Hoot Magazine: Spring/Summer 2012

MELISSA DE LA CRUZ BESTSELLING AUTHOR REFLECTS ON COLUMBIA

EXCLUSIVE

THE MOST WEARABLE SPRING TRENDS AND MORE: + FASHION AND THE LAW

CHRISTINA MENTAL HEALTH ON CAMPUS BINKLEY OF THE MORNINGSIDE EATERIES WSJ ON FASHION TO TRY JOURNALISM

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Interview with a Stylish Student Kai Johnson, CC ‘15, dishes on her bright winter look

CU Closets Check out other Columbians’ enviable wardrobes!

Fashion Week See exclusive New York Fashion Week coverage

Table of Contents

In This Issue

5

Letter from the Editor

6

Contributor Q&A

7

Hot @ Hoot

52

Hoot Shops

Features 8

Marlena Holter: The Student

Novels by Melissa de la Cruz. Photo by Damian Bao.

Skater 9

Behind the Scenes and

On-Screen 10 Signature Soles 12 Eco-Friendly Shopping

53 Spring/Summer 2012 Trends

13 Dressing for Class

Health + Beauty

15 One Man’s Sale is Another

38 Cosmic Catastrophies

42 Making Mental Health a

Man’s Treasure

16 Christina Binkley: Is Fashion

Priority

Serious?

44 Beauty that Gives Back

30 Cover Story: Melissa de la Cruz

45 Extreme Hair

Fashion

A&E

18 Fanciful Air

46 City Musings

25 Stark Contrast

47 Lincoln Center

36 New York Fall/Winter 2012

48 The Art and the Artist

50 Food for Thought

Fashion Week Street Style

HOOT www.hootmag.org

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Masthead Editor in Chief Anna Cooperberg, CC’12 Secretary & Managing Editor Shelby Maniccia, BC’14 Creative Director Michele Levbarg-Klein, CC’12 Style Director Vivian Luo, CC’12 Menswear Director Martin Hamery, CC’13 Beauty + Health Director Jina Lim, CC’13 Art + Design Director Hannah Keiler, CC’14 Features Director Julián Mancías, CC’12 Arts + Entertainment Director Nicole Estevez, CC’13 Copy Chief Katie Lee, CC’14 Public Relations Director & Publisher Nam Phatraprasit, CC’14 Photo Editor Rubii Pham, CC’14 Blog Editors Olivia Aylmer, BC’15 & Esther Jung, BC’15 Web Editor Eric Wong, CC’15 Treasurer Donia Abdelaziz, CC’12

FASHION

Assistants Lydia Ding, CC’13 Alex Memmi, BC’14

STYLE

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Writers Emma Goss, BC’15 Sasha Henriques, BC’15 Kelly Lane, CC’15 Amanda Tien, CC’14

Assistants Julia Baum, BC’15 Asia Carter, BC’15 Olivia Domba, BC’14 Rebecca Kobert, BC’15

Health Editor: Nora Mueller, BC’15 Beauty Editor: Stephanie Balakrishnan, CC’15 Writer: Mariana Orbay, BC’15

MENSWEAR

ART & DESIGN

Writer: Andrew Gonzalez, CC’15 Assistant: Andre’ Fuqua, SEAS’15

FEATURES

Writers Sasha Henriques, CC’15 Kelila Kahane, BC’14 Aliza Narin, BC’15 Maitland Quitmeyer, BC’14 Copy Editors Emma Goss, BC’15 Rebecca Kobert, BC’15 Dana Melanz, GS’14 Andrew Morrow, CC’14 Hilary Price, GS’15 Bianca Sanon, CC’14 Tiana Takenaga, CC’14 Hannah C. Tippett, BC’14

BLOG

Contributors Serena Board, BC’15 Lydia Ding, CC’13 Emma Goss, BC’15 Angel Jiang, CC’15 Caroline Lange, BC’15 Krista Anna Lewis, BC’15 Harrison Liew, CC’15 Shriya Manian, SEAS’15 Maitland Quitmeyer, BC’14 Emilia Shaffer-Del Valle, CC’15 Tiana Stute, BC’15

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Editors Alejandra Arrue, BC’14 Jade Bonacota, BC’15 Amy Fu, SEAS’15 Mora Grehl, BC’15 Anna Hippee, BC’15 Esther Kim, BC’14 Grace Kim, CC’15 Nora Mueller, BC’15 Yael Wiesenfield, CC’14

PUBLIC RELATIONS & PUBLISHING Assistants Gin Burapachaisri, BC’15 Jessica Chen, SEAS’14 Xuan-wei Chew, CC’15 April Chye, CC’14 Tia Douglas, BC’15 Ariel Fan, BC’14 Ashley Kim, BC’15 Jun Jun Lau, CC’14 Alexandra Mitchell, BC’15 Fay Surya, BC’15 Pravina Truog, BC’15 Ashley Wiscovitch, BC’15 Jennifer Xiong, SEAS’15

