Mode Magazine Spring/Summer 2021 by MODE Magazine

EBOARD CLASS OF ‘21

JEFFREY PELAYO

GINO CATALANO

PAIGE KOWAL

EMILY ABATE

VIRGINIA THIOR

RIYA GOEL

“EDITOR IN CHIEF”

“BEAUTY EDITOR”

“PHOTO EDITOR”

“MANAGING EDITOR”

FRANCESCA GAYATHRI THELEKATT “ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT VENA-PEDERSEN “SECRETARY”

EDITOR”

MAX DURANTE

“SOCIAL MEDIA”

“FASHION EDITOR”

MIRA BALSAM

“TREASURER”

“LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS EDITOR”

ANITA TATAJ

DANIELA FAME

“LIFESTYLE EDITOR”

“FUNDRAISING”

EMILY MALACANE “CREATIVE DIRECTOR”

I’ll never forget freshman year sitting in Freeman First knowing that I wanted to be the Creative Director for Mode Magazine. Having produced two incredible magazines this past year, I could not be more proud of this team. Most of us started working together four years ago, and it has been an honor to still be sitting here, together. I came into this position knowing that I wanted to make a cohesive, colorful, and thought-provoking magazine. Alex Richard and Katie Konfino were the blueprint for this magazine, and I hope that I’ve made them both proud following in their footsteps. I wouldn’t be here, in this position, if it weren’t for both of their eloquent leadership and guidance throughout these years. I want to take a moment to thank my family and my professors for their continual support, knowledge, and confidence in my work. I keep creating because of them. Most importantly, I want to thank my roommates, Lianna Meehan, Helen Stevenson, Gayathri Thelekatt, Eleanor Keyes, Amelia MacGregor, Colleen Cochran, and Emily Antico, for never giving up on me and my aspirations. They have been there for me on the hardest of days, and I wouldn’t be the confident person I am today without their loving and supportive friendship. Here’s to the next chapter of Mode Magazine. I feel confident leaving this magazine behind in the hands of our gen board who are talented beyond words. Thanks for everything, Mode. All the love.

MODE CLASS OF 2021: GENERATION NOW Letter

from the Editor in Chief

hen I was in high school, I was both rejected from the yearbook club and “inelligible” to be Editor in Chief of the newspaper. All of the “No’s” I’ve ever heard in my life fueled this “I’ll-show-you” mentality. So to all the people that ever doubted or underestimated me, f*ck you, because I’m on my way to great things. I also wanted to thank u, because you made me better. You motivated me to push harder. On the days where I felt most lost, I resorted to chick flicks like 13 Going on 30, Mean Girls, and Legally Blonde. These stories of resiliency taught me that I can overcome anything, and through distress, I can find greatness. This trope also inspired Ariana Grande’s thank u, next music video. Therefore, whether you’re proving a teacher wrong or getting over a failed engagement, we can all find solace in these movies to feel good about ourselves and do better. These films raised us to be the rebellious, bad b*tches of our generation. We can do anything. So not only did I want to modernize these movies in a 2021 rendition of a fashion yearbook, but I also wanted to pay an homage to the people that helped us get to where we are today. And yes, for me it was Regina George, but it was also my amazing Eboard that helped conceptualize and edit this theme, our wonderfully enthusiastic gen board, and all the other Mode members that came before me. I wouldn’t be where I am today if Katie Konfino and Alex Richard didn’t open up the position of photo editor my fall semester freshman year. I never envisioned myself to be Editor in Chief, let alone still be a part of Mode my senior year. But when an opportunity arose, I saw all of the great things I could offer as a leader. I wanted to make the magazine more visually-appealing, the stories more authentic, the blog more engaging, the Instagram more interactive, and the 110-member community feel more tight-knit. I really did that. And I’m proud. I see the way teens are idolized in the media and I see how much power they have. The concept of the “teen” never really emerged until the 1920s, and it only began to solidify in the 1950s. With the enforcement of school, teens created a culture for themselves -- a world where plaid skirts, football jerseys, and sweater vests became instantly associated with their youth culture. Ergo, that kind of fashion that screams and pages that speak became the point of inspo for this magazine. Some key themes I want our readers to look out for in this issue are “rebellion,” “chaos,” “authenticity,” & “reclaiming.” Overall, the SS21 issue reiterates what it means to be a young adult today: unapologetic, loud, fun, and inclusive. Because of these movies, we have learned to romanticize our lives and constantly think of ourselves as the main character. But instead of sticking to the popular blonde mean girl, we’ve evolved into the activist Zendayas that can conquer the world. “Mode Class of 2021: Generation Now” not only reminisces on the past, but it also acknowledges the beauty of the present, and the optimism of the future. Both Mode and this world are in great hands. The future is bright because the present is young.

arts & entertainment

7. Free Britney B*tch 8. Gen Z and the “Cool Girl” Effect 9. Fashion Rebellion in Schools / Amanda Gorman 10. The Teenage Girl Phenomenon 11. Claud’s Super Monster 12. We Need Movies & TV About College 13. The Evolution of Femininity in Media 14. Blog Spotlights 15. Jack Antonoff ’s Golden Touch 16. The Rise of International Music in America 17. A Blessing and a Curse: Social Media Activism

27. 28. 29. 30.

The Authentic Influencer: Emma Chamberlain / The Internet’s Favorite Couple Why I Will Never Accept an Engagement Ring / You’re Toxic I’m Slippin’ Under Definitions of Queerness and How They Affect Relationships So Tell Me About Your Personal Style

32. 33. 35.

Artie Gooden, Jr. unAmerican Cindy Lin

38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56.

Scandinavian Style Trials of Beauty / Do You Know What’s In Your Skincare? Sustainable Swaps Roll Call: Black Creatives in Makeup Mode SS21 Merch A Letter to my Favorite Fashion Influencers / Pyrex Vision Euphoria’s Gen Z Movement It’s Time to Get Real Emo: Back From the Brink of Extinction Asian REDpresentation: Fashion Edition Embracing your Body-ody-ody in Lingerie Fashion in Snowboarding A New Working Class Hero The Future of Hype is... Hidden? Putting the HE in Heels Man vs. Fashion: The Ongoing Battle and How to Win The Bimbofication of Emma Dawson The Psych of Sage Synthetics vs. Sustainability / Judge A Book By Its Cover

57. 58.

Credits Seniors Page

fashion & beauty

love & relationships

Gen Z, Tattoos, and Rebellion Coming Out and Coming In Pinned Down The Evolution of Contemporary Collage Rebuilding: Hitting the Pandemic Wall and Finding Happiness Latina y Que? A Sustainable Approach to Maximalism

other

18. 20. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26.

feature

lifestyle

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Carsyn Fisher Christina Han Jessica Poulos Paige Pandolfo Stephen Pastore Sam Wu “There are countless women qualified to take charge on the field.” - Emma Foley “Let’s bring it back to the big ‘80s where big hair and oversized everything was in.” - Samantha Wu

Photographers: Claire Reynolds and Emma Higgins Stylist: Paige Pandolfo Layout: Julia Lapaj

photographer: mia pollack models: tori broadbent, mikey duffy, riya goel stylist: caroline gleason

bait bait bait bait bait

layout by tori broabent

clique clique clique clique clique

... again author & photographer: mia pollack models: riya goel, maddie boone, and deirdre merritt stylist: casey martin

“In 2021, just about a whole century since Chanel, gender norms in fashion are being broken more than ever” 6

FREE BRITNEY B*TCH

Written by Tori Broadbent and Zhane Coleman Layout by Maddie Boone

As little kids, and maybe even now, we all dreamed about being famous. A life in the spotlight seemed oh so glamorous...until we found out it wasn’t. Growing up as kids in the early 2000s, Britney Spears was one of the biggest names in pop culture. She was a Y2K pop princess in the eyes of the world until the camera lenses of the press started to show a different side of her. Britney shaving her head, smashing a car window were images of a popstar in need of help, but paparazzi still decided to sell to the tabloids. It quickly went from “Oops! I did it again” to “Oops! Britney’s a trainwreck, ” because what we once idolized as fame had quickly become exploitation. While the press had no problems capturing Britney’s downward spiral, they failed to mention her toxic and controlling conservatorship with her father, Jamie Spears. Only recently people have become aware of just how bad the situation is. Starting in 2019 people started to regain interest in Britney and her ongoing conservatorship which has led to movements such as #FreeBritney and multiple documentaries set to come out throughout the year. Most recently, The New York Times released Framing Britney Spears, a documentary which detailed Britney’s upbringing, rise to fame, infamous downfall, and constant legal battles and hardships that followed after being placed under a conservatorship in 2008. The documentary shares photos, videos, and television interviews showing the good, the bad, and Britney’s notorious breakdown. The documentary’s goal appears to be to raise awareness about how the media treated Britney as well as her ongoing fight

to regain her autonomy. But is delving into her past with documentaries, like Framing Britney Spears, just as bad as the insensitive paparazzi and news show hosts that they appear to be shaming? Aren’t they too exploiting Britney’s personal life and mental health struggles for a profit? Without approval from Britney to air out her mental health on television, documentaries are forcing Britney to relive some of her darkest and most vulnerable moments whilst re-inciting the ruthless media frenzy surrounding her breakdown. The documentaries and articles exploring Britney Spears’ life and conservatorship are meant to bring awareness to this issue, but they are also starting a conversation around the common and often unintentional, phenomenon of profiting off of people’s, especially influential people’s, trauma. So this begs the question: Where do we draw the line between exploiting personal traumas and just bringing awareness to them and the stigmas surrounding them?

Gen Z and the “Cool Girl” Effect When it’s 2021 and you’re part of Generation Z, life moves quickly. Trends last weeks, not years, and each day brings a brand new pop culture scandal, and dropping everything to move to a big city seems so close yet so far. What is it about this fastpaced and adventurous yet still seemingly effortless lifestyle that has everyone so obsessed? The desire to

become that cool, welldressed teen you see once on the 6 train and can’t stop thinking about is raging amongst Gen Z-ers, but let’s not forget that cool teen’s roots. A feeling that especially New York college students know all too well is romanticizing New York City and its people, fantasizing about places like the Met and SoHo and even the subway. We’ve held these ideals of the city life forever, which can be accredited to growing up in the era of Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, and other cult classics. And over time, the Cher Horowitzes and Blair Waldorfs that we know and love have transformed into our modern Gen Z it-girls both on and off the screen-the Jules Vaughns, Bella Hadids, and Emma Chamberlains of the world. This isn’t to say that we no longer pull inspiration from the Cher and Blair genre of cool kids, but rather to say that as youth culture has evolved, the cool, it-girl vibe has evolved into something fresh as well. Instead of trying to fit into a certain box or aesthetic, Gen Z has totally warped the idea of “cool” and diverged it into countless subgenres. You no longer have to be a preppy high school queen bee to be cool and powerful; instead, you just need to be your true and authentic self. What hasn’t changed, however, is the universal appeal of this exciting city lifestyle and the idea of being seen as a cool person. The lush feeling of a walk through the Upper East Side, the silent competition with the other young inhabitants of the city, and the euphoric idea of feeling like a main character in our own personal storylines aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. So what does Gen Z’s coveted city youth culture even consist of? Really, it’s a snowball of all these pop culture icons that have grown and come to be over

the years--AKA the TV, film, and social media stars we project onto, along with the increasing value of authenticity we see in up-and-coming icons. It’s clear from the ways Gen Z-ers dress, post online, and even carry themselves that there is not one specific way to be cool, as inspiration is pulled from anywhere and everywhere. From the low-key skaters and “indie kids” to the Pinterest-preppy-chic club, there’s simply no right or wrong way to do cool in 2021. Gen Z is reinventing the “cool kid” stereotype by breaking it into pieces and sharing some with everyone--it is no longer cool kids, but rather the cool generation.

By Melissa Brugmann Photography: Gibson Borelli Models: Melissa Brugmann, Natalia Cruz, Gracie Kunik Stylist: Melissa Brugmann Layout: Sophie Dreskin

Between the first time women were photographed wearing shorts in public and the iconic style of the Black Panther Party to current marches adorned with pink pussy hats, fashion has been a form of rebellion that has been around since the dawn of time. But young people in schools have always been at the forefront of dressing for revolution, despite resistance from administrators and parents. School fashion came into the national spotlight when young people began being heavily involved in protesting the Vietnam War. In Des Moine, Iowa, a group of high school students who attended a public school planned to wear black armbands in protest of the war. In response, school administrators banned the armbands and sent students home who wore them. The case went to the Supreme Court, who ruled that the students First Amendment rights had been violated. Tinker v. Des Moines is now a famed free speech case for young people. Young people continued to wear the armbands and voice their distaste for the war, which was incredibly unpopular by the time the case was decided. Fashion has an incredibly important role in young people’s expression. Today, students continue the legacy of Tinker by wearing Black Lives Matter shirts, buttons expressing “My Body, My Choice” and more, all thanks to our rich history of young students expressing themselves and their views through fashion. High schools and colleges are breeding grounds of expression and ideas, and thanks to previous challenges to authority, we can now express ourselves freely.

Author: Grace Rooney

Dancer, actress, singer. Our stereotypical definition of a “triple threat” focuses on talent and looks rather than education and activism. As we all know, Gen Z is facing monumental issues including systematic racism, destructive climate change, and gender inequality. So, while the talent of a girl who can simultaneously cry on demand, belt a tune, and jeté through the air should not go unnoticed, there is a new call of action for a different type of triple threat. Activist. Student. Poet. Amanda Gorman is redefining the term “role model.” She first gained national attention after reading one of her poems at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, becoming the youngest person to have ever received this honorable role. On Inauguration Day, Gorman looked like the future and her words sounded like the beginning of it. A beautiful, Black, young woman in a bright yellow coat stood before a nation that had faltered in the past four years and powerfully stated: “History has its eyes on us.” She was calling for the people to come together and address the hatred and divide taking place in the country. The recent Harvard graduate educates both children and adults on feminism and racism in her influential poems. Gorman’s writing combines powerful prose with solutions for change. Her determination can be seen in her everyday actions as she developed a speech impediment as a child. Despite this, Amanda continually practiced speaking in order to read her poems as gracefully as she does now. Her published poetry collection, The Hill We Climb, and her children’s book, Change Sings, both contribute to her platform of activism and advocacy. Gorman also started a non-profit organization. One Pen One Page hosts youth writing and leadership programs. Gorman proves that it is possible to have both beauty and brains as the attention from her political involvement reached IMG Models, a top modeling agency, where they offered her a contract. While being multi-talented in Hollywood is certainly a big feat, Amanda Gorman is creating a new goal for little girls to reach. Perhaps instead of saying they want to be a singer when they grow up, elementary schoolers will say that they want to be an activist. Individuals like Gorman are crucial in these times because they will carve the path for critical societal evolution and will inspire those who will come after them to continue doing the same.

