute gaps. In -between classes, or waiting for the bus can be effective times to tackle your workload. Instead of scrolling through your phone, finish a small task that can set you one step ahead.
Start Your Day Early
Learn to Say “No”
After peak alertness around 6pm, our focus starts to decrease for the rest of the night. Starting your day earlier will maximize the time your body is ready for productivity. Using your day is more efficient than struggling late at night.
Most of us aren’t superhuman. Know your limitations and how much you can carry. When you’re managing a loaded schedule, you are bound to disappoint some people along the way. It’s okay. It is better to succeed with a few things, than take on everything half-heartedly.
Plan Accordingly
Break Tasks Down
Use a planner, sticky notes, or your phone to track any commitments you have. Whenever you remember something, jot it down right away so you don’t forget. Plan your day around your circadian rhythm; most important assignments should be approached at high alertness— either around 10am or 6pm. Take plenty of breaks when your energy is at a low to prevent strain. Schedule ample time to complete a job (we often underestimate). Finally, have one organized space where everything’s in its place.
Juggling work, multiple assignments, and other commitments can be overwhelming. Focus on one aspect of each obligation that you need to complete, and finish it first before moving forward.
Ask for Help Stress gets the best of us at some point. Don’t be afraid to seek out friends and support to help you through a rough time. Sometimes a breather and a good talk is all we need to get on track again. People aren’t meant to do everything alone.
Illustration by Michelle Lee
CATEYE SPECTACLES
by Jessica Chee
Tucked around the corner of Melrose Ave. and North Heliotrope Drive is Cateye Spectacles, a Los Angeles boutique that specializes in vintage eyewear. Sung Kim, owner of Cateye and frame collector for a number of years, discovered the current space and dreamt of a specialty store that sold deadstock frames and vintage inspired brands. Scott, the current optician at Cateye, has worked professionally in his field for over twenty-six years and sat down with us to discuss eyewear and it’s future. The newest trends in eyewear are now larger size frames for men and women but as with all frames, there must be a perfect balance between face shape and frame style. Sometimes, a larger frame can be a wrong choice if it is not proportional to the person’s head. A good optician should have a decent design aesthetic and know almost immediately what works for each customer. In addition, they should also be showing and explaining to customers why they look good in certain shapes or styles too, which makes it easier for the customer to make decisions later. Scott also mentions the vintage American Optical sunglasses from the late 60’s and 70’s as his favorite frames, which as a company no longer exists, but has made a great plastic frame and hinge. This gem of a boutique is perfect for those looking for unique frames and is conveniently located a few stores down from the popular Scoops Ice Cream, suitable for those summer strolls around the block.
VISION
MODEL: JENNA MCCLOSKEY COURTESY OF CATEYE SPECTACLES & DAILY SCOOP
Manipulating the Circadian Rhythm by Allison Win
Our body clocks can be restrictive. You can feel extremely tired when you want to be awake, or wide-awake when you want to be asleep. Your circadian rhythm naturally dictates how you feel throughout the day. But life happens, and we want our bodies to cooperate with our goals. The trick to tweaking your body clock is using light. Stay up late for a few days in a row or travel to a different time zone and you become disoriented. The reason for this fogginess is related to light. The phenomenon of jet lag, or any disruption in the circadian rhythm, is due to discrepancy between your internal clock and the environment. In general, the presence of light stops the secretion of melatonin. This stops your body from getting sleepy. As we cross time zones, our internal clocks are slow to change. So as our internal clock hits its natural highs and lows, the different environmental light cues can confuse the body. To fix this situation, you can use food and light therapy. Your circadian rhythm regulates hunger as well, so having meals at certain times can prime your body. This is especially helpful for jetlag when time zones can drastically differ. When using light therapy, simply be in light when you want to stay awake, and do not when you want to sleep. If you want to wake up early in the morning, sleep with the blinds open so the sun shines in. The bright light will naturally wake you up. In comparison, getting high light exposure in the late afternoon will help you stay up later at night. If you plan to study late at night, use bright, blue-based lights to keep you going.
Illustration by Michelle Lee
MODELS: JENNA MCCLOSKEY, MIA MAGUIRE
FLEUR
Living in the Paradox of Time by Ziwei Zhao
“What then is time? If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks, I do not know.” –St. Augustine
The concept of time is so fascinating because it is full of paradoxes – it heals and it kills; it flies and it stalls. At the end of the day, we seem to have no idea what time really is. When did it begin, and will it ever end? What is a world without time? Perhaps we will never answer these questions. What we do know is that time moves at the same pace for everyone. It does not ever move faster or slower, yet we never cease to be amazed by the passing of time. This is because time is perhaps the most fundamental thing that intertwines with our feelings, thoughts and actions. Time defines who we are. One of the most debated topics in philosophy is the definition of personal identity. What does it take for us to still be the same people after a certain period of time? For materialists, people who believe there is no eternal soul and that humans are simply biological organisms, the persistence of a person’s physical body through time is all that it takes for the person to remain the same person. However, it is common among people who haven’t given this question much thought to think that we do have souls that transcend our mere physical bodies, so it takes more than the preservation of our bodies for us to retain our identities. For example, if someone goes through total amnesia with no possibility of remembering anything in his life prior to amnesia, is he the same person? Many of us would say no, or at least give the question a second thought.