PHOTO

Assistants Asia Carter, BC’15 Pravitra Chaikulngamdee, SEAS’14 Elizabeth Williams, BC’15

Editor’s Letter

Letter

from the Editor

W

hy is it a problem that intelligent people are interested in fashion or even work in the fashion industry? This question comes up over and over in this issue of Hoot, and is an especially pertinent issue at Columbia, of all places. When many of us mention Hoot as an extracurricular, we get baffled stares in return—from friends and parents alike.

We all like fashion and some of us even want to work in the industry, but it is not our life. The stereotype of “fashion girl” (or boy!) is one that fellow students too often label us—just because we like wearing leopard flats or piles of necklaces to a 9:10 a.m. discussion section. Writer Maitland Quitmeyer discusses this topic in her article “Dressing for Class,” in which she argues that we dress up because we like to see and be seen. This point may be true, but we also dress for ourselves; as Quitmeyer points out, finding a signature style is one manifestation of the self-discovery process.

Christina Binkley, JN’90 and style columnist for The Wall Street Journal, poses the question “Is Fashion Serious?” in an article this issue. She writes that fashion is considered a frivolous subject by the general public, and goes on to describe her experience shifting from a traditional journalist to one specializing in fashion—a subject that is full of interesting and rich topics. It is a reality that remains unseen by the layperson, as what he/she knows about the industry is more often than not dictated by the blogosphere and fashion reality shows on television.

Our cover star, Melissa de la Cruz, CC’93, has gone through this experience first hand being on the founding team of Columbia’s first-ever fashion magazine, MODE. She and the group of Columbia and Barnard students who began MODE saw no reason why intelligent students could not be interested in fashion, and they produced a magazine that honed their passions. She went on to freelance write for a variety of fashion magazines, is now the author of multiple fiction series for young adults, and still has an interest in the fashion industry that goes deeper than trend knowledge.

Editors and models relax after shooting for Hoot.

This issue is a testament to the many interests of the Hoot staff. We have photo shoots that beautifully showcase fun prints, but we also have an article on student groups working to improve mental health on campus by Jina Lim, and an investigation into color trademarks by Kelila Kahane. Our Arts & Entertainment section reveals fun eateries near campus and shows us hidden corners of Lincoln Center.

Next semester will be an exciting time for Hoot, as many members of our executive team, including myself, are graduating in May. Nicole Estevez, currently A & E Director, will take on the role of Editor-in-Chief, and I have full confidence that she will take the magazine in exciting directions with her characteristic steady hand, enthusiasm and creativity. Please join me in congratulating her!

This issue would not be possible without a sponsorship from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and our advertisers. We are so grateful for your help.

Editor in Chief

HOOT www.hootmag.org

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Q&A:

2. Which spring trend are you most excited to try?

3. Which blogs do you visit frequently?

4. What’s your guilty summer pleasure?

A&E Writer, Blog Writer and Copy Editor

Sasha Henriques, BC’15

Emma Goss, BC’15

1. The Great Journey: American in Paris by David McCullough. It’s about American artists of the mid to late 1800’s living in Paris.

2. I love the coral and sea-foam skinnies. They’re so playful and eye-catching! I’ll pair them with a white blazer and flats for a sophisticated but casual look.

3. I blog for HuffPost in my free time, and I also love Yahoo OMG!, Fab4Music, and the Urban Outfitters blog which has tons of NYC style tips.

4. Roasting s’mores on the beach at night. It’s a timeless tradition that I don’t think I’ll ever outgrow.

Features and A&E Writer

1. Norwegian Wood and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

by Haruki Murakami 2. I’m aching to find a peplum skirt, and something about the new tangerine color-trend is so wild and catchy.

3. I’m a Tumblr fiend in general, but I love updating my own blog, whatthesasha.tumblr.com.

4. Give me a good book, a sunny day and a hammock, and I’m a happy girl.

A&E Writer

Tiana Takenaga, CC ‘14

Andrew Morrow, CC ‘14

Kelly Lane, CC ’15

1. I can’t wait to finally read Paris, My Sweet by Amy Thomas! I hope to study in Paris, and the book is about the writer’s transition from NYC to Paris.

2. I’m so excited to try mint, because Gaga said it would be very big in fashion this spring!

3. I love looking at the tumblrs for Feminist Ryan Gosling and Awesome People Reading-- check them out if you haven’t!

4. My friends and I go out for ice cream… every night… at least once… shamelessly.

Copy Editor

1. Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin by John D’Emilio. Rustin was an influential gay civil rights leader, marginalized by some of his own contemporaries.

2. Bright colors! I just bought a pair of high-top, aqua sneakers that I can’t wait to debut! And I’m always a fan of anything sheer, regardless of trends.

3. I love TheStarvingStylist.com, and my friend Bianca’s blog, TheFancyClown.com, is a personal favorite, too.

4. Live music. There’s nothing I love more than a good concert, and I have a few in mind already, including Regina Spektor. First up, though? Beyoncé!

Copy Editor

1. I am on a mission to read all of the original Grimm stories.

2. I’m really excited to explore the color tangerine. It’s super bold and is a great transition color into the summer season.

3. I’m a pop culture junkie, so Perez Hilton is my all time favorite. I have too many favorite fashion blogs to choose just one.

4. Being really lazy. This includes hitting up the gourmet food trucks in LA and hosting movie marathons with my friends.

Select Contributor Biographies

{

edited by julián mancías

1. What do you plan to read this summer?

Hot @ Hoot

Hot

@ Hoot

Our directors share their must-haves for the summer season.

Lancome Tresor in Love, $34 at Lancome

Cooperative T-Strap Wedge $59 at Urban Outfitters

Spraying this perfume every morning makes me feel fresh and ready for the day. It’s long-lasting power and light scent make it perfect for every occasion!

Every summer I buy a new pair of strappy sandals.

I love these because of their pretty pastel colors and how great they look with shorts or sundresses.

- Nam Phatraprasit , Public Relations Director & Publisher

- Hannah Keiler, Art & Design Director

House of Harlow 1960 Robyn Sunglasses, $138 at Urban Outfitters In a season of legs, shoulders, knees, and toes, these sunglasses are a glamorous way protect your peepers.

Their retro lines make all outfits instantly chic.

- Donia Abdelaziz, Treasurer Mossimo Floral Rain Anorak, $35 at Target Don’t forget to pick out the perfect prints for rain gear to get you through spring showers! This hooded anorak is super wallet-friendly, convenient and bursting with fun.

- Vivian Luo, Style Director

COVERGIRL & Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation, $15 at COVERGIRL This foundation is my goto item - it creates a clean palette to experiment with funky eye make-up, evens out my skin tone, and acts as an under-eye concealer!

- Shelby Maniccia, Secretary & Managing Editor Golden Glow Face Color, $35 at Trish McEvoy A few sweeps of this bronzer-blush duo is perfect for achieving a natural, summer glow.

- Katie Lee, Copy Chief

HOOT www.hootmag.org

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Marlena Holter: The Student Skater A talented first-year keeps her cool both on and off the ice by aliza narin

F

or first-year Barnard student Marlena Holter, going to class is not the first or even second thing she does each morning. She starts her day by riding the subway to Central Park, skating on Wollman Rink, and taking a refreshing shower—all before 9 a.m. biology class. Since she was five years old, Holter has been a synchronized figure skater, part of a team of people who skate in unison, performing as one flowing unit.

“I remember sitting in front of my TV as a five-year-old watching Tara Lipinski win her first gold medal. At that moment, it hit me; I knew I wanted to be a skater. So, I began ice skating with friends, and what started out as a hobby quickly became so, so much more,” Holter explains.

Holter ice skates for the Skyliners Synchronized Skating Team, a nationally ranked New York figure skating team that is an official member of Team USA. Holter skates six days per week. On the seventh, she is usually in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut competing with the Skyliners. They have been ranked Team USA 1 for the past two years and are currently the fifth best synchronized skating team in the world, making Holter one of the highest ranked synchronized skaters today.

However, Holter is not only a skater. She is also a student who does not let her talent come before her schoolwork. “It’s all about balance. I have a lot to do and not a lot of time, so being organized is very important. I map out my activities for each hour of the day, and make sure to complete all my work a couple of days in advance. I go to bed

every night by eleven and set a few nights a week free to spend with friends.”

Holter’s school and skating goals are greater than ever. She is following the rigorous pre-med track at Barnard College, hoping one day to go to medical school and become a doctor. In addition, synchronized skating will be formally introduced as a sport in the 2014 Winter Olympics. If the United States is chosen to be a part of that introduction, Holter and her teammates will most likely be invited to compete, bringing her dream full circle. It’s an exciting possibility, and in the meantime Marlena Holter works hard, skates just as hard, and does it all with determination, grace and a smile.

The Skyliners perform for the Moncler Grenoble Fall/Winter 2012 show at New York Fashion Week. Photo

by Evening Song

Features

Behind the Scenes and On-Screen Into the Gloss and the rise of fashion blogging by sasha henriques

E

veryone has a morning routine.

Whether it is spritzing on a certain perfume, doing a few minutes of meditative yoga, or choosing the perfect shade of lipstick to complement a new top, it sets the tone for the entire day.

Emily Weiss reveals the ultrapersonal morning beauty routines of fashion industry insiders on her blog, Into the Gloss, offering a glimpse into what would otherwise remain hidden from the public eye. Launched in September of 2010 with weekly posts, it has now developed a large amount of readers who clamor to browse through beauty secrets from industry experts, reviews of the latest products and trends, and even backstage shots of runway shows in progress.

A typical post on Weiss’ blog involves several pictures and an interview, which offer personal insight into the life of an editor, model, writer, beauty specialist or stylist. Their personalities truly shine through their comments and descriptions of their beauty routines. These individuals, otherwise defined by their successful careers, are brought down to earth in the eyes of Weiss’ readers. Perhaps the blog has become so popular because readers can relate to these featured individuals. Whether their “top shelves”

contain the same products, or they have similar morning routines, readers ultimately find themselves becoming part of the industry through comparison.

Into the Gloss demonstrates how voyeuristic blogging has quickly risen in popularity, and has no sign of leaving the scene anytime soon.

Those wishing for a virtual backstage pass, the latest product reviews, or an interview with a favorite supermodel embrace this growing trend of exploring the fashion world online. The blogging platform allows for quick access, instead of waiting for print. A large part of the appeal is that blogs are individualized, often based on personal perspectives and experiences, which draws in younger readers looking for diversified opinions.

There is something undeniably real about not only Into the Gloss, but fashion blogging in general. These blogs help readers understand what happens behind the scenes and what it takes to mold themselves into the definition of modern beauty. As we can see from Weiss’ blog and those she interviews, it is what we put on the outside that determines what we think about ourselves on the inside. We do not wear our makeup for the world; we wear it for ourselves.

Check out the closets of fashion insiders with these like-minded blogs: The Coveteur thecoveteur.com StyleLikeU stylelikeu.com

Photos courtesy of Into the Gloss

HOOT www.hootmag.org

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Signature Soles Louboutin, YSL and the Color Conundrum

by kelila kahane

I

t is difficult to deny the existence of signature colors in fashion: Tiffany & Co. is known for robin egg blue, Valentino for bright red, and Hermès for “Hermès” orange. A color may signify a brand, but can the brand actually trademark a color? Christian Louboutin seems to think so. This question is at the heart of the lawsuit that has unfolded over the past year between French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent and French footwear designer Christian Louboutin. The two brands have entered into eleven months of debate over the red soles YSL introduced in its Resort 2011 collection.

Photo by Kelila Kahane

This question of trademarking color is at the heart of the lawsuit which has unfolded over the past year

On April 8, 2011, Christian Louboutin sued YSL for trademark infringement. Louboutin asserted that the red-soled shoes YSL featured in its 2011 Resort collection too strongly resembled his trademarked red soles, and requested an injunction to stop the shoes from being sold. YSL responded to the accusations by asserting that color cannot be trademarked and that Louboutin’s 2008 trademark on his red-soled shoes was illegitimate. In the court papers published

by British Vogue, YSL remarks, “Red outsoles are a commonly used ornamental design feature in footwear, dating as far back as the red shoes worn by King Louis XIV and the ruby red shoes that carried Dorothy home in The Wizard of Oz.” While Dorothy’s soles may not have been red (if I recall correctly, it was the body of her shoes which were ruby) YSL was correct in thinking that Louboutin may not be able to claim a trademark on a color alone.

Features

The laws governing color trademark are complex. There is evidence of trademarking colors in the fashion industry when such colors are combined with other features such as a monogram, a distinct pattern or a combination of shades. For example, Burberry’s classic plaid, Goyard’s interlocking chevron pattern and Louis Vuitton’s “LV” monogram are all trademarked. But, outside of the realm of fashion, certain colors are in fact protected under trademark law. Some examples of trademarked color include the brown used by United Parcel Service (UPS) for its trucks and uniforms, the purple on a wrapper of Cadbury chocolate, the orange on the handles of a pair of Fiskars scissors, and the green used by Starbucks for its barista aprons and other paraphernalia.

However, on August 11, 2011, Federal Judge Victor Marrero denied Louboutin’s request to place an injunction on sales of the YSL red-soled shoe. Marrero asserted that Louboutin was not able to prove that his red soles deserved trademark protection. Color trademark is granted for specific purposes, which make it procurable for some brands but not for others. For UPS and Cadbury, their trademarks serve to ensure that no other shipping company or candy brand can produce lookalikes. Such color trademarks serve the purpose of protecting a brand’s identity as signified by a particular color.

However, when the color serves other purposes as well, purposes that contribute to the item’s function and not just its recognisability, trademarks be-

come more difficult to obtain. In fashion, colors will always serve a function greater than recognisability since they contribute to aesthetic beauty. In fashion, an item’s ability to please the eye is central to its function. Explains Judge Marrero in the court papers, “Because in the fashion industry color serves ornamental and aesthetic functions vital to robust competition, the court finds that Louboutin is unlikely to be able to prove that its red outsole brand is entitled to trademark protection.”

Trademark infringement has an ever-unraveling history in the fashion world. Diane von Furstenberg, Trovata and Anna Sui have filed over fifty lawsuits against Forever 21, claiming that it had copied their designs in areas such as button placement, embroidered stitching and fabric patterns.

Many of the lawsuits were lost, revealing a pattern that favors the copier and disfavors the copied.

This lawsuit and many others have raised questions about fashion law. Adam Goodman, a Harvard Law student who has researched the issue, comments, “The lawsuit is symptomatic of what some would call a gap in the law. Designs are not entitled to copyright protection, but may be entitled to trademark protection.” Goodman refers to the fact that unlike art or music, shoes and apparel cannot legally receive a copyright because they are deemed “useful articles.” Thus, they can only be protected under trademark law. Goodman explains, “Designers like Louboutin are incentivized to pre-

sent their legal arguments under the rubric of trademark law.”

The legalities of what can or should fall under that rubric are unclear to all parties involved. Determined to protect his trademarked red soles, Louboutin appealed the court’s decision. The court met and debated the issue in several hearings all through January and February 2012. However, there is still no final decision on whether to uphold Marrero’s denial to grant the injunction. Goodman notes, “given how close Congress has come in recent years to providing fashion designers with copyright protection, this is definitely a live issue.”

The Louboutin-YSL case raises questions about larger issues that stem from the nature of fashion itself. In an arena like fashion, how do we determine what counts as “copying?”

Fashion centers on reference and innovation; motifs are rarely new. Rather, they tend to be creative twists on the old. Designers draw on the past for inspiration whether from other forms of art, other countries, or even other designers. Just as there is a fine line between reference and copying, legally there must be a fine line between legislation that protects designers from being copied and legislation that stunts creativity. Whether we will walk that line in YSL’s or red-soled Louboutins remains to be seen.

HOOT www.hootmag.org

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Eco-Friendly Shopping A guide to choosing clothing that keeps the environment in mind by aliza narin

W

ith the rise of the discussion of climate change, increasing pollution levels and humans’ carbon footprint in the last few years, there has been an influx of people looking for a way to cut down and become more eco-friendly. These attempts have spread across many sectors, reaching the electricity, energy and food industries. The eco-friendly discussion has extended to something so simple its daily importance is almost forgotten to many: clothing. With a growing concern for the impact that the manufacturing and distribution of clothing has on the environment, how can one look good and still be green?

Apparel products.” This line of cloth

Students shop at Hoot’s very first clothing swap in November 2010.

Photo by Anna Cooperberg

ing includes men and women’s t-shirts and underwear, women’s dresses, baby clothing and more.

Another great way to achieve a more sustainable lifestyle is by buying previously owned clothing.

Finding these hidden gems is not always an easy feat, but a half-block away from the 125th Street subway station at 52 Tiemann Place lies a vintage shop conveniently called Columbia U Consignment. It makes discovering pre-owned pieces fun and easy for the customer. Styled like a boutique, this consignment shop carries a variety of designs from numerous and unique eras in fashion, making it the perfect place to browse.

By shopping here, one opts for clothing that is inexpensive, has a fun history, and is good for the environment.

How can one look good and still be green?

Wandering around Morningside Heights, one is sure to find some quick and fun solutions to buying eco-friendly clothing.. On Broadway between 109th and 110th Streets, American Apparel sells organic clothing made of materials that are free of chemicals or genetically modified seeds, and comply with organic cultural standards. The brand has created a line called “Sustainable Edition,” which is described as, “a selection of our most popular styles in 100% USDA certified organic cotton, with the same comfort and sex appeal as all American

friendly shopping does not have to

Even though organic styles can come with a heftier price tag, eco-

break the bank. Clothing swaps are a great way to attain a cool, new wardrobe for free, and give away some of those items one put away during spring cleaning, but could not throw away. Swaps have been trending among A-listers tired of their designer acquisitions and aspiring fashionistas hoping to score some. Hoot hosted a clothing swap on Columbia’s campus last semester and in previous years, but if you missed them, do not fret. They occur frequently in cities all over the country and can easily be signed up for and attended through clothing swap meet-up groups online. And do not forget: one woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure!

Features

Dressing for Class Why do we dress up just to trek across campus? by maitland quitmeyer

C

ollege provides an environment that perfectly blends individuality, and shared tastes and trends. Despite all that is accessible on the Internet, our best inspiration still lies in our peers. Cassie Hartnett, BC ’14, finds sartorial inspiration in her friends. “I told a friend I didn’t think I could ever pull off the great boots she was wearing, but she said just to go for it with confidence. So I did, and she was totally right; the boots are great,” she says.

We swap necklaces, styling tips and our favorite online resources.

My everyday red lipstick, after many recommendations, found its way onto the lips of my friends, and I developed a newfound taste for J. Crew fisherman sweaters. I had anxieties that my short stature would be drowned in a maxi skirt until I saw a petite and chic student pass by, skirts wafting around her ankles.

on campus, I did not account for 9 a.m. biology. Rubbing my weary eyes and pressing the power button on my coffee maker at 8:50 a.m., I barely have time to throw on leggings and a sweater. I insert three well-placed bobby pins in my hair to turn it from sleep bun to strategically messy topknot. But such is college life; I do not always look fashionable, but I always look like me. And when someone stops me in the elevator and tells me my dress is fabulous, that is just an added bonus.

Check out Hoot’s blog for more student style! hootmag.org

We dress for class because we like to see and be seen. School is our home and our social environment, and we dress the way we want to be perceived. The New York Times Style section featured Columbia undergraduates last fall when discussing the current trend for college students to “dress to impress.”

But college style is not restricted to vintage bags, high-heeled booties and checking The Sartorialist. Some students are more practical. Alex Park, SEAS ’13, comments, “I wear the first thing in my closet I see that isn’t too crappy.” And some days I do just that.

When I made a pre-freshman resolution to myself to dress stylishly HOOT www.hootmag.org

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e l a S s ’ n a M e n OIs Another Man’s Treasure

Features

A thrift shopping guide for students by andrew gonzales

BEACON’S CLOSET Beacon’s Closet offers a wide array of clothing that men can sift through while dwelling in the nostalgia of styles from the 70s, 80s and 90s. Items range from coats to button down oxford and plaid shirts to high top Nikes. The men’s collection is expansive, located in the western wing of the store, and feeds the creative imagination of someone looking to change or alter his style.

Not only does Beacon’s offer variety, it also endorses shoppers looking to add to the store’s inventory—allowing for the recycling of fashionable goods and the purchasing of newer, less tired pieces. Upon arrival, customers are welcomed by a row of mannequins styled in the latest quirky and modern apparel bought from other customers.

Through this form of advertisement, shoppers can get a great feel for current items and trends available for thrifting.

Beacon’s closet is located at 88 N 11th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 92 5th Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn; and 10 W 13th Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan.

Buffalo Exchange All photos by Alan De Leon Taverna

No Relation

BUFFALO EXCHANGE Attracting a young clientele, Buffalo Exchange offers an equally varied collection of seasonal and trending garments. Buffalo, however, offers less “vintage” and more “thrift,” as seen in its assortment of cardigans, t-shirts and name brand apparel. One might find pieces from H&M and American Apparel, as opposed to the older garments found at Beacon’s. Men can also find nicer, more tailored blazers, jackets, and coats, as well as boots, jeans and professional slacks. Similar to Beacon’s Closet, Buffalo Exchange offers monetary reimbursement for shoppers willing to sell unique items pertaining to the upcoming season’s trends.

Shoppers can also acquire store credit by selling their own clothing or trading items in exchange for pieces in the store. Buffalo Exchange operates from three locations in the city: 504 Driggs Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 332 E 11th Street, East Village, Manhattan; and 114 W 26th Street, Chelsea, Manhattan.

No Relation

NO RELATION If you are looking specifically for something of “vintage” quality, No Relation showcases an impressive collection of sports jerseys and coats, army jackets, plaid shirts, sweaters and loafers. While Buffalo Exchange offers a more “modern” collection, and Beacon’s offers a mix of both modern and vintage, customers will not find items from Urban Outfitters at No Relation— rather, older pieces as if from their dad’s closet. The benefit of shopping at No Relation is simple: the prices will not burn a hole in your pocket, and you will leave with garments and accessories you might not find at a more popular retail store. These items are one of a kind because of the genuine vintage quality sold at a agreeable prices. No Relation is located at 204 1st Avenue, East Village, Manhattan, where customers can also learn about affiliated secondhand garment vendors around the city.

HOOT www.hootmag.org

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Is Fashion Serious?

The Wall Street Journal’s style columnist writes about moving from hard news to fashion writing and tells us why the business of clothing is not frivolous by christina binkley

“You? Write about fashion?”

There is only one way to account for the looks of shock among friends and colleagues as they learned of my latest assignment: They were being honest.

Journalism is not for the faint of heart. As a student at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, I envisioned covering wars and poverty. I never imagined sitting among the tight cadre of editors who attend fashion shows and write about the latest trends in Milan. Yet after 20 years as a reporter covering real estate scams, the hotel business and gambling— and having written a book about several Las Vegas moguls—I was offered a job that many people aspire to from childhood. I was ambivalent.

frivolous one. It lacks the gravitas of politics or science, and further suffers from over-coverage in the celebrity media. Does any serious person honestly care about this season’s skirt lengths?

(Yes, but let’s get to that later.)

Certainly, my employer, The Wall Street Journal, had not covered such subjects in the past. But all that changed back in 2007 when I found myself the paper’s first fashion columnist, in my 12th year with the paper.

How did it happen? An editor

At first, I did.

I have never experienced such terror as sitting in a Paris fashion show with a deadline looming. I had never heard of many of the designers, and the clothes looked too weird for any real consumer. Seen in the flesh, the models’ boney bodies were creepy. I lacked a historical frame of reference to recognize new trends, and was so poorly sourced that the teams of protective publicists tried to block my access to anyone meaningful.

Journalism saved me. Anyone who thinks fashion is merely a woman’s subject should ask a male investment banker what he is planning to wear to the meeting where he will nail the deal. Many men fuss about clothes with spectacular, if secretive, vigor. Frivolous? The inhabitants of corner offices in executive suites all over the world, regardless of gender, tend to give extraordinary attention to the details of their wardrobes—all part of staying on message.

There are myriad fruitful

The explosion of new media... has reinforced stereotypes about fashion as a frivolous subject

As a subject for significant journalism, fashion has little in its favor. It is traditionally considered a woman’s subject, and consequently, a

had asked me to test drive a Ferrari. I owned a Subaru. The resulting article bordered on comic. An editor, in dire need of a fashion columnist, thought I should write about more subjects about which I knew nothing. When the job was announced, a colleague asked if I would miss “serious journalism.”

Features

subjects in the producers of clothing and textiles—a lacemaker in northern France, a wool weaver in the Italian Alps, a garment startup in Atlanta.

Bamboo fabric is not as “green” as it is promoted to be. J. Crew buys fabric from some of the most famous Italian luxury houses. Italian families work hard to pass their garment factories on to the next generation, while competing with China and Vietnam. These are fashion stories.

And yes, I have chronicled Kanye West’s extremely ill-advised first attempt as a designer in Paris, and detailed Dries Van Noten’s extraordinary spring prints.

Unfortunately, the explosion of new media and fashion blogs in the past five years has reinforced stereotypes about fashion as a frivolous subject, even as they spurred the fashion business to new heights of public awareness.

Some of the worst of these blogs breathlessly track the appearance of celebrities in various brands’ clothes. Without context such as where the clothes came from (were they freebies? Were the celebrities paid to appear in them?), these items purport to be news while they are simply another cog in the brands’ marketing machines, offering little to edify anyone.

It is easy to see how people land in these traps, though. Much about fashion is worth loving. As serious as it is, it is also just plain fun. I can attest to that. Though my wallet is the thinner for it since taking this job, my wardrobe has improved immeasurably.

There are many informative and serious blogs and Twitterers on fashion. Many of them are exploring style around the edges, asking how hoodies impact stereotypes about African Americans in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s killing, for instance.

But a great many others serve merely to promote luxury brands, while yet another genre simply blows air kisses at cute outfits. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between a fashion blog and an online sales site.

Sometimes the difference is deliberately blurry.

Illustra tion b y Yael W iesenfe

ld

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FANCIFUL AIR Geoff: shirt, NINH Collection; pants, vintage Giorgio Armani.

Ashley: blazer and skirt, Zara.

Menswear Stylist: Martin Hamery Womenswear Stylist: Michele Levbarg-Klein Menswear Assistant: Andre’ Fuqua Photographer: Camille Knop Hair & Makeup: Ivanka Lova Models: Ashley Wiscovitch, Lara Andersson, Frederick Havemeyer, Geoffrey Hahn

Fashion

On Ashley: dress, Zara; shoes, Steve Madden. On Fred: blazer, Shipley & Halmos; pants, Levi’s; shirt, Saks Fifth Avenue; slippers, Stubbs & Wootton; sunglasses, Ray Ban. On Lara: dress, Zara; hat, stylist’s own.

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Left to right. On Ashley: dress, Theyskens’ Theory; shoes, BCBG Max Azria. On Fred: tuxedo, Alexander McQueen; shirt, Polo Ralph Lauren; shoes, Brooks Brothers. On Geoff: shirt, Nordstrom; pants, vintage Giorgio Armani. On Lara: dress, Club Monaco; shoes, model’s own.

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Shirts, pants and vests, NINH Collection; Geoff’s boots, JeanMichel Cazabat; Fred’s boots, 7 For All Mankind; “Duffie” travel bag, Diesel.

On Lara: gown, Missoni. On Fred: blazer, Etro; pants, Alexander McQueen; shirt, stylists’s own.

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Fashion

stark

contrast

Model: Nora Mueller Photography, styling, makeup:Rubii Pham Hair: Pravitra Chaikulngamdee Assistants: Asia Carter, Elizabeth Williams

This spring, try out two deliciously different trends: sleek separates in clean white, and clashing prints in bright hues.

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Top, Zara, $60. Shorts, Zara, $40. Bangle, stylist’s own.

Blazer and shorts, Lulus. com. Top, H&M. Earrings, ASOS. HOOT www.hootmag.org

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Top, H&M. Pants, H&M. Ring, Pamela Love.

Shoes, model’s own.

Bra, H&M. Pants, H&M. Earrings, stylist’s own.

Shoes, model’s own.

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Dress, The Row. Ring, Cartier.

Cover Story

Melissa z u r C de la

The Columbia alum and New York Times bestselling author reflects on her time at Columbia, her career and her inspiration

“

“With fashion, [the question] is always, is it okay for smart people to be interested in it? And we thought, ‘Of course! You know, why not?’” I am chatting with Melissa de la Cruz, CC’93 and young adult author extraordinaire. She has written multiple series, among them The Au Pairs, The Ashleys and her current New York Times bestselling series, Blue Bloods. Soon, she is starting a few more spin-off series— Wolf Pact and The Other Land Chronicles.

Columbia’s current fashion magazine is interviewing.

Aside from writing for MODE, De la Cruz has many fond memories of her time at Columbia—though, incidentally, it was not her top choice; Stanford, the “status school” of California, was. She notes, “Sometimes it turns out that what you don’t get is good for you.

I got Columbia, and it was perfect for me. The friends that I made there, the people, the campus, the city, the teach-

by anna cooperberg

Photographer: Damian Bao Makeup:Sharon Shum Hair: Ivanka Lova

him lecture; even though there were maybe 30 of us in the class, there would be 100 people who wanted to hear him.

It was one of the most amazing classes … [At Columbia] You have these professors, with these reputations, and the passion for their subjects.”

Campus life also played a part in her time at Columbia. On her friends—the “River Rats”—she laughs, “my friends were kind of more of the artists, kind of Goths, and we lived in

“When you go to Columbia and you love it, you bond.”

Now, though, she is speaking passionately about her time at Columbia—mainly, her experiences writing for Columbia’s very first fashion magazine, MODE. She was on the founding team of the magazine along with four other students, including editor-inchief, Jack Chen, CC’93 (A shortened version of Chen’s interview with Marc Jacobs in 1989, when he had just become head designer at Perry Ellis, was printed in Hoot’s third issue). De la Cruz remembers interviewing many “fabulous people,” among them Isaac Mizrahi. She comments, “Because of Columbia, you can use the Columbia name to get anybody you want; people talk to you.” And so it comes full circle: the former fashion reporter at a Columbia fashion magazine has now become one of the fabulous people that

ers, the feeling … the fact that everyone has to take the Core is really big. The students at Columbia, as opposed to a lot of the students at other Ivy League schools, are really kind of serious intellectuals.” An art history and English major, she ticks off inspiring professors and classes, among them literature professor emeritus Wallace Gray, who taught the famed course “Eliot, Joyce, Pound”; Johanna Drucker, who taught modern art classes (“Who I think we lost to Yale, which is sad,” De la Cruz adds); and Leo Steinberg, a celebrated art critic who taught a Michelangelo class as the Meyer Schapiro Chair for a semester. The superstar professor is a type many at Columbia know well; Of Steinberg, De la Cruz remembers, “He was so famous, that there would be people who would just come in to hear

River … it was pretty shabby.” As seniors, they organized an aptly-named “Alternative Ball,” as an alternative to the official graduation ball held at The Plaza Hotel. “It was exclusive,” she says. “You had to know … who was throwing it [and] it wasn’t publicized.

It was kind of fun to have this secret, and it wasn’t even very exclusive. I think like 300 people came.” The talkative author stresses the friendships she made at school: “When you go to Columbia and you love it, you bond … people drift in and out, but the core Columbia people? They’ve been my friends for over 20 years!”

She is eager to speak about these special four years and asks me, “Do you guys still smoke? We smoked a lot. We would smoke in the hallHOOT www.hootmag.org

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“

Dress, Stella McCartney.