Author+Layout: Caroline Gleason

THE TEENAGE GIRL PHENOMENON

Photographer: Enxhi Hajdarmataj By: Natalia Cruz & Emily Knight Stylists: Natalia Cruz and Melissa Brugmann Teenage girls are, historically, the most influential consumer base in the music industry. Household names like NSYNC, Justin Bieber, The 1975, Taylor Swift, and countless others owe their fame almost exclusively to a devoted population of female fans. But, for most, a female fanbase is a stepping stone to the top, which artists can discard before moving on to the “right” kind of fan (adults, men). Artists like Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé are prime examples of this, earning respect and legitimacy after leaving their teen-targeted groups to pursue solo careers. This trend has become so regular that it’s now common to speculate which member of a group will “pull a Timberlake” and go solo. Despite acting as the foundation of the mainstream music scene, teenage girls have been and continue to be vilified for enjoying the very artists that they create. To examine this phenomenon more closely, we can look at two of its most famous examples: The Beatles and One Direction. Nowadays, the Beatles are universally understood to be one of the greatest musical acts in history. But when we look at their original fanbase, it wasn’t your dad, who has records stuffed in the garage, or the cute indie boy who works at a coffee shop– it was teenage girls. Beatlemania, as it was called, captivated a generation, propelling them into global fame. Their stardom cemented the Beatles in history, preserving a legacy of fame destined to outlive any of its members– a legacy that would not exist without teenage girls. Like the Beatles, One Direction blew up in Europe on the X-Factor before capturing the attention of America and the rest of the world. Their army of “Directioners” propelled them to a level of fame that hadn’t been seen in generations. They became the biggest boyband in the world, sweeping awards both domestically and abroad. Despite this success and a chart-topping career, they were never recognized as credible industry artists. So how is it that two artists with such uncannily similar origins have such vastly different levels of credibility amongst music industry professionals? The most obvious answer is time–history has effectively overshadowed the girls who created the Beatles, making space for male fans to legitimize their music. While this lets me joke that my 2013 One Direction calendar could become a vintage musical artifact fifty years down the road, it also exposes the misogyny that undercuts the music industry’s standards. A band’s fangirls should not have to become obsolete for them to be considered “real” music, and the industry must reevaluate its understanding of teenage girls and their power for this cycle to come to an end.

Models: Natalia Cruz, Mel Brugmann, Audrey Johnston, & Grace Kubelka

Claud’s Super Monster: Dominating the Music Industry and Making People Feel Seen By: Julia Patterson & Julia Lapaj

A favorite pastime of mine is perusing through the ocean of songs in Spotify playlists to discover and subsequently becoming obsessed with a song. If I find a particular pearl of a song that I can’t get enough of, I will play it repeatedly until my friends scream at me (i.e., “Motion Sickness” by Phoebe Bridgers). One chilly evening this past December, I was lying in bed (most likely avoiding working on my finals) and doing this said favorite activity. I clicked on one of my favorite Spotify playlists called “Lorem” and hit shuffle. The song that started playing immediately piqued my interest; the lyrics and overall message of the song weren’t anything profound, but it managed to capture a feeling that had been weighing me down and plaguing my thoughts for the past couple of weeks. After coming home from the fall semester, I reflected on people I met and my relationships with them. The song I played happened to be “Soft Spot” by Claud—it has an airy, mellow melody with nostalgic undertones in the lyrics conveying that feeling of a person that no matter how much they tell you they don’t want to be with you or even hurt you, you can’t help having a “soft spot” for them and just wanting to be

around them. It’s an irrational and wistful feeling, and I think Claud really captures those feelings in the song. After quickly connecting with Claud’s music, I went on to listen to their other songs, including “Wish

You Were Gay,” which was very relatable, to say the least (ha). Their first album entitled Super Monster recently came out on February 12th, as the first release on Phoebe Bridgers’ new label Saddest Factory; I can’t recommend it enough. Claud Mintz, better known as Claud, always knew that music was it for them. Even while booking shows at local bowling alleys, they knew that they would be playing concerts as a career, and they went on to make it happen. While attending high school in a suburb of Chicago (hey fellow Chicagoans!), Claud started releasing music on Soundcloud, and their sound was nothing like the Soundcloud rapper that comes to mind. They wrote exactly the kinds of songs that they “would have wanted to hear while growing up”—the kind of music that portrayed queer relationships and showed kids like them that they can have full lives filled with love. Hoping to learn how to reach this audience, they enrolled in Syracuse’s music and entertainment industry program, where they met Clairo and Josh Mehling—with whom they ended up starting a band. A year after starting school, they were invited to open for The Marias on tour, and this was an opportunity they just couldn’t pass up. Leaving their friends behind, they moved across the country and were soon invited to perform alongside bigger and bigger acts —- The Neighbourhood and Girl in Red included. Before signing with Saddest Factory, Claud was adamant about remaining independent, fearing that some big record label would take advantage of them as a young artist. Their decision to sign with Phoebe Bridgers’ label was partly because Phoebe understood the artist’s perspective and because she is a young queer woman that Claud could relate to and who shares similar views with. By signing with the label, a Claud fan might say, they let their guard down. Ultimately, Claud has not regretted their decision to sign with the label, and they feel it has been a guiding hand for helping them flesh out their ideas. I think it’s safe to say that this, along with their unique spirit, is making a name for them as the next Super Monster of the music industry.

Layout: Zhane Coleman

We Need movies Movies & tv TV about About College Written by Audrey Johnston & Grace Kubelka Layout by Prutha Chavan Photographer: Emma Higgins Models: Grace Kubelka & Audrey Johnston Stylists: Caroline Gleason & Jessie Ponce

he media we consume in our youth has the potential to impact the way we view ourselves and the world around us; we absorb information and inspiration from popular movies and television shows that dominate the public media landscape. Think of some of the most popular pieces of young adult media from the last decade or so: Mean Girls, Easy A, Gossip Girl, Clueless, Lady Bird, Booksmart, Euphoria, Heathers…the list is infinite. What do they all have in common? They’re all set in high school, and it’s time we push for a different narrative. While these movies and television shows may include the typical college search subplot, these brilliant stories are not anchored to the high school setting; these characters are often experiencing life changing events that are sometimes riddled with extremely heavy subject matter. This, in turn, conditions young audiences to expect Gossip Girl-level backstabbing or chaos by the likes of Euphoria to take place in the halls of their placid high school. More often than not, media set in high school tackle issues that most people don’t encounter until college, at least. So, why can’t college students and early twenty-somethings experience similar plotlines in popular media? Must we be relegated to Girls and Friends? On one hand, there are notable college movies such as The Social Network and Legally Blonde, but they cover heavy and specific topics that do not relate to the majority of college students. None of our classmates are solving murders or inventing the next Facebook. On the other hand, movies like Neighbors and 22 Jump Street focus solely on partying at fraternity and sorority houses, things that Fordham are (thankfully) without. Any college student would say that they have grown more in one year of college than in four years of high school; if this season of life is so formative for so many, why the deficiency?

In terms of television, college is far too complex for a primetime network. In a 2012 article from NPR, Neda Ulaby explains that the high school setting comes with built-in stereotypes and plotlines to explore—the jocks, the nerds, the musical, college applications; it’s a bubble with little room for growth. High school is an easy template for writers to cut-and-paste their characters into; it’s also incredibly profitable. But in the decade since the NPR article, college shows like Community, Dear White People, How to Get Away with Murder, and Grown-ish have been popular; their fault, however, is that they do not reflect anyone’s normal college experience. Now that we are up to our ears in highquality shows from streaming platforms, why not create a comedy/drama for the college kids that aren’t murderous lawyers or in a rag-tag Spanish study group? As seniors, we can reflect on college and be grateful for everything we learned inside and outside the classroom. In several months, we will be gone— and the “real world” is quickly approaching. Many would appreciate a show or movie that explores that feeling, or, simply, a realistic take on college. It truly is an untapped market that I hope to see flourish sometime in the future.

The Evolution of

Femininity

in Media

— 2000’s Edition Written by Julia Daigle & Sarah Shanahan Layout by Prutha Chavan

Photographer: Gil Roberts Models: Jacqueline Moran & Maddie Boone Stylist: Caroline Gleason

rom Gilmore Girls to Grand Army, the portrayal of young girls in film and TV has changed dramatically throughout this generation’s teenage years. Although there is still an enormous lack of representation for POC, LGBTQIA+ people, older, and plus-sized women, there has been noteworthy improvement in the depiction of women as dimensional characters. Growing up, girls would often look up to TV icons like Serena van der Woodsen, London Tipton, or Cady Heron. These feminine idols were almost always stunning and inaccurate depictions of teenagers. Most girls could not relate to the glossy, glamorous, unattainable look that these shows created—that’s not to say that these characters weren’t funny, smart, and meaningful. It’s just that they weren’t real. Then came the dawn of shows like Euphoria and Grand Army. The women in these shows—Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Barbie Ferreira, Odessa A’zion, Odley Jean— are finally depicting femininity in a new light. Girls growing up today have plenty of raw, complex, and authentic idols on TV. Today’s youth finally have real women to look up to and connect with in film and media. At the forefront of this change in feminine depiction is Zendaya, one of the leading actresses of our generation. She embodies the movement from traditional femininity to modern femininity, and she’s solidified this shift with roles such as Marie in her new film, Malcolm and Marie. Zendaya’s performance in Malcolm and Marie further enhanced our understanding of her as an icon throughout our youth. Her

tall, slender, and elegant presence perfectly juxtaposed the essence of her character, Marie, a recovered drug addict with an edgy persona. Zendaya took on a rather mature role in this movie which she encompassed beautifully. Her transition from Disney shows to Hollywood was one that was done with grace and ease. Watching her grow and mature alongside us was, and still is, enlightening. During her time on The Disney Channel, she was seen as a doe-eyed child—innocent and pure. As she graduated to more mature projects she was able to explore different characters with different identities. She embraced her maturity and what it meant to get older. She plays characters who get caught up in drugs. She plays characters who question their sexuality. She plays characters who do not have a perfect life. Zendaya is real and raw in every project she has taken on and has given young female viewers a sense of strength and freedom to explore their identities as they have grown with her. As we enter into a new decade it is truly astonishing to look back throughout the last century and see how the female icon has changed and developed with each new generation. It is not to say that those in the past were wrong. It is just a testament to how younger generations have grown and found new aspects of the female identity to admire. As we evolve through this decade it will be interesting to see how our view of the female identity continues to be portrayed in the media, hopefully with more representation, and how it evolves with us.

Arts &

e tainm r e t n E

SPOTLIGHTS

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The Rise of International Music in America

Written by Angelina Sun

Layout by Maddie Boone

The rise of Latin music in mainstream media came with artists like Daddy Yankee, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin. Now the new big thing is coming: K-pop. Korean pop has been taking over the world with top-selling albums on the global charts. Americans are finally more open to non-English music, and it’s about time. Other countries have listened to American artists for quite some time without always understanding every word. As the K-pop queen, Chungha once put it, “In Korea we listen to pop music even though there are people who don’t understand English well, just like you don’t understand Korean, but I think it’s still the same, it’s music.” Music is created to be enjoyed. We see this when that bass drops, when you can’t stop moving your head to the rhythm of a song, or when you just hum the music because of the captivating melody. If you have never listened to another language, give K-pop a try. Artists like BTS and Blackpink have gotten worldwide audiences with BTS even being the first group to hit number 1 on the Billboard Charts since The Beatles. Although it may seem like a whole new world, it will open your mind up to artists all over the world.

A Blessing and a Curse: Social Media Activism

Article by Renee Agostini and Carson Waldron

Layout by Carson Waldron

reposting messages about ending animal A few months ago, I was scrolling cruelty and then strutting across campus across came through Instagram when I in a fur-lined parka. This is a perfect a post commemorating the 26th birthday example of an epidemic overtaking of Trayvon Martin, a Black teenager Generation-Z: Retweet advocacy. The bring helped 2013 in whose murder saying that we were all raised on, more awareness to the Black Lives “practice what you preach,” seems to Matter movement. A casual glance at have been completely forgotten. People my social media immediately took a need to start owning up to their claims sobering turn as this post helped me on social media. While ending animal put into perspective just one of the cruelty is obviously important, there many social developments that has are other pressing matters in this world defined the experience of Generation such as LGBTQ+ rights, Z. Considering our racial justice, gun childhood plagued with control, and reproductive gender as issues such rights, yet people still discrimination, race tend to raise awareness discrimination, and for them on social police brutality, it media. These causes are is only natural that extremely important and we have developed into require immediate action a socially-conscious in order for change to be group of young adults made, but social media who are heavily has a tendency to make involved in efforts them more of an aesthetic nation’s to reform our tool rather than a tool culture and politics. for change. People will Social media’s repost an infographic on ability to connect their instagram story millions of people and feel as if that is with the press of a doing enough to support button gives voice the cause. It doesn’t to victims of social matter that you tweeted #LoveIsLove when injustice and power to those who try gay marriage was legalized if you still to help them. Although social media support corporations and businesses and informed people keep has helped that discriminate against queer people. involved in activism, it is important It doesn’t matter that you posted an to take into account the words of infographic about climate change if you Sophocles as reported in Netflix’s aren’t making a conscious effort to recent documentary, The Social Dilemma: lower your carbon footprint. We must “nothing vast enters the life of make a conscious effort to use social mortals without a curse.” media as a useful tool of activism While social media has proven itself and change, rather than be passive or a useful tool in keeping the Black performative activists. Let’s make our Lives Matter movement at the forefront efforts about sharing what action we summer the after long minds of people’s are taking for these causes, instead of 2020, that’s not to say that it’s of staying behind the keyboard telling a perfect platform for activism. It is everyone else what to do. far too often that you see someone

Gen z Tattoos And Rebellion Growing up, I remember hearing three rules: don’t get piercings, colored hair, or tattoos when you get older. Sorry Dad. Gen Z is known for a lot of things, but one thing that everyone associates us with is rebellion. Our generation refuses to accept society’s norms and instead defines our own. For years, tattoos have been looked down upon and were associated with people who don’t respect authority. I remember being told that if I ever got a tattoo I would be out of a job. Fast forward to 2021, I have trouble thinking of someone my age that doesn’t have or want a tattoo. Not only are they popular, but they are becoming less taboo. Previously, tattoos were generally associated with people who were in

prison or the military, or they were associated with people who have no respect for high society. As more celebrities began to dawn tattoos from sports stars to pop stars, the popularity grew amongst the average person as well. They were no longer associated with lower class people, instead, they were associated with highly successful people. Nowadays you can find people in almost every profession with tattoos, whether it’s doctors, lawyers, or professors; jobs you used to be told were not allowed to have them. Tattoos are also an outlet for self expression. For me personally, each of my tattoos tells a story. One I have with my mom, one to represent my high school years, and now one that represents my struggle with mental health. While my tattoos have meaning behind them, that’s not the case for everyone. Some people just like the look of them and how they make them feel. Regardless, Gen Z’s infamous rebellion stands more than just in our political activism and silly memes, it also shows in our rejection of traditional societal norms. Author Gil Roberts

Layout Maggie Peknic

Photographer Maya Dominguez Models Bella Sabino, Carsyn Fisher, & Enxhi Hajdarmataj

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photographers: Hannah Bradford + Elisabeth Murray Layout: Claire ReYnolds + Becca Hall Stylist: Erin Foley

Amanda Dhanai

Enxhi Hajdarmataj

“We fear fear the the future, future because “We we have have to to mix mix the the identity identity we that we’ve we’ve been been building building as as that humans with the one that is humans, thrust upon upon us us as as women.” women” thrust Mila Grgas grgas. -- Mila

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s a gay man, I often look back on my experience growing up and feel as though I was playing a part and hiding behind a mask. When I think of how I was in the closet, I was not just hiding my sexuality, but my entire identity. For years, my interests, passions, and fashion choices were solely based on what I thought would disguise me and help me fit in. Ultimately, I was living a lie, and unfortunately, many other members of the gay community still are. Growing up in the closet is not fun at all, period. Simply put, I felt like an imposter imposter.. I put up guards in anticipation that someone would expose my sexuality. I had to live in fear that someone could potentially use my identity against me. I camouflaged myself in athletic clothing, joined sports that I did not enjoy, and dropped my voice multiple octaves when in the presence of straight men. I even pretended that Maroon 5 was my favorite music artist knowing damn well that my iPod touch had Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry on repeat. In both middle school and high school, I feared coming out for many reasons. However, at the top of that list of reasons was the locker room. I mention this experience only because it is such a toxic and scary place to be when you’re in the closet. I cannot even tell you the number of times I had to fake laugh at a joke that was attacking my identity. I was deep undercover and it was not cute. Luckily, gym classes were over by the second half of my Junior year, and around that time I came out, so to speak. After that, I never looked back. Now, I know that I do not owe anyone an explanation about my sexuality. In fact, I feel as though by “coming out,” I was asking for acceptance and respect from those around me. In reality, I never had to ask anyone to accept my identity because I do not need to live by their rules or expectations. Moreover, I am owed basic respect just like everyone else. Every day I am learning more about my identity and gradually dismantling the mask that I built so strongly all of my life. It is truly the most freeing experience and, although I delivered an academy award-winning performance, I am done playing the role of my “straight’’ alter ego. The performance that we, as gay people, grow up giving is for others, not ourselves. Now, I am living my life for myself, not those around me. Through telling my story I hope to inspire anyone, not just members of the LGBTQ+ community, to stop living your life for other people. Put yourself first, do what you love, and tell anyone that does not accept you for you to go piss (girl).

Written By: Stephen Pastore Layout By: Stephen Pastore Photos By: Claire Reynolds Models:

Mikey Duffy Stephen Pastore 21

Written By: Katelyn Benzinger

Layout By: Stephen Pastore

Photos By: Claire Reynolds

When thinking of mindless social media doom-scrolling, Pinterest likely is not the first platform that comes to mind… or even the fifth. However, over the last few months, it has become my go-to when things start to get a bit too loud elsewhere. While stuck inside, I found it hard to source new inspiration that really felt like my own. I noticed that everything I was doing to pass the time was because I had seen someone else do it online—and that is not me. Getting dressed in the morning, specifically, felt like a much larger challenge than it should have been. I have never been someone who leaves the house without putting an actual outfit on, yet I fell into a pattern of only wearing the same cycle of oversized t-shirts and sweats. This made it much more difficult for me to clearly grasp who I was and who I visualized myself as. As obscure as it may sound, Pinterest made this a bit easier. By creating boards specific to different areas of my life, I have been able to neatly organize different posts that represent what my life looks like through my own eyes—even if I don’t actually own the stuff that I am sharing. My collections have essentially become mood boards of my idealized life. There is no need for me to purchase all of the clothing, accessories, and decor that I save because I am able to draw from them and put a new spin on things that I already own. Looking at everything laid out is enough for me to feel as put together as the photographs are and feel more secure in how I perceive myself. After realizing that grouping posts into different categories was something that felt very fulfilling to me, it became much easier to do without thinking. I didn't have to deal with looking at the faces of people I actually know or feeling any pressure to be something I am not. There was suddenly no pressure to model myself after anyone else; it was as simple as seeing a photo I felt worked with my aesthetic and saving it. Not only is it easy and enjoyable, but I noticed it relieved my anxiety in some not-so-great moments. Focusing on thoughtless scrolling and pinning allowed me to distract myself when I was worked up or stressed out, and it became a part of everyday routine. Whether or not you think your life would benefit from the extra organization or expressiveness that this app has brought me, I'd say it's worth a try. You never know what you can learn about yourself just by stepping away from the molds that social media tries to confine us to. Models: Katelyn Benzinger, Chiebuka Chioke, Jessica Poulos

The Evolution of Contemporary The incredibly simple act of cutting and gluing provides an artist with unlimited possibilities and can result in complex and mystifying creations. First developed by Picasso in the early 20th century, collage has evolved throughout the past century to become deeply intertwined with contemporary graphic design. Following the cubist movement, both Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque discovered that incorporating scraps of wallpaper into their art brought a texture and structure that had been previously absent. Upon the release of Picasso’s first collages, artists everywhere began to experiment with collaging different paper mediums into their art. The Dada movement of the 1920s embraced collage as artists began to experiment with materials and imagery. Kurt Schwitters was the first to use debitage from the street in his collages, and he, like many other artists of this movement, considered himself to be the engineer of an artistic construction. Collages of the surrealist movement relied upon the artist’s subconscious, and often took on an over-the-top aesthetic. Surrealists did not limit themselves to using only paper and glue, and began to incorporate text as a way of blending the visual with the verbal. Both the abstractexpressionist and the pop-art movements of the 1940s and 50s explored the vibrant and colorful side of collage that most people associate with the art form today. The political climate of these decades allowed collage to explore the capability to comment on society and to make their messages clear to its audiences. Contemporary collage, unlike its predecessors, often utilizes digital technologies to manipulate, layer, and situate images. The digital capabilities that are now regularly available to artists has allowed for collage to be used along with other art forms to create new forms of expression that were not necessarily available in the past. In fact, graphic design really relies on collage techniques to create the depth and complexity that makes it so appealing to us through a screen. Without the amalgamation of these many artistic movements, collage would not have the culturally complex and artistically sophisticated characteristic to it that makes it so inviting to so many different audiences, making it an extremely opportune art form for social media. Author: Eleanor Keyes Photographer: Elise Anstey Models: Ava Galante, Mia Kroeger, and Claire Bickel Stylist: John Cugel Layout: Natalie Conte

Rebuilding: Hitting the Pandemic wall and Finding Happiness

By: Anita Tataj Layout: Emma Foley

2021. A new year usually brings us hope and, while it did for many, what it meant for me was hitting the pandemic wall. Heading into a new year while still living in a pandemic triggered anxiety that was unlike anything I had ever known. I felt some of my lowest lows at the beginning of the year. And while I made the most of 2020 and worked hard to stay positive, I realized I had reached a breaking point in the pandemic. Almost two months later, I have both developed and rediscovered the things that make me feel good—and it has changed my life. Journaling: Starting and ending each day with reflection and gratitude can truly change the course of your day. The Five Minute Journal helped me find gratitude in new ways and has taught me to celebrate the little things even on the hardest days. Breathwork/Meditation: Taking a moment to practice breathing while feeling anxious or starting my day with a five minute meditation has helped me feel grounded, even during all of this uncertainty. I have been loving meditations on Peloton and Headspace. Exercise: In 2020, working out almost felt like a chore or like a productivity contest. This year, I have fallen back in love with fitness and look forward to being able to work out.

Creating some sort of schedule, trying new workouts, and working out with friends (virtually or in-person) have all held me accountable. Limiting Alcohol/ Coffee: Coffee and alcohol only worsened my anxiety. I avoided both for over a month while getting back on track. I consume both in moderation and pay attention to how it impacts my stress. Mindful Eating: It’s safe to say that I treated myself in 2020 and there is nothing wrong with that. But, I realized that the foods I was treating myself to were sometimes making me feel worse. I try to listen to my body and eat more foods that reduce stress or boost my mood. Personally, I have been loving salmon, eating tons of fruit, and drinking more tea. What works for everyone doesn’t look the same. I decided to dedicate 2021 to myself and these habits have helped. me take back control of the year.

Soy Latina, Soy orgullosa. Pride for one’s Latino background is something to be flaunted and never hidden. Across the world, Latinas have embraced their culture, style and traditions without hesitation. From taking part in traditional dancing, to wearing hoops and a red lip, to being sworn into Congress, Latinas rule the world. Folklorico dances are traditional Mexican dances that represent the various cultures of different states through the way they dress, their social status, and their mannerisms. Each of the dances originates from and is named after a certain state of Mexico. Nearly every aspect of the cultural dances has a meaning and a reason it is included. Different dance moves symbolize a variety of lifestyles. For example, fans represent a hot temperature, and machetes signify farmland and harvests. Ribbons symbolize colorful art, combs show Spanish influence, sombreros represent manliness, and jewelry demonstrates wealth. While these physical costume pieces represent the physical way of life in the different states, the tempo of the music determines the movement in the dance pieces which represent the Modeled by spirit of each state. The colors of the costumes hold a very significant meaning. The dresses are full of bright colors knitted together to form beautiful full skirts that are whirled around to create an array of colors on stage. The colors vary and are influenced by several things. Some have vibrant colors which represent the rich culture of the Aztecs and other tribes of Central America. Others have bright playful colors from states like Chiapas and Yucatán. Some dresses have satins and jewels from the coastal states where Spain and China docked. Jalisco can be any color, but must have rows of ribbon.

expectations for what a woman should do and how a woman should dress and has done so without regret. For her confirmation as a Supreme Court justice in 2009, she was told not to wear hoop earrings or bright nail polish, but she chose to wear hoops and red nail polish. She did not break from her culture because the administration or society told her to. She wore it with pride and even showed it off for a “Woman of the Year” Latina Magazine cover. It is a very “proper” state. Nayarit does Ten years later, the same movement not use any ribbons because it is from the is alive and thriving. Congresswoman farmland. Northern states like Durango Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez flaunted her and Sonora have shorter flirty dresses red lipstick, gold hoop earrings, and with boots which represent the ranchers monochromatic white suit for her own who live there. The dress for the women swearing-in, paying tribute to Sonia of the Revolutionary War was a solid Sotomayor and the women’s suffrage color with ribbon. It was not floor-length; movement. She did not follow what was it fell to about the calf. They wear a expected of her by others, but instead, revoso criss-crossed on their chest to chose to wear what had meaning to represent the ammunition that women her both culturally as a Latina and as a wore strapped to them. They carried tribute to another notable Latina woman. wooden rifles because the women had By choosing to wear an outfit that had significance, she showed every young Latino that they should never be afraid to be proud of their culture and traditions. AOC, while following in Sonia Sotomayor’s footsteps, has Amanda Sabillon, Gabrielle Gonzales, and Monica Santiago brought down walls for Shot by Maya Dominguez Latinas herself. She is the Layout by Abby Dziura youngest woman to be sworn into office and has fought for change at every step. She fights to go and fight as well, especially if their for the rights of Latinos especially for husbands were injured. The short skirt immigration and refugee rights. While represented the regular house dress a AOC and Sonia Sotomayer are making woman would have worn and left the huge strides for Latinas, Latino pride house suddenly to assist. has been a staple in the culture for much While Folklorico dancing is still longer. practiced traditionally, Latinas have also Latinas are strong and powerful. continued to proudly represent their They flaunt their cultures and heritage culture in a more modern way. There without hesitation and without regret. are several Latinas who have made a Bringing the traditional culture into the name for themselves and who proudly modern world and wearing it with pride show off their Latino heritage. Sonia leaves all Latinas with the confidence to Sotomayor is a perfect example of this say, “¿Latina, y que?” new wave of Latino pride. She has not only given all Latinos a role model to look up to, but has also shown that Latino culture is something to celebrate and wear pridefully. Sonia Sotomayor is the first Hispanic and Latino to serve on the Supreme Court. She is also the first Latina to swear in the first female vice president of the United States. She has broken down walls for Latinos and

¿Latina y Que? By Maya Dominguez

A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO

MAXIMALISM By Katie Crist

Shot by Conor Cary | Modeled by Mia Kroeger and Chieboka Chioke | Layout by Abby Dziura Generation Z is accustomed to accusations of being materialistic and self-obsessed with our spending habits and lifestyle choices, but we are undoubtedly one of the most aware and conscientious age groups to date. The critics have failed to account for the popularization of making the most out of what is already there. The notion that minimalism is the key to achieving some enlightened status of sustainability is untrue. There is a place for shopaholics in an increasingly green world, and that place is your closest thrift store. Nowadays buying second hand is becoming more and more familiar, with

the rise of platforms like Depop and Facebook marketplace. I personally believe that you do not have to sacrifice your sense of style for the sake of the planet, so maybe it’s time to close out that Shein shopping bag for good and step into the world of thrifting. The street fashion and apartment decor that dominates your Pinterest board can be achieved sustainably. It can be difficult to keep up with the all-consuming pace of the fashion industry, but it is more feasible than you might think. Especially with the resurgence of the best of what the 90s, 80s and 70s had to offer. At the moment, vibrant colors, loud prints, and unique textures are popping up in not only our closets, but our living spaces. The maximalist aesthetic is raging in full force, but it does not have to compromise

your sustainable mindset. Vintage and thrifted are now synonymous with chic and modern. This shift in consumer behavior is not only a way to stand out, but it is a genuine way to limit our carbon footprint. The opportunities are endless, from artwork and throw pillows to layered necklaces and rings. Any piece you could possibly dream of can be thrifted, the bolder the better. It has never been easier to be a maximalist, yet it is important to be conscious of where our purchases are coming from. Just remember, there is no such thing as being extra when it comes to buying secondhand.

The Authentic The Internet’s Influencer: Favorite By Bella Reilly

Before we had the internet, getting lifestyle inspiration came in the form of finite copies of magazines, tv episodes, or album covers. Present day, an overload of content is pushed through every media platform,

accessible at the tap of a screen. For the first time, a generation this young has the opportunity to express themselves to a large audience, and they are making it clear that their lives are less picture-perfect than the models covering Vogue. At the top of the Gen Z influencer hierarchy is Emma Chamberlain, who we’ve watched evolve

through her teen years, all the while keeping it real. Chamberlain, as many of us remember, began her social media presence on Youtube. As her subscriber count grew, so did the number of girls who started thrift shopping and using Carmex chapstick because Emma did it. Flash forward to today, Chamberlain’s presence is far from faded. The influencer has provided style inspiration for many, playing into the Y2K fashion trend and almost single handedly revived the yoga pants trend. She has worked with Louis Vuitton multiple times, even attending fashion shows with them in Paris. Arguably the most appealing part of Chamberlain’s brand is her ability to make the least perfect parts of life still look cool. Amidst her professional-looking outfit pictures are snaps of her authentic, untouched moments. This is one of Chamberlain’s most admirable qualities: her commitment to keeping it real (and somehow still making it match her feed). Chamberlain spoke of her consistent authenticity in an interview with We Wore What. “I think people connect with me because I’m somebody that they can relate

to...I’m real. Every single thing that I do is real. There’s no lie in any of it.” As the years continue on and fashion trends come in and out of style, the only thing that has yet to expire has been Emma Chamberlain’s

influence on her millions of followers that continue to grow every day. Chamberlain has clearly paved the way for social media icons and teens just starting to curate an online presence alike, inspiring a generation who now isn’t afraid to show realities in life and to share their true, authentic selves on the Internet. Her transparency in connecting with her followers is refreshing, and to regular people like myself, a different way to feel seen. In a way, the toxic atmosphere that social media can manufacture takes a pause on her page, making her success well-deserved.

Couple

How Devon Carlson and Jesse Rutherford changed the look of Modern Love By Paige Kowal

Modern day rockstar, Jesse Rutherford, and influencer, Devon Carlson, are the Internet’s favorite couple. Jesse Rutherford is the frontman of the alternative rock band ‘The Neighbourhood’ and Devon Carlson is an influencer and entrepreneur, cocreator of the popular phone case brand Wildflower, with her mom and sister. Fashion, Devon, and Jesse might as well all have the same definition -- making perfect sense that they met at the mall. They have been featured in major publications such as Dazed and GQ, and even collabed on a shirt for Marc Jacobs’ 2020 The Lover’s Capsule Collection. Devon co-stars in Jesse’s music videos and Jesse often makes appearances in Devon’s Youtube Vlogs. They now boast over a million combined followers, and their relationship (and style) have aged like fine wine. Personal style drives their everyday life BUT most importantly, Devon says -“Wherever we are, we want to make sure we look like we came together.”

Layout: Sophie Dreskin

Why I Will Never Accept an Engagement Ring

By: Jessica Poulos

The dream of many young girls: one day being able to flaunt a sparkling diamond ring, a jewel that signifies to the world that they have chosen to spend the rest of their life with their lover. (And, if they’re lucky, the public can deduce the hopefully high salary of the said lover.) For centuries, men have used these stones as a symbolic declaration of their love by gifting the jewels. But upon careful consideration, this practice feels reminiscent of declaring possession, not love. Even in a modern world - one where gender equality is increasingly emphasized - women are expected to demonstrate a commitment to their fiancés by wearing a ring. But men in relationships aren’t held to this same social requirement. Why must women advertise that they are “off the market,” while a man may convey the illusion of being unattached? The reason for this tradition, which nearly the entirety of society has accepted as a social norm, dates to medieval times. So, it is no wonder that such a possessive practice feels ingrained in the societal mind. Many of us have learned about the history of women bringing a dowry into a marriage. However, in medieval times, men were the ones to pay a dowry, and this was known as a morgengabe. This dowry was paid in exchange for a young woman’s virginity. The purpose of this payment was to compensate for the woman’s loss, as once she loses her virginity by consummating her marriage, she is no longer “worthy” and would struggle to find another husband to provide for her if she were to lose her first husband. Therefore, the morgengabe would cover her expenses, at least for a period of time. This tradition carried on into modern times, however, transformed into gifting an expensive ring rather than an actual payment. However, the purpose of this payment, or gift is to be exchanged for a woman’s virginity, as she is considered unworthy without it. If this is such an outdated and sexist tradition, why do we still carry on with such an ancient practice? This is why I will never accept an engagement ring, no matter how beautiful or expensive it is.

Layout: Zhane Coleman

Photographer: Elisabeth Murray

YOU’RE TOXIC I’M SLIPPIN’ UNDER By: Karla Reinoso

Britney Spears, notably known as the “princess of pop,” might’ve been onto something with her iconic and, might I add, culturally-resetting hit song “Toxic.” Throughout the song, Spears admits to the addictive nature of a guy she knows she shouldn’t be falling for and Britney, we’ve all been there. Okay so let’s set the scene: you finally think you moved on from your ex. I mean you haven’t stalked his Instagram for a whole day, right? Hey, it’s progress. Or maybe you just started forgetting about that “thing” you had with someone you never even dated. You think, “Wow, things are finally looking up.” But then, of course, they text you for the first time in weeks, and the cycle begins all over again. Why do we go back? Why are we so inclined to stay in situations we know aren’t healthy? The answer is obvious: comfort in knowing what we’re getting ourselves into. It’s another one of those relationship-anxiety side effects. Although aware of the emotional rollercoaster that is jumping back into a pattern you know isn’t good for you, the familiarness of conversation, attraction, and false hope has a way of tricking us into thinking things will be different this time around. Most people even admit to feeling bored in relationships usually considered “healthy.” In an interview with Bustle, Jonathan Bennett, a dating and relationship expert, assures us that feeling bored in a healthy relationship happens much more often than we think, usually after that oh-so glorious honeymoon phase. That being said, toxicity could be more tempting, but that initial excitement won’t last long, and I promise you it’s not worth it. So what should you do when you see yourself “slipping under?” Firstly, don’t respond. Block them. Do everything necessary to finally break the cycle and separate yourself from that emotionally taxing weight. Secondly, remember and realize your worth. Believe it or not, you once lived happily without them, you can do it again. Finally, know you’re not alone. Distract yourself, have fun, focus on that degree. The right person will come when you least expect it. And most importantly, they won’t be toxic.

Model: Mikey Duffy

Definitions of Queerness and How They Affect Relationships

by: Daniella DeYoung layout: Erin Foley What is being queer? Many people belive that it entirely has to do with who someone is dating, or having sex with. However, when thinking about the definition of being queer, many people exclude those who like more than one gender causing them to feel left out of the LGBTQIA+ community. I, myself, as a bisexual woman, have in the past been referred to as being in a heterosexual relationship. My past relationships may have been heterosexual-presenting, which comes with its own privileges, but since I am not heterosexual, they were not heterosexual relationships. Calling it such invalidates my experiences and my identity. I don’t experience the same things as heterosexual women do when dating men. Heterosexual women don’t have to worry about their partners not accepting them, thinking of them as a fetish, or their partners pressuring them into not experiencing queer culture. There is also rhetoric around queer women that they are more promiscuous than their straight counterparts causing them to be thought of as predators by straight women and to become overly sexualized by straight men. All of these false narratives lead to queer women being sexually abused, assaulted , and harrassed at higher rates. When I was in my past relationship I did not see many of the signs of abuse. One of these very clear and obvious signs was how my past partner reacted whenever I talked about my sexuality and the parts of queer culture I took part in and identified with. He always tried to change the subject and was uncomfortable when I mentioned the parts of queer culture I love. He also always wanted me to present myself as and act traditionally feminine. At a young age I was taught that many of my traits were not attractive and positive feminine characteristics. Being in this relationship put me into that mindset again. Due to his expectations of me, I ignored my queer identity and culture. Now, when in heterosexual presenting relationships, I don’t feel pressured to fit into those traditional roles because of how my identity and my community have shaped my views on gender. The LGBTQIA+ community steps outside of the gender and sexual binary that society puts us in, which, in turn, takes away those pressures. When we learn that gender and sexuality are a spectrum and a way for societal means of oppression, it frees us from these expectations. When I no longer had those traditional heterosexual expectations put onto me, I was able to reconnect with my community and myself. I started using social media to connect with other queer individuals and started watching queer television again. I chopped all my hair off into a shag. I started to wear men’s clothing again, which I haven’t done since I came out in middle school. I felt like who I was on the inside was finally reflected on the outside. I was finally becoming the confident, loud, queer woman I wanted to be for so long. There’s not right way to be queer, so don’t let anyone tell you that you’re doing something wrong. For my bisexual women, don’t ever tolerate a man who’s uncomfortable with your identity and all its aspects. You don’t stop being queer just because you’re dating a man. As for those very lucky men dating queer women, educate yourself and be sensitive to your partner’s identity. If they call you out on bad behavior, take that criticism, listen to them, and do some of your own research. The responsibility shouldn’t have to fall all on your partner. Just remember to keep an open mind and an open line of communication.

Emily Malacane

dressing, but I was always doing my own thing. I stopped wanting what everyone else had and focused on myself, letting myself explore my own personal style further. Yes, I partake in trends, but usually with my own spin. You won’t see me busting down the doors of a thrift store to find a child’s size graphic tee to wear with low-rise jeans, but you might see me in a sweater with a turtleneck underneath. Or if I’m feeling fierce maybe a little mesh top …. Though I, like many others, have had no occasion to “feel fierce” as of late. So maybe in a way, I do know the answer to this question. My style isn’t boho, preppy, edgy, or ripped from the streets of Paris, but it is me and it’s what makes me happy. So my advice to you is to consider your own style as a spectrum. Don’t put a word or a phrase to it, it is YOU. It is what makes YOU you in this current moment. Let yourself experiment, let yourself mess up. Clothes help define who you are, but they are not all that you are. But, most of all eff the clothes if they’re anything other than things that make you happy.

Jeffrey Pelayo

I remember the question hitting me like a load of bricks. “What is your personal style?” I did not know the answer to that question, and to be honest, I still really don’t. I consider myself to be a fashionable person. I’m well versed in all things fashion - the comings and goings of the industry, who and what is “in”, what “not” to wear, etc. But, I just don’t know how to describe what I put on my own body. I have been through a lot of “phases” in my personal style. I grew up wearing unique, handmade pieces given to me by my Italian cousins. I HATED that I was not rocking Justice, Limited Too, or the elusive American Girl doll matching doll to human dresses like my friends, but rather Lands End and a selection of Polo for girls. This gave way to a preppy period where I was decked out in Lilly Pulitzer and Vineyard Vines, wearing ill-fitting men’s tees for events I will never attend like the Kentucky Derby. I don’t know when this stopped, but I do know I had a sudden change in perspective and started dressing not for clout, not for anyone else, but for me. I started buying things I liked and that looked good on me. Sure there have been some questionable choices in my

Max Durante

by: Frannie Vena-Pedersen layout: Erin Foley

Frannie Vena-Pedersen

SO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL STYLE

PHOTOGRAPHER: elise anstey LAYOUT: alexa stegmuller STYLIST: melissa brugmann MODELS: gabrielle gonzales, melissa brugmann, lena weinkauf, teresa jacob

n i g c a r

photographer: elise anstey models: lena weinkauf, melissa brugman, gabrielle gonzalez, teresa jacob layout: alexa stegmuller “Chalamet and Ronan push gender norms and continue to show that there are no limits, you can wear whatever you want and be whoever you want.”

- Lena Weinkauf, Author

Artie Gooden, Jr.

Do you think there is a divide between Fordham residents and commuters? “100%. Back in the day, there was a little get together. A kid asked me who did I know here? I remember the kid picking me up and literally threw me out of the building. He said, “Stay out you dirty local.” My captain went up to him and was like, “Yo, do you know who that is? That’s the anchor leg of our relay. He’s a student here.” Of course his vibe completely shifted. I commute to campus, it’s hard to get a parking pass here. There’s a lot of things just neglected. It would definitely be wiser of the school to look into those things because they’re not really hard fixes at all. Being a commuter is definitely a challenge trying to be able to fit seamlessly into a community that isn’t used to you not being readily available.”

"unAmerican" by Maya Shetty

You’re reading a compilation of quotes from international Fordham students reflecting on their experiences and insights gained from being a student in America. “A lot of immigrant parents, because of their generation, don't take it personally when they are not treated well in this country, they believe it’s better than having to go back and live in their country anyday. They still value this idea of freedom. I respect that so much but I think I’ve earned my place to be here just as much as anyone else has. I know that I deserve to be treated better.” || “I want Fordham to know that my culture is very rich and there’s nothing that I find more beautiful than when people want to ask questions and know more. It doesn’t always mean it is coming from a place of ignorance, just asking means a lot.” || “A lot of American students think international students come from a lot of privilege, which I guess can be true to a certain extent. Not all the kids from countries like mine get the opportunity to study at schools like Fordham. But, American students have this perception that we are extremely spoiled bratty kids. For a while it’s all fun and games but eventually it just annoys me.” || “I always have this fear that you don’t think I understand English well, just cause I have an accent, but, in my head, I’m like I can probably speak English better than you can.” || “When you’re in the states, you change the way you present yourself to be a hybrid of your culture and American culture, so that people don’t get culture shock.” || “Lots of people try to relate to you, but no, I don’t know the one person you know from my country.” || “For me, being here allows me to really appreciate where I come from, what my parents have been through… and who I am.” || “You notice, as an international student, that you have to adapt to the American way. You just have to. It’s not really like, you meet someone and you meet each other halfway and share cultures. Even though you may respect our culture, we still have to adapt to YOU, in order to fit in. And that is what a lot of people don’t know.” || “Fordham, be open to new cultures when you meet new people from around the world. Try not to think of America as the end all be all. Because it isn’t for a lot of us. Even though a lot of us came to America, it’s not our greatest dream -- the American dream is not our greatest dream.”

THE MODEL MINORITY MYTH “Following the model minority myth, [Asian Americans] have used it to elevate themselves, not only socially and economically, but also to prove to themselves that the American dream could be suitable for them. But that viewpoint was used to demonize the Latine and Black community. I grew up in a very low-income area, and I was getting SAT tutoring and Sunday Chinese School. I almost failed out of college my freshman year, following the pre-med track. I was ashamed of myself, you know. My parents worked so hard to provide this life for me, but why can’t I follow and catch up with my peers? It’s so sad to see that a lot of Asian Americans follow that model minority.”

THE DIVIDE BETWEEN ASIAN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS & NONINTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

“So I actually asked one of my international friends, just to see some perspective, but it’s all about comfort. People are comfortable with their own bubble. Also I feel like there’s this certain internalized thought that “these people will never understand me,” and that comes from both sides too… We should host more events where people come together. Fordham is very much a white school. We should step out of our comfort zones a little bit, be able to understand and appreciate other cultures and at the same time, know each other deeper than what’s on our physical level. For you to be just Filipino and for me to be just Chinese, there’s more to us than that.”

“3

What motivated you to speak up about the injustices on being on the track team? “So I came to college-wear Timberlands beI’m from Bronx, New York. cause whatever reason. A lot of things I do are So anything that was very “bold” and very “New “New York” and “me” York.” My coach wasn’t wasn’t gonna fly really about it. He’d on this team. judge me on the He was like, things I’d wear, “Either you how I spoke, the change your way I wore my hair. hair or you He told me that I will never wasn’t allowed to wear a wear my natural hair uniform out because it was for me.” And “un-professional” I was just like, and didn’t fit in “You asked me to to the regimens be on scholarship of what he wanhere, so I don’t ted to foster. know what you want First, he wanme to do about ted me to cut that.” I’ve left my hair off. off-meets, I I told him no. was excluded from Eventually I being able to travel. ended up I was threatened to be braiding it. kicked off. I was He would then technically somewhat be able to dickicked off the team five tate which type or six times. It of braids I was a whole lot of could wear, mental war game. depending on There were times how he felt when he looked me about them. He in my face and was like, “You seem would blalike you just wanna be some of these tantly just street kids.” I didn’t know what to look at me say to that. It was a deafening tone, sometimes definitely shut me down. Not gonna lie, and tell it definitely ruined the first two, three years of college me that for me. I definitely didn’t let it stand in the way. I I did what I could. Put my head down. I’m happy that we’ve couldn’t reached a point that people might actually listen now do things. and take awareness.” I couldn’t wear snapback hats, I couldn’t

- Artie

How do you think racism from Covid has negatively af fected the Asian community? “I remember back in high school, people would give me certain nicknames… like Ling Ling. Now with “Chinese Virus” — I even see some of our students posting some of these terms — and it directly affects us but we also have to remember that this racism has always been there. It’s always been normalized. But it only took until Covid and a massacre that happened in Atlanta, Georgia for it to really be recognized that this isn’t right.”

- CINDY

Styling by: Jeffrey Pelayo Interview by: Jeffrey Pelayo Set Assistance from: Erin Foley Cover Photos by: Gino Catalano & Max Durante

Scandinavian Style Scandinavian Style

Author: Quinn Fantozzi Photographer: Claire Reynolds Layout: Gracie Davis

When my pastel pieces ethereally blend with the fresh, blooming April flowers, I know that spring has arrived. As the season grows nearer and nearer, I find myself getting more and more excited to switch out my winter wardrobe for my spring and summer wardrobe. When I think of the spring season, I think about lots of pastels and lighter neutrals; while these colors can be worn year-round, they really flourish in the warmer months. And which style aesthetic rocks these looks like no other? The Scandinavian style aesthetic, which has garnered much attention in recent years, is most popular for these soft and delicate looks. This aesthetic has really taken off in the “fashion twitter” community and is one that many people have tried to emulate recently. When considering influencers who pull this aesthetic off flawlessly, many flock to Elsa Hosk (@hoskelsa), Matilda Djerf (@matildadjerf), and Amaka Hamelijnck (@amaka.hamelijnck). While it is not limited to pastels and light neutrals in any regard, -- all color schemes and combinations are found within the aesthetic -- these are some elements that are commonly found with this style. Pastel purples, pinks, blues, greens, and yellows, and other bright colors, perfectly personify the spring season. The light neutrals, as well, are a nice transition from the typically darker items found in our winter wardrobes. Additionally, floral patterns and lots of knit and linen wear are also very common within these items. Delicate blouses, fun trousers and skirts, and flattering dresses combined with these light colors create a soft, lovely image, perfect for the spring season. Finish the look off with some gold jewelry and simple boots, sneakers, or sandals, and you’ve got the perfect outfit for any outing this coming season. Stylist: Becca Hall

Models: Nina Boggan, Becca Hall, Madison Rhoad, Teresa Jacob

trials of beauty:

how battling eczema changed my perception for the better I have struggled with the most severe case of eczema. My skin was always dry and kept peeling and secreting have struggled withwhen the I most severe caseIt ofleft eczema. My skin always dry kept peeling water. It bled,Icracked, and burned took showers. me with losswas of pigment alland over my body. Myand secreting water. bled, cracked, and burned when I Harlow’s took showers. It left me is with loss of of pigment all over my experience can beIt comparable to fashion model Winnie vitiligo, which also loss pigmentation. body. Mywith experience can be comparable to fashion model Winnie Harlow’s vitiligo which and is also loss why of pigmentaDealing this and looking so different from everyone else caused me to hate myself question I had to tion. Dealing withSummers this and looking so different from else to caused memyself to hate myselfthe andconstant questionreminder why I be born this way. were hard for me because iteveryone was difficult enjoy without had to born this terrible way. Summers were hard I for me because it was difficult f tobe enjoy myself the constant that mybe skin looked and abnormal. would get stares,and often times asked “werewithout you in a fire?” or reminderwrong that with my skin looked terrible and abnormal. I would things get stares, and often timesand be always asked “were you in “what’s you?” at school. I refrained from wearing that showed my skin wore jeans a fire?” “what’s wrong you?” weather. at school. I refrained from wearing things that showed skin andor always and longor sleeve shirts inwith 80-degree I always wished I could look “beautiful” like my friends my wore jeans sleeve shirts in I 80-degree weather. I always wishedIInever couldthought look “beautiful” like my friends sisters whoand didlong not have what I had. hated what I saw in the mirror. I was beautiful because or myis sisters who did notelse havelooked. what I had. I hated what I saw in the mirror. I never thought I was beautiful bethat not how everyone cause that isone notday howiteveryone else looked. However, really clicked for me. I was searching for something to wear that looked cute but that However, one it really clicked for me. I anything was searching for entirely somethingfrustrated to wear that looked cuteto but could cover myday imperfections. I could not find and grew when I turned mythat cousin could cover imperfections. I to could not find anything grew entirely frustrated when Imy turned toShe my turned cousin and said, “Imy can’t find anything wear because I can’tand wear something that doesn’t cover skin.” andme said, “I can’t findnot anything to can’t wear because I can’t wear that doesn’t cover She After turned to and said, “It’s that you wear something, it’ssomething because you are choosing notmy toskin.” wear it.” to me andthose said,words “It’sto not that you can’t wear something, it’s because you are choosing not to wear it.” Afshe said me, my perspective totally shifted. I asked myself, “Why are you putting yourself ter she this?” said those words to to try me, on my what perspective totally myself, “why putting yourself through I decided I really wantedshifted. to wear.IIasked looked at myself inare theyou mirror and saw that through this?” I decided to try on what I really wanted to wear. I looked at myself in the mirror and saw that my skin did not look as bad as it seemed for so long. my skin as bad as it Iseemed for so long. This did day not madelook me realize that was sacrificing my own happiness because I was scared of others thinking I Thisnot daybeautiful. made me realize thatof I how was people sacrificing my ownme happiness because I was scared othersof thinking I was was This fear perceived never even allowed me to stepof outside my comfort not beautiful. This fear ofthat how kept people me my never allowed me solely to stepme. outside of my comfort zone.was zone. It was not my eczema meperceived from seeing owneven beauty; it was My perception of beauty It was my eczema me from seeing my ownsurround beauty; it it with; was solely perception ofwithin beautyyourself. was way way off.not Beauty is notthat justkept the standard that people it isme. theMy beauty you find off. Beauty is not just the standard that people surround it with; itwouldn’t is the beauty you find to within yourself. Your Your differences make you who you are. Without these differences, you have anything separate yourself differences make you Who who wants you are. Without these differences, haveunique anything to That separate yourself from from everyone else. to be like everyone else whenyou youwouldn’t can be your self? indeed is beauty. everyone else. Who wants to be like everyone else when you can be your unique self? That indeed is beauty. There There are trials to seeing your beauty, but I promise when you start to love who you see in the mirror without are trials to seeing your beauty, but I promise when you start to love who you see in the mirror without worworrying about what others think, everything will follow. When you are positive, you attract positive things rying about what others think, everything will follow. When you are positive, you attract positive things into into your life. You won’t feel the need to hide and you will be happy with yourself because that is all that your life. You won’t feel the need to hide and will be happy with yourself because that is all that matters. matters. Having eczema has been a blessing in disguise because I have never felt more beautiful than I do now. I Having eczema has been a blessing in disguise because I have never felt more beautiful than I do now. I hope hope that you can do the same for yourself. that you can do the same for yourself. author: amanda dhanai photographer: maya dominguez model+stylist: amanda dhanai author: amanda dhanai photographer: maya dominguez model+stylist: amanda dhanai

do you know what’s in your do you know what’s in your skincare? skincare?

Over the past decade, there has been a new emphasis on the importance of proper skincare. hile influencers post their latest skincare routines celebrities Over the past decade, there has been a new emphasis on the and importance of partner with popular skincare brands (i.e. Kendall androutines Proactive), proper skincare. While influencers post their latestJenner skincare and the celebskincare industry goes almost entirely unregulated. We’re constantly told rities partner with popular skincare brands (i.e. Kendall Jenner and being Proactive), to the newest trend whether itentirely be a vitamin C serum,We’re ultraconstantly hydrating moisthetry skincare industry goes almost unregulated. being turizer, or one the countless other hitting the market day. The told to try the of newest trend whether itproducts be a vitamin C serum, ultraeach hydrating question is:do really know what we’re putting on our skinthe andmarket the serious moisturizer, orwe one of the countless other products hitting each day. effects it canis: have bodies? need to fear; I’mon here breakdown baThe question Doon weour really knowNo what we’re putting ourto skin and thethe serisics of what look out purchasing ous effects itto can have onfor ourwhen bodies? No needskincare to fear;products. I’m here to breakdown the basics out for when purchasing skincare products. 1. F r aofg rwhat a n to c e look s (Parfum)

While 1. F r this a g r one a n may c e sappear (Parfum) mild in comparison to others on this list, companies are not required toappear disclose what are actually in their While this one may mild in ingredients comparison to others on this list,“fragrance”. companies This legal loophole for companies to use a variety that leave are not required to allows disclose what ingredients are actuallyof inchemicals their “fragrance”. their products smelling like roses, but could leave you with This legal loophole allows for companies to use a variety of irritated chemicals skin that and leave breakouts. their products smelling like roses, but could leave you with irritated skin and breakouts. 2. Phthalates These found in body washes, lotions, and hair care products. 2. P h are t h amost l a commonly tes With the main onesin you want to watch out for are dibutyl diethThesephthalates, are most commonly found body washes, lotions, and hair care and products. ylhexyl. These are known cause andare candibutyl even damage your With phthalates, the mainto ones youhormone want todisruption, watch out for and diethreproductive system. ylhexyl. These are known to cause hormone disruption, and can even damage your

reproductive 3. P a r a b e system. ns Parabens are commonly used as preservatives in a variety of beauty products. They 3. P a r a b e n s can not only skin irritation, but theyin increase theof cellular caused Parabens are cause commonly used as preservatives a variety beauty damage products. They by rays which inskin turnirritation, increases the developing cancer. Similar to canUV not only cause butrisk theyof increase the skin cellular damage caused phthalates, parabens such as isobutyl and isopropyl can cause similar damage to by UV rays which in turn increases the risk of developing skin cancer. Similar to your hormones and reproductive system. phthalates, parabens such as isobutyl and isopropyl can cause similar damage to I know this list may seem scary, but it’s important to be educated on how the your hormones and reproductive system. products we use can affect our health. With the skincare industry being almost enI know this list may seem scary, but it’s important to be educated on how the tirely unregulated, it’s up to us to make conscious choices about the products we products we use can affect our health. With the skincare industry being almost enuse. If you’re ever in doubt about a product, no need to panic! There are endless tirely unregulated, it’s up to us to make conscious choices about the products we use. If you’re ever in doubt about a product, no need to panic! There are endless online anna resources available tolayout: help you navigate the complex world of skincare. author: aversa-goodman caroline gleason author: anna aversa-goodman

layout: caroline gleason

l b a n i a t s u s y t u y t sustainable bea u a e b e l b a n i a t s u s y t u a e b e y t sustainabl u a e b e l b a n i a tEmily Abate s u s y t u a e b e l By b y t sustaina u a e b e l b a n i a t s u s y t u a e b e l y t sustainab u a e b e l b a n i a t s u s y t u a e b e l b y t sustaina u a e b e l b a n i a t s u s y t u a e b e l y t sustainab u a e b e l b a n i a t s u s y t u a e b e l b a sustain u a e b e l b a n i a t s u s y t u a e b e l sustainab e l b a n i a t s u s y t u a e b e l b a n i a t s u ty s n i a t s u s y t u a e b e l b a n i a t s u s y t beau s u s y t u a e b e l b a n i a t s u s y t u a e e able b l b a n i a t s u s y t tainable beau u a e b e l b a n i a t beauty sus y t u a e b e l b a n i ty susta y t u a e b e l b a n i a sust y t u a e b e l b a n i susta y t u a e b e l b a n i a t sus u a e b e l b a n i susta u a e b e l b a n i a t ty sus y t u a e b e l b a n i a t Hall + Claire Reynolds susBecca tyLayout: u a e Photographer: Gino Catalano b e l b a n 40 i staEmily Abate suModel:

s p a w S e l b a n i a t Sus

Sustainability is definitely a big trend right now, but thinking about the future of our Earth should be much more than a fad. Making sustainable switches and eco-friendly decisions within our beauty routine is the right thing to do. While it may be tempting to buy the adorable looking packaging of a new beauty product, it is important to remember that our everyday regimen has a direct impact on our planet and future. Here are some ways to give your beauty routine a sustainable makeover.

MAKEUP REMOVAL

Ditch the one time use cotton pads and makeup remover oil. It may be hard to scrap the cotton rounds completely so try looking for organic cotton pads as they are better for the environment. If you want to take the extra sustainable swap, I recommend using a makeup cleansing balm to remove all leftover makeup and debris from the day. My personal favorite is the Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm. It is SO worth it and leaves my face feeling fresh! There is also a lot of buzz about reusable cotton pads. There are many on the market right now, but some of the best companies include: Daily Concepts, Face Halo, and Jenny Patinkin. Making one switch like this can transform your beauty routine into an eco-friendly spiral.

SHAVING

Get rid of the disposable, plastic razors and make the sustainable switch to a safety razor. Many of our blades and razor handles end up in the landfill each year due to improper recycling so time to make the eco-friendly decision. Safety razors can still give you that bare skin feel we are used to from our disposable razors. Some of the best eco-friendly razors on the market right now are by Jungle Culture, Eco Roots, and Bambaw. Making this decision does not need to be expensive. These eco-friendly safety razors are perfect for anyone needing a close shave. With either having a bamboo or stainless steel handle, these razors do not disappoint.

DENTAL HYGIENE

One of the most important pieces to any routine is our dental hygiene. The ecofriendly decision is to start using plastic-free toothbrushes and packagefree toothpaste chewable tablets. Yes, you heard correctly! Companies like Hello or Archtek have created chewing tablets for toothpaste. These tablets are a sustainable switch that are formulated without water; simply chew on the tablets and begin brushing. For toothbrushes, make the sustainable switch to a bamboo toothbrush. Swaps like this in your dental hygiene routine can lower overall waste.

PACKAGING

For items such as shampoo, conditioner, hand wash, and face soap, the sustainable swap is to use a bar soap. Make the switch from liquid soap to bar soap and the environment will thank you. Shampoo, conditioner, and face cleansing bars will help you save water, plastic, and the planet. Some favorite companies of mine for showercare are Bar None, Daughter of the Land, and anything made by Lush. It is also important to look for cleansing face soap bars to implement into your skincare routine. Some popular ones include: First Aid Beauty, Drunk Elephant, and CeraVe. In terms of other sustainable packaging, look for containers that are made out of glass. This easy swap can also help reduce plastic consumption. If you want to go even further, invest in refillable products or buy a product that is super-sized. These two switches will also reduce the amount of plastic that is being used and thrown away.

Roll Call: Black Creatives in Makeup The squad’s all here! I’m rounding up some of my top picks of makeup artists that I think everyone should be following. I love the editorial makeup world, but Black artists are rarely given as much notoriety as their white counterparts. It’s time to revive that Insta timeline and search for some new makeup inspo; there’s someone here for everyone. One of my personal favorite artists to follow, Naezrah, has it all. I love her editorial style and how she plays around with non-traditional shapes. She also does really cool illusion effects and is a self-proclaimed shapeshifter. If those looks aren’t up your alley, Naezrah’s more classic designs are great inspiration for when you’re not so brave but still want to spice up your makeup routine. Noelle’s account is all about the eyes! While she does some illusion effects, Noelle is definitely the person to follow if you’re wishing you could pull off all those looks you saw in Euphoria. Noelle’s style sticks a bit more to tradition, but she is not afraid to work in unexpected colors or to put her own spin on trends. She runs a great account to follow if you’re looking for a push to try something new.

Of course, we can’t talk about editorial makeup without talking about drag! While RuPaul’s Drag Race has fueled many people’s obsessions, we can’t forget to support some smaller artists. I love following Berryboi for the fully fleshed-out concepts and looks inspired by popular media.

Lauren is a great creator to follow if you’re stuck in a makeup rut! As a college student, she maintains a mix of wearable looks, editorial looks, and basic tutorials on the timeline. She also often features some painted lid looks for people who really want to turn their makeup into art.

Article and Layout by: Claire Silverberg

SPRING 2021 COLLECTION

MODE RAISED $125 FOR SEND CHINATOWN LOVE THIS SEMESTER!!! Send Chinatown Love’s goal is to identify restaurants who are suffering from impacts of Covid-19 and provide relief to those who are in dire need. Their ultimate goal is to bring Chinatown online during Covid restrictions.

A Letter To My Favorite Fashion Influencers Written by Ryan Sophie Smith Let’s have an open discussion about an issue you seem to be oblivious to. Where is the line between theft and inspiration? One of the great parts about modern technology is that we are able to see what everyone is doing and draw inspiration from anyone and everyone across the globe. Right now I am binge watching all the Milan Fashion week shows I can from the comfort of my own bed. As amazing as this all is, it has led to a lot more room for theft of creativity. Creativity is something that is unique to everyone, yes sometimes people can have the same ideas but often in an Instagramfilled world we are often quick to copy someone else’s work because it is successful and we want that same success. Fast fashion companies like Zara, Shein, and Nasty Gal have been practicing this for years. They look at what designer items are all anyone can rave about and duplicate them so they can sell them

Layout by Maddie Boone

for a fraction of the cost in their own stores. This issue has been going on for years and there is no legislation that can stop companies from stealing designs and ideas from fashion designers. Now let’s bring this back to you. With the rise of social media, influencer marketing and collaborations have been at an all time high. Thousands of people check in everyday to see what you’re wearing and what you’re buying. If you’re lucky enough you may even be able to start your own business. This is where the problem of the line between inspiration and theft comes into play for you. You see a trend you’re absolutely obsessed with and want to make it for your own line. Can you do that? Can you steal someone else’s design and call it your own? Are a few modifications to the design enough to call it your own. And when you get called out and deny it while turning off your comments are you really being held accountable for your

actions? Personally, I think that designs should be patented for a period of time and no one should be allowed to replicate them without consent from the designer. After the patent expires they can be open to the general market for anyone to make. This is how the pharmaceutical companies operate when new drugs are created. It’s time for us all to talk more about where this line of creativity and theft should be! Should we be able to copy others designs? Is modifying them enough to call them our own? Can anyone really claim a mainstream design? Why is there not more accountability for intellectual creative theft?

‘PYREX VISION’

“It’s easier to be a critic than to produce work. So the only way to get to the end means is to start the domino effect. Which is essentially put out bad work.”Virgil Abloh. One doesn’t make it to the top without making mistakes or having to persevere through adversity. The rise to a fashion icon, like many designers, is not a straightforward one. Virgil’s journey began in his master’s program for Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Virgil produced his earliest work at IIT, which started with Adobe Suite skills that he picked up in his architecture classes. It was here that Virgil and his childhood friend, Christopher Eaton, created Virgil’s first brand, Forthome. The first t-shirt he made featured an ‘X’ that even Virgil says looks similar to those on his Off-White pieces. Although Forthome d i d n ’ t take off as Virgil had hoped, Abloh’s

designs were so well put together that it landed him a job at the print shop, Custom Kings. During his time here, he made the allimportant connection with Don C, another designer out of Chicago. After some time working together, Don C reached out to his cousin, John Monopoly, the manager of Kanye West. After meeting, The two bonded over a passion for fashion and interned together at Fendi in 2009. The next big step was when he formed a DJ collective with Heron Preston and Matthew Williams called, Been Trill. Eventually, Williams and Abloh produced merchandise under this name; the brand snowballed and was seen on stars such as Rihanna. Although the brand quickly began to fade, it allowed Virgil to solidify himself as a public figure. Following his Been Trill phase, Abloh started to work on his next project, Pyrex, but this time, it was different. Thanks to the connections over the past years, Virgil now could market like never before and generate hype. Printed on Champion and Ralph Laucoren blanks, Pyrex quickly

gained traction, and people were willing to spend hundreds on becoming part of this new movement. One lawsuit later with the glass company, Pyrex, and Virgil was forced to start from scratch. Although he had to cut Pyrex short, Virgil was not discouraged, and it was from here he had his vision for his designer brand, Off-White (2012). Currently, Abloh is now the CEO of Off-White, one of the most popular fashion houses today, and the men’s artistic director for Louis Vuitton and expanding into sustainability projects with the water brand Evian, in which he aims to create 100% recycled bottles. Written by James Tampellini Layout by Maddie Boone

Euphoria’s Gen-Z Movement Since the beginning of the beauty industry, there have been trends that people actively follow. From the minimalist makeup in the 90s to bold brows and winged eyeliner in the early 2010s, young people are always obsessed with the latest trends in beauty. HBO’s television series Euphoria has caused a flood of new makeup creations, as seen on red-carpet events, fashion runways, and your Instagram feed. Euphoria shows Zendaya’s classic look of dark liner and glitter tears streaming down her cheeks and Alexa Demie’s bold glossy lips and constellations of face crystals. Gen-Z uses makeup not only to portray who they are but who they want to be that day. For instance, it’s crazy to think that you would get looks for wearing pink glitter out to the supermarket.

Creator of the show Sam Levinson offers a glimpse into the lives and minds of high school students who are surrounded by substance abuse, sexual exploration, and the challenges of growing up in this virtual age. Sam Levinson created Euphoria to display a story of drama, design, and costume. In an interview conducted by the Los Angeles Times, Sami Levinson said, “An outfit leads to a perspective and leads to a way of acting. Those are the markers of being young, in some way. And not dissimilar from the process of acting.” Euphoria places an unprecedented emphasis on makeup. The show tells a story through a hyper-visual lens and uses beauty to break barriers.

Euphoria is an intensified reality of what teens are going through in this generation. On the show, all conventional beauty norms that have existed are intended to be broken. Teen Vogue spoke with Euphoria’s costume designer, Heidi Bivens, about how she approached outfitting the stars of the show and she said, “We wanted the costumes to give you a quick read if you just glanced at the character.” Gen-Z is about celebrating by using vibrant colors and textures on their faces. This show has the power and audience to inspire young people to be true to themselves and not compromise their self-expression. Makeup trends come and go, but Euphoria has definitely impacted the beauty community and a whole generation of teenagers. While some older generations may be wary of ideas of colorful makeup and gluing crystals to their faces, Gen-Z shows them off with confidence!

Author: Japnour Bhasin Models: Japnour Bhasin & Tori Broadbent Photographer: Mia Pollack

Layout: Paige Pandolfo Stylist: Carson Waldron Makeup Artists: Carson Waldron and Japnour Bhasin

It’s Time to Get Real When I started wearing makeup in my early teens, I taught myself using online tutorials. Since then, the world of beauty gurus and social media influencers has blown up exponentially. For many years, I fell into the trap of believing it was all real. I would buy the products that creators were using, follow their tutorials to a T, and still wind up discouraged because I could not get my makeup, particularly my skin, to look like theirs. I spent so much time and money trying to find the perfect primer or foundation that would not only conceal my acne and skin texture but give me that completely airbrushed, flawless look. Our age group knew Instagram in its infancy when it was all about the Valencia filter and the duck face. The difference now is that Instagram has become a platform where people feel obligated to post, and when they do, it has to be high quality “content” looking their absolute best. The problem lies in how everything has advanced to the point where people appear seamless, and even pictures that are so heavily photoshopped can still look real. This atmosphere creates a false sense of reality that is mentally and physically draining because we feel like we have to look a certain way. This can give rise to self-esteem issues or to extremes involving plastic surgery and other procedures.

Fortunately, I’ve noticed that in quarantine, in the beauty sphere especially, not being able to go many places has forced us to become more comfortable with our authentic, made-down selves. As a result, many people have dipped their toes into skincare, or have turned to smaller creators who use natural lighting and talk openly about their skin struggles. Seeing beautiful makeup on skin that looks more like mine with acne and pores is both comforting and empowering. It reiterates why we gravitate towards creators we can relate to which is the reason I started watching people do makeup in their bedrooms in the first place.

Author: Carson DeLasho Models: Paige Kowal, Paige Pandolfo, & Caleb Rocha Artist: Grace McCarty

Photographer, Conor Cary Makeup Artist: Carson DeLasho Layout: Paige Pandolfo

EMO: BACK FROM THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION BY HAILEY PRYOR

hairstyles consisted of exaggerated side bangs cooked from the heat of a straightening iron. Emo fashion icons like Gerard Way and Hayley Williams commanded the scene quite a bit. As much as the early aughts are a landmark of bad trends, there is something incredibly sentimental about emo fashion. The idea of self-expression on a massive scale for those who were so rarely given an outlet feels very much like bittersweet irony. Emo was such a unique and outrageous culture that it really should’ve faded into obscurity, because nothing good lasts forever. But it didn’t. My Chemical Romance may have broken up and Warped Tour may have ended, but emo culture is bigger than ever. Let me clarify: emo is experiencing a rebranding more than anything else. The massive alternative (or “alt”) movement surrounding popular culture and fashion as of late definitely has its roots in emo subculture. This community is even more accepting than its predecessor, with an emphasis on uplifting the LGBTQ+ community and spotlighting the BLM movement. The evolution of emo is composed of an incredibly diverse group of people. Teenagers are still capitalizing on creativity and freedom of expression, and the more outrageous the better. And that’s what emo culture has always really been about; celebrating the individual.

REVENGE

Eyeliner. Chunky hair highlights. Weekend trips to Hot Topic. It’s been a decade since teenage society collectively donned their ripped skinny jeans and blasted Fall Out Boy CD’s, so let’s look back at how emo affected a generation and continues to shape people today. “Emo” as a music genre was ruled by loud instruments and even louder voices. It was an incredibly inclusive culture for the 2000’s, a decade ruled by movies about cliques and bullying. This concept of acceptance attracted many teenagers who didn’t necessarily fit in at school or at home. Emo bands preached messages of self-acceptance in their songs, something that appealed to many outcasts. For others, it was a form of rebellion. The Emo aesthetic tended to scare a lot of parents when it was first introduced, similar to goth and hippie subcultures of decades prior. Part of the appeal came from the notion that emo was rarely supported by popular culture. There was a sense of mystery surrounding being emo because it wasn’t widely accessible. You had to do a bit of digging to become truly invested. Despite this mysterious element, people who identified as emo expressed themselves best through their commitment to bold fashion. There was a level of pride and enthusiasm in looking as “emo” as possible. The culture of emo fashion was all about originality, the clothes often as loud as the music accompanying the movement. Stripes dominated the patterns of leggings and arm warmers. Fishnet tights (often ripped, per tradition) were another landmark. Black clothing was a must, and black hair dye didn’t fall very far behind. Ideally,

Photography: Max Durante Models: Natalia Cruz & Hailey Pryor Layout: Hailey Pryor

Asian REDpresentation fashion edition The extent of the rich and couture fashion in some of the most prominent Asian individuals are highlighted in Netflix’s new show, Bling Empire. After the launch of Crazy Rich Asians in 2018 a couple years ago, many people have gained an interest in this luxury filled world of some of Asia’s richest individuals. Looking closely into the scenes of Bling Empire, you can see designer brands left and right but also couture items that aren’t even up for sale for the general public. The individuals in the show are the ones at the front row seats at Paris Fashion Week and buying items straight from the runway. They are the ones that have the finest Chanel jewelery and have the power to close down Rodeo Drive for a Chinese New Year party. To these people, money is never the problem. With the emergence of shows like Bling Empire, we are getting a closer look into the influence and interplay between prominent Asian figures and luxury brands. More brands than ever are releasing Lunar New Year lines with red-themed designs or featuring the zodiac animal of the year. This year, Bottega Veneta released exclusive colors for some of their most popular bags while Saint Laurent released a collection of ox print/silhouette designs. Some brands even designed their own signature red envelopes to give with purchases to reflect an Asian tradition of giving red envelopes on Lunar New Years. With more and more brands embracing Asian holidays and culture, there seems to be a general consensus on the kind of roles Asians play in the fashion industry. One of my favorite Asian designers is Kim Shui, who is an Asian American that uses traditional Chinese prints with modern, sleek designs. Some of her most popular designs include some scandalous dresses with prints that even celebrities have obtained an interest for. Another favorite designer of mine is Irene, a Korean American model who has released a line of clothes designed with more of a casual feel, incorporating pieces such as hoodies into her collection. The integration of bright colors and quirky designs have caught the eyes of many, including Korean celebrities. Asian representation in the fashion industry is powerful and prominent to say the least. As the platform for Asian representation grows, the interest for Asian representation in the fashion industry follows as well. I am excited to see what the future of Asian representation holds in the fashion industry. Author: Christine Han Photographer: Elise Anstey Models: Gaby Simporios & Christine Han Stylist: Christine Han Layout: Natalie Conte

Embracing Your Body-ody-ody in lingerie By: Monica Santiago

When I say “Power Dressing” what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For many, the answer is simple: a power suit. The first power suit was invented by Coco Chanel as more women joined the workforce after World War I. As a feminist, I am all for equality, but why must women dress like men to be considered powerful and educated? Why can’t women show skin and look sexy without being slut-shamed? Decades have passed and women have evolved, but can men keep up? If you ask a woman what she feels most powerful wearing, who would have thought the answer would be lingerie? As women embrace their body-ody-odies and sexuality more, they are starting to wear lingerie, not for the attention or appeal of a man, but for themselves. The thought of a woman wearing lingerie for herself, instead of for a man, may have just blown your mind but it’s really not that hard of a concept to grasp. For years lingerie has been viewed as private, something only your husband should see, but was this yet another mind control ploy to get women’s bodies under male control? Lingerie has become more than just apparel used during intimate relations or for men to be pleased by. It is now a fashion statement for the modern woman, the woman of this era. Now when

women wear lingerie, they wear it because they are confident in themselves and not afraid to show it. One very prominent activist of this movement is Rihanna, as she launched her lingerie brand: Savage Fenty. She uses powerful female celebrities, like Megan Thee Stallion and Kehlani, to endorse her lingerie, and made lingerie less about the male gaze and more about female empowerment. By including models of all colors, sizes, and genders, Rihanna single-handedly changed the way the world views lingerie. She even has an option where anyone can submit pictures wearing her lingerie to be showcased on the site! If you see a woman in lingerie know she is powerful, confident, and unapologetic about it, so don’t even try slut-shaming her! Models: Jacqueline Moran and Monica Santiago Photographer: Elisabeth Murray

Fashion in Snowboarding By: Patrick DeCrescenzo

As I watch the board glisten with snow while a rider flies off a huge jump, it’s impossible to miss the light catching off his pair of fully reflective pants. One of the best aspects of fashion in snowboarding is that you can take more risks than most other realms of fashion. I’ve been wearing bright neon yellow pants for 10 years now and not one person has bat an eye. There are two types of people that run fashion in snowboarding: the statement piece rider and the neutral rider. This can be related to many areas of fashion. For example, people in New York City may be more inclined to wear neutral colors because of the culture here. I definitely classify myself as a statement piece rider. In terms of patterns and colors, my outfits have been on the louder side. I try to pair a more neutral coat with my yellow pants, because even on the mountain, one can still look absolutely ridiculous. Snowboarders that are racers tend to wear statement pieces. This can help them identify themselves while reviewing film and make it easier for their coaches and teammates to follow them on course. My race coach always jokes that he could never lose me on the race course with my loud outfits. As for neutral riders, they keep it sleek and clean. One of the most popular outfits in snowboarding is the black pant/black jacket combo. Many neutral riders are those that love the terrain parks. When you watch halfpipe or slopestyle at the X Games, you’ll notice most of the riders competing are wearing neutral tones. They don’t need anything to spice up their look, as they allow their flips, twists, and insane tricks to do the talking. This is logical as well because a loud outfit could almost distract a viewer or judge from the complexity of a trick they perform. The one thing that generally remains constant among all riders is the goggles. Us snowboarders have to stay true to pop culture’s favorite piece of ours. You see them on the eyes of championship teams popping champagne bottles and hip hop artists on stage, but nothing looks better than a huge pair of goggles bringing together a snowboarder’s outfit. Snowboarding and ski goggles are historic and likely will never stop being the most important piece of attire on the mountain. When you put your goggles on, you enter a new world, forgetting all of your troubles and focusing on the mountain. They symbolize what it means to be a snowboarder, whether you are a beginner, expert, racer, or park rat.

Layout: Emma Foley

A New Working class hero By Caleb Rocha and Nina Carbone As John Lennon once said, “You’re so f*cking crazy, you can’t follow their rules.” These words are the perfect description of young people today. Gen Z is defined by this idea of breaking rules, an idea that has permeated their politics, daily lives, and style choices. As members of this generation continue to push boundaries and ignore expectations, the possibilities can only expand for what is and is not allowed. If any generation were to redefine age-old customs, it would be Gen Z. The adults of tomorrow are often seen as breaking the norm, rebelling against the system. From youth attendance at protests and rallies to defying dress codes and expectations, Gen Z continues to break the “rules” established by prior generations. 40 years ago, this rebellious attitude was seen as countercultural, but now, counterculture has become Gen Z’s mainstream. When walking in SoHo, you can see androgynous styles, vintage statement pieces, and bright patterns. The commonality between these styles is simply that they are all one of a kind, and are praised for that. This generation celebrates differences in fashion just as they celebrate the uniqueness in all people. Such acceptance allows Gen Z to change the world around us. Even, if not especially, in areas that haven’t changed in decades. One such area is tired, overdone, decades-old, Western business attire. Since before our grandparents were born, there was an expectation that professionals were to wear suits or skirts, for men and women respectively. This coming from a time when male and female were the only accepted gender options. We have abandoned such thinking that lasted over a century, but we have yet to abandon the stuffy clothing that they deem professional. This isn’t to say that everyone should start wearing corsets and sandals to work, but there are plenty of ways to dress professionally without slipping on a navy suit or black dress pants. To clarify, this is not necessarily something that everyone should consider when dressing for their next interview, the rules of Gen X are still in play. Someday, however, we will be setting those standards, and when we do, why not set them where our standards are for everything else? So break the rules, and broaden minds, after all, it might just make you a new kind of working-class hero. Layout: Deirdre Merritt Photography: Gillian Roberts Models: Nina Carbone, Caleb Rocha, John Cugel Stylist: Enxhi Hajdarmataj

The The Future Future of ofHype Hype is is... ...Hidden? Hidden?

In his post-game interview, following the Laker’s 115-110 win over the Grizzlies on Feb. 13, Lebron James Article by Conor Cary was seen sporting @hidden.ppf’s new ‘Sherpa’ hoodie. Layout by Carson Waldron James joins the list of celebrities who have, in recent months, begun to rock garments from the elusive New York based brand, Hidden.NY. Dubbed the ‘communal moodboard’ of streetwear and hypebeast culture, with followers such as Drake, Virgil Abloh, Pharell, Ronnie Fieg, and Erik Brunetti, Hidden.NY was started by a young English 20-something in late 2018 as a page dedicated to showing his then-clients the inspiration for his freelance designs. It quickly gaining a cult following thereafter. Hidden.NY’s motto “Past, Present, and Future” describes the Instagram account perfectly. From recent sneaker releases, archive grails, throwback celebrity fits, and nostalgic tributes to legends of streetwear and hip-hop, his Instagram perfectly encapsulates streetwear culture. Since 2018, the account has grown exponentially in size transforming from simply another moodboard to becoming one of the most powerful influences in menswear and fashion trends within the world of streetwear. Hidden. NY’s status raises some important questions about the future of social media influencers and hype as a culture, specifically on how the individuals behind these accounts will determine trends and create hype. Despite giving attention to hypebeasts and their respective fits, many of Hidden.NY’s posts are spontaneous, artistic, and not focused on fashion. For one, his account goes against the traditional setup of most influencers his posts rarely focus on him, his style or his outfits. In his words, “A constant stream of your favorite things is much more telling than photos of your day to day life... I believe my followers know me much more intimately than a typical influencer.” According to him, this form of unregulated media, a parallel to our own organic thought process, allows for much more real content to be captured. He describes the movement of streetwear culture beginning as something very niche and becoming more about pop-culture, something we’ve seen in the past decade. He predicts that in the future, many micro-cultures and communities will rise again due to the enormity of the fashion landscape and of the numerous styles and desires people have - a sort of ‘deconstruction’ of hype. His advice? “Don’t look at anyone else for what to post or how to become popular. Focus on what inspires you, what developed your taste; express that. The only way to truly stand out in this oversaturated group is to be unique.” Will the new social media influencers be successful in their mission to promote uniqueness? Only time will tell.

Putting the HE in Heels Written by: Anna Gaylord

Layout by: Stephen Pastore

Heels make a woman feel tall. Heels make a woman feel powerful. Heels make a woman feel confident. Who says heels can’t do the same for men? We are in 2021, a world where androgyny is welcomed with open arms. For the average straight man a 6-inch stiletto heel might be a large leap from the go-to sneaker or flat shoe but what about a 2-inch Cuban heeled boot? Let’s normalize men wearing heels. The girls and the gays have had the heel and I think it is time to open up to the idea of heels for all. A lot of men turn away from a heel because “heels are feminine”. I am here to tell you they are not. When heels were first created they were mostly worn by men like Louis XIV in the 1700s. Louis wore red heels which were his way to show status and power. The red was to show that he was wealthy enough to have such a luxurious color and having more height allowed him to be taller and therefore feel more powerful. Doesn’t everyone want to feel powerful and confident? We have seen the heeled boot all over red carpets and runways. We have seen celebrities from Timothée Chalamet to Jared Leto giving themselves the extra height with a classic heeled ankle boot. Heels should not just be for celebrities, heels should be for everyone. I am not the only one who thinks this either. There is a brand based right out of Brooklyn called Syro. This brand was started by two queer and gender-nonconforming friends Henry Bae and Shaobo Han. Their label is a “femme footwear brand” which offers heels, heeled booties, and even sandals that are meant to be worn by all. Our generation is the generation of gender fluidity especially in the world of fashion. Anything goes! Heels were made to show power and confidence, and they should no longer just be for the ladies. So, men, I challenge you: Can you handle the power of a heel?

Photo by: Claire Reynolds

Man Vs. Fashion: The Ongoing Battle and How to Win

Written by: John Cugel

Layout by: Stephen Pastore

Men typically have lots of confidence in their personalities and interests, but what about their style? The words ‘man’ and ‘fashion’ have not always been complimentary words. Traditionally, men are into cars, sports, stocks, and videogames, but art and fashion has seemed to become a growing interest within the 21st century for the average male. Whether you’re sporting a retro look or are into streetwear, someone’s style is one of the most important qualities one can possess. It sends a message not only about character, but about confidence. Upping your confidence will up your style significantly, so I am here to remind you about three things that will hopefully boost your confidence, and your style. 1) If you are worried that others will judge you when you wear something, you’re wrong. People have so many of their own problems already, and I guarantee you that they aren’t going to think twice about what you’re wearing. 2) Be you. Try styles and trends that you want. Do not feel pressured to wear what everyone around you is wearing. I think most people have a hard time with fashion because they don’t like what is trending right at the moment. Try old trends, new trends, and everything in between- you are your own trendsetter. Wear what YOU want, not what you think others want you to wear. 3) And last but not least, three. Having style doesn’t have to beexpensive, because money does not always equal style. One excuse I’ve heard a lot surrounding fashion is that “I don’t have any money to look like that.” Styling on a budget is one of the most important, and impressive qualities in a shopper. There are gems in thrift stores, on sites like Depop and Grailed, as well as fast fashion stores like H&M and Zara. Take advantage of those low prices and look like a king. Now that you have a few pointers to work with, I hope that you will be willing to step out of your comfort zone and explore the many avenues that fashion has to offer. Wear that sweater or shoes that you’re on the fence about. Don’t worry about what others think, because their opinion doesn’t matter, yours does. Fashion is subjective, and how you choose to express yourself is totally up to you. Confidence is key, and with a little bit of confidence, you can wear just about anything.

Photo by: Claire Reynolds Model: Carson Waldron

Bimbofication Emma Dawson by Emma Dawson

At a young age, I started to pick up on the insane standards that come along with womanhood. I watched the rise of “not like other girls” rom-com protagonists set up against glamorous vapid rivals, and while the image of the perfect “cool” girl -- hot, smart, and not a threat to male confidence -- is lauded in the media, in real life there’s very little room for multifaceted women. My middleschool self clung to the uniform of ill-fitting t-shirts and converse sneakers and saw short skirts and high heels as the enemy. I refused to wear makeup and disdained all things pink. 20-year-old me now scrolls through TikTok obsessed with a new movement of Gen Z-ers of all genders, sexualities, and races, with bodies like living Bratz dolls. Looking at the smoldering hellscape of 2020, I came to the conclusion: I’m too hot for this shit. Enter: The New Age Bimbo. Once a term used to undermine the intelligence of beautiful women

Layout by Mikey Duffy

from Marilyn Monroe to the Chicks, the modern “Bimbo’’ reclaims the term, bringing on the glitter and stomping on those who would shame their femininity with towering platform heels that wouldn’t be out of place strutting around the strip club. Sources of style inspiration include Pamela Anderson, Dolly Parton, and Anna Nicole Smith. There are Bimbos for every subculture from 70s bimbos on roller skates and crochet bikinis, to goth bimbos adopting “the personality of a Valley Girl with the exterior of a motorcycle.”

Bimbofication isn’t for everyone, and Gen-Zs bimbos are proponents of self-love and wearing what makes YOU feel hot and what makes YOU feel confident. There’s no toxic competition in bimboism, which is what makes it a cultural moment so worthy of our attention. As long as you are wearing something you love, you are the sexiest babe alive. The respect and esteem of others, particularly subscribers of the patriarchy, mean nothing. This is the key that I had yet to learn in my early teen years. There’s still a lot I can learn from these effervescent, ethereal Barbies Despite the caricaturistic on my For You Page, but I performance of airheadedness, might as well start reigning queen of the TikTok Bimbos Chrissy Chlapecka makes signing on to Zoom classes it clear that bimbofication is a political act of joining a community in a new mesh top, whether that is pro-BLM, pro-choice, and anti-capitalist. While critics of the I understand style claim it is simply “giving into managerial accounting or not. the male gaze”, TikTok creator So ask yourself: @bimbokate asserts that by Are you a hot bitch? coupling sexual empowerment Do you enjoy being with political consciousness, hyperfeminine? Do new-age bimbos “reverse the fetishization of femininity” by being you want to subvert the male gaze and challenge capitalist “everything men want visually ideas of intelligence all in as whilst also being everything they hate”. As much as patched denim little clothing and as high heels as possible? Then, in the words jackets and safety pins were for of Tik Tok user @fauxrich in all 80s punks, mini-mini-skirts and her McBling-esque glory, “I’m copious amounts of lip gloss are no doctor, but I think you might the new uniform of revolution for be a new age bimbo!” femmes.

s s S

age green, we love you. You’re the easy-going green of Van Gogh’s lily pads, Dakota Johnson’s kitchen, succulents and seafoam and moss and matcha. And you’re the fashion industry’s new best friend. Props to anyone who is thus far immune to the sage design trend, but I’m writing this article with sage green nails, matching joggers, and a new sage phone case in the mail. Instagram, Tiktok, Pinterest, and NYC sidewalks have been serving a steady dose of sage blazers, sunglasses, puffers, slips, cords, and sneaks. Some call it the new neutral; others make their sage a statement. It’s very Gen Z. And, its popularity in 2021 is no coincidence. As it turns out, there’s psychology behind not only sage, but every color that makes its mark on fashion. Color psychology is the study of the way that colors reflect and influence the human spectrum of emotion. It explores not only our psychological responses to color, but also the ways in which we can use colors to influence our lives, mental health, moods, and productivity for the better. In color psych, green is characterized by its calming properties. It checks out in design: “Zen spaces” are often filled with plants and greenery, and celebrities and performers are often provided a “green room” to relax before a public appearance. Sage green in particular is linked to peace, wisdom, health, and nature. So, why is sage spiking in popularity with

Gen Z amidst a global pandemic and an unprecedented social and political atmosphere? This puzzle practically solves itself. The last year has served us an overabundance of stressors; we need the sagespecific zen. In the age of Coronavirus, it’s logical we’d be drawn to colors that are linked to health. Young people have been forced to grow up quite a bit in recent history, navigating turbulent times, and learning plenty about ourselves along the way; we’re wearing our newfound wisdom. And, since we’ve all had our fill of being locked down inside, it makes sense that we’d gravitate toward a color that reminds us of the great outdoors, natural beauty, and adventure. As a generation, we’ve been stressed and cooped up and fashion is our favorite coping mechanism. It’s no wonder we’re stepping out in sage.

Article by Grace McCarty

The The Psych Psych of Sage

Whether or not you realize it, color psychology is present in your fashion sense. Take a minute to notice the colors that pop up most in your wardrobe, apartment decor, or accessories, and dig into their psychologies. Chances are, the colors with which you naturally surround yourself will reflect your most dominant character traits, as well as the big things happening in your life right now. The best part of color psychology in fashion is that it’s not just a source of explanation; it can function as a lifestyle tool, too. The colors you choose to sport can have a pretty significant impact on your psyche. If you’ve ever trusted a horoscope, you can put a little faith in color psych, too.

Modeled by Emily Knight, Photographed by Maya Dominguez, Styled by Erin Foley, Layout by Madison Rhoad

Synthetics vs. Sustainability:

Could Pineapple Replace Vegan Leather? Written by Olivia Vizza Layout & Artwork by Prutha Chavan When you see the words “vegan leather,” you probably imagine a magic material that’s better and cheaper than real leather. But is that the whole truth? The word ‘Vegan’ provides a shiny label that shouts “healthy,” “ethical,” and “saving the animals.” But, most of us don’t know what vegan leather is made out of. Let’s take a deeper look at what goes into making the fabric made so popular by our current fashion trends, and decide if going synthetic is actually the superior choice over the material it’s imitating.

Judge a Book by its Cover Written by Christina Muraskas

e are taught at a young age, both in school and by our parents, to not judge outward appearances and to “judge a book by its cover.” I will truthfully admit that I often make initial judgements based on looks. Strolling through a quaint New York City bookstore, I repeatedly gravitate towards books with aesthetically pleasing covers. If I enjoy the book, sure, that’s a plus, but if it looks good on my bedside table stack? Even better. Pick a book off my shelf at home, then go to my closet and it’s certain there will be pieces there to form a corresponding outfit. I seem to have the same favorite styles in everything I choose. I see my typical fashion reflected by the covers of personally-loved books, two of which are Indelicacy by Amina Cain and People in the Room by Norah Lange. These covers feature aspects of modern culture, such as popular patterns, colors, and overall aesthetics that I am drawn to and style myself after. The style of today is increasingly reverting back to vintage trends: simplicity with contrasts of neutrals with pops of color. This can be seen on the covers of recently-authored novels. The cover of Cain’s work presents an ode to vintage, classic patterns. Lange’s novel illustrates simplicity using popular hues, and can be compared to the trendy “dark academia” style of today. Dark academia is comprised of a preppy, collegiate way of dressing that emphasizes darker colors and uses pops of neutrals. This trend is reflected in today’s fashion that gravitates towards older patterns and timeless pieces of clothing. It is time to start accepting that it is okay to judge by a cover and embrace our styles fully and in every form possible, whether it be through books, fashion, or any other important aspect of life.

Vegan leather—also referred to as “leatherette,” pleather, vinyl, or faux leather—is made from plastics covering a fabric base that is then treated and colored to look just like a tanned animal hide. Not just apparel, but also furniture upholstery and accessories (handbags, shoes, luggage, etc.) can be made from vegan leather. PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a petroleum-based plastic, or its more modern friend PU (polyurethane) are the plastics used for vegan leather. The versatility of fake leather offers an infinite array of patterns, grains, and colors possible. It has the same look and feel as real leather, making it hard for the average consumer to distinguish between the two. Despite these pros, vegan leather is way less durable and cannot be easily recycled. The fabric also has the same uncomfortable properties as the real deal, such as no breathability or stretch. While animal rights activists boast the virtues of faux leather since it doesn’t involve killing animals, environmental activists retort with the fact that fake leather still exploits natural resources, is not biodegradable, and the release of harmful chemicals as a byproduct of its production will in turn harm humans and animals down the line. We may not be killing animals to make the fabric itself, but once that fabric has polluted water supply and drilled into ecosystems for petroleum, animals will still be affected. On the brighter side, various manufacturers have been experimenting with newer vegetable oilbased leathers, which research shows may resolve both ethical and environmental concerns. Some promising alternatives include Pinatex (pineapple fibers), leaf leather, recycled rubber, and coconut fibers. In the age of innovation and technology that we are in, hopefully one of these alternatives will become the new standard. So, should you stay on the vegan leather train? After examining both options, the answer is still not so concrete. If we want to know the ingredients of what we eat, we should want to know the ingredients that go into what we wear. When looking into purchasing a product with real leather or fur, do as much research as you can on where it was sourced. If you’re lucky, the brand will be transparent on where they get their animal leather, especially where all parts of the animal (meat & skin) are used. It may be pricey at first purchase, but compared to the faux alternative, real leather will last you a lifetime.

Writers

Mode Magazine Contributors

Emily Abate, Renee Agostini, Anna Aversa, Mira Balsam, Katelyn Benzinger, Japnour Bhasin, Tori Broadbent, Melissa Brugmann, Nina Carbone, Conor Cary, Zhane Coleman, Katie Crist, Natalia Cruz, John Cugel, Julia Daigle, Gracie Davis, Emma Dawson, Patrick DeCrescenzo, Carson DeLasho, Daniella DeYoung, Amanda Dhanai, Maya Dominguez, Max Durante, Charlotte Falvey, Quinn Fantozzi, Emma Foley, Anna Gaylord, Caroline Gleason, Mila Grgas, Christine Han, Audrey Johnston, Eleanor Keyes, Emily Knight, Paige Kowal, Grace Kubelka, Julia Lapaj, Grace McCarty, Christina Muraskas, Olivia Nast, Stephen Pastore, Julia Patterson, Maggie Peknic, Mia Pollack, Jessica Poulos, Hailey Pryor, Bella Reilly, Alexandra Reinold, Karla Reinoso, Gil Roberts, Caleb Rocha, Grace Rooney, Bella Sabino, Monica Santiago, Sarah Shanahan, Maya Shetty, Claire Silverberg, Ryan Sophie Smith, Alexa Stegmuller, Angelina Sun, James Tampellini, Anita Tataj, Frannie Vena-Pedersen, Olivia Vizza, Lena Weinkauf, Carson Waldron, Samantha Wu

Photographers

Models

Paige Aloise, Ashley Alvarez, Elise Anstey, Gibson Borelli, Hannah Bradford, Conor Cary, Lauren Cassot, Gino Catalano, Maya Dominguez, Kathryn Dougherty, Max Durante, Enxhi Hajdarmataj, Emma Higgins, Alexis Hong-Domingue, Elisabeth Murray, Mia Pollack, Claire Reynolds, Gil Roberts, Olivia Vizza

Emily Abate, Katelyn Benzinger, Claire Bickel, Kate Blackwell, Nina Boggan, Maddie Boone, Tori Broadbent, Melissa Brugmann, Nina Carbone, Conor Cary, Chiebuka Chioke, Zhane Coleman, Natalia Cruz, John Cugel, Emma Dawson, Daniella DeYoung, Amanda Dhanai, Maya Dominguez, Mikey Duffy, Quinn Fantozzi, Carsyn Fisher, Sarah Flaherty, Ava Galante, Riya Goel, Gabrielle Gonzales, Enxhi Hajdarmataj, Becca Hall, Christine Han, Cameron Huber, Audrey Johnston, Eleanor Keyes, Emily Knight, Paige Kowal, Mia Kroeger, Grace Kubelka, Gracie Kunik, Deirdre Merritt, Jacqueline Moran, Paige Pandolfo, Stephen Pastore, Samantha Petruzzelli, Jessie Ponce, Jessica Poulos, Hailey Pryor, Madison Rhoad, Caleb Rocha, Bella Sabino, Monica Santiago, Gaby Simporios, Ryan Smith, Carson Waldron, Lena Weinkauf, Samantha Wu

Stylists

Katelyn Benzinger, Gibson Borelli, Melissa Brugmann, Lauren Cassot, Chiebuka Chioke, John Cugel, Emma Dawson, Charlotte Falvey, Erin Foley, Anna Gaylord, Caroline Gleason, Gabrielle Gonzales, Enxhi Hajdarmataj, Becca Hall, Christine Han, Stephanie James Leon, Casey Martin, Rachita Mehta, Paige Pandolfo, Jessie Ponce, Hailey Pryor, Karla Reinoso, Madison Rhoad, Olivia Roberts, Amanda Sabillon, Monica Santiago, Carson Waldron,

Layout Team

Anna Aversa-Goodman, Maddie Boone, Tori Broadbent, Gino Catalano, Prutha Chavan, Zhane Coleman, Natalie Conte, Gracie Davis, Sophie Dreskin, Mikey Duffy, Abby Dziura, Emma Foley, Erin Foley, Caroline Gleason, Becca Hall, Emily Knight, Jessica Laemle, Julia Lapaj, Emily Malacane, Deirdre Merritt, Paige Pandolfo, Stephen Pastore, Maggie Peknic, Jeffrey Pelayo, Samantha Petruzzelli, Hailey Pryor, Claire Reynolds, Madison Rhoad, Claire Silverberg, Alexa Stegmuller, Carson Waldron, Lena Weinkauf

Artists

Prutha Chavan, Carson DeLasho, Grace McCarty

Assistants

Copy Editors

Emily Knight, Grace Kubelka, Casey Martin, McCarty, Cassidy Murphy, Claire Silverberg

Elise Anstey (Photographer), Prutha Chavan (Layout), Audrey Johnston (Social Media), Stephen Pastore (Layout), Mia Pollack (Social Media)

Grace