Even in cases less severe than amnesia such as severe depression or other personality disorders, we often hear people say, “he is just not the same person anymore”. We usually take our personal identity for granted. “Am I the same person today?” is not a question that crosses through our minds each morning we wake up. However, the more time passes by, the more it is potentially capable of changing qualities about you that you consider to be the essence of who you are today. Time can hide or erase parts of us, but it can also reveal who we are. In the opening monologue of Lady Gaga’s “Marry the Night” music video, she says: “When I look back on my life, it’s not that I don’t want to see things exactly as they happened. It’s just that I prefer to remember them in an artistic way, and truthfully the lie of it all is much more honest, because I invented it.” As time goes on, the details of even the most memorable events from our lives will become fuzzy, so as we tell stories from the past, or think of them to ourselves, we subconsciously create details to make the recollections seem complete again. Of course, Lady Gaga probably filters her memories in much more creative ways than us, but the truth is we all do it; you just might not realize it. Suppose you and your friend go through the same experience and then separately describe the experience to a third person. Chances are you would never describe it with the same words, body language, and nuances. The choices
you make in the telling of any story reflect your unique perspective and personality, and time only magnifies the effect. Imagine a song, a smell, or a taste that reminds you of your childhood. Nostalgia is defined as “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations”. Doctors used to think that nostalgia was a disorder, relating it to pain and depression. However, modern psychologists have said that despite the bittersweet nature of nostalgia, it is overall a positive emotion because it makes life seem more meaningful. Nostalgia probably feels different to everyone, but ultimately it is more about revisiting feelings rather than details of events. When you hear your favorite song from high school, you might be reminded of that teenage angst, or perhaps the feeling you got when you saw your crush, but probably not a specific conversation you had
with a friend during lunch. Time strips the trivial details away from our memories. Nostalgia helps us see these memories in a more honest way, thus getting to know ourselves a little bit better. T.S. Eliot said: “Only by acceptance of the past, can you alter it.” The “it” here, of course, does not literally mean the past, but rather the present, since every current second instantaneously becomes the past. So only by reflecting on our past can we make decisions now that turns our present into a different past. Time is too mysterious, too powerful, and too paradoxical to make sense, but it has to make sense because we all live in it. Perhaps just like how we can never fully understand ourselves, we can never hope to fully understand time. As we grow old and start to comprehend ourselves, however, we will also start to fathom the enigma that is time.
Illustration by Michelle Lee
VIVID
MODEL: SOFIA DE OLIVEIRA
Illustration by Michelle Lee
Unwinding At Night by Allison Win
Soft, lulling music that drifts in the background. Dimly glowing candlelight. Warm blankets that hug every inch of your body. A glass of smooth red wine. If only every night could end as relaxing as a romance movie. Though we may not always have such luxury, unwinding before bed can greatly improve sleep and energy for the next day. The first step in de-stressing for the night is setting aside time. At least 30 minutes before sleeping, you should stop any stimulating work. Take this time to relax and enjoy what you couldn’t during the day—whether it’s reading a book or watching some Netflix. Setting a regular wind-down period will help your body know when it’s time to sleep. To get into a serene state of mind, some tips and tricks include yoga, baths, tea, and more. While lying face-up on your bed, try propping your legs on a nearby wall or headboard. Extend your legs and adjust your positioning until you can feel a stretch in your hamstrings. Lay your arms at your sides with palms facing up. Slowly breathe and feel the loosening of your body. Another great way to relax your muscles is by taking a hot bath. The warmth will increase your body temperature and trigger sleepiness. If you can find a partner, massages definitely reduce muscle tension as well. For the mind, try herbal tea or aromatherapy to calm nerves. Sometimes telling stories to friends can also create ease. As time comes to finally go to bed, be sure to keep your room temperature slightly cool for the best quality sleep. If you find yourself unable to sleep at night, try the following suggestions: Absolutely do not reach for your phone. The high-frequency blue lighting found in many electronic devices can disrupt the circadian rhythm. Melatonin is light sensitive, and a bright-lit phone can delay melatonin production. You will end up taking even longer to fall asleep. So late at night, try using yellow lighting or computer software like f.lux to reduce setbacks. Refrain from studying or working on your bed—only use it for sleep. If you constantly work on your bed, your body will associate that environment with high mental activity. To fall asleep easily, reserve your bed for relaxation. When you hit the pillows at night, your body will remember that it is time for rest. Finally, try to do some relaxation exercises. While keeping your eyes closed, start your focus at either the top or bottom of your body. From that starting point imagine each joint and muscle relaxing. Fixate on areas of tension and release them before moving forward. As you go through this exercise, both your mind and body should unwind.
ENDLESS
MODELS: ANGELA NAM, KENNY LEE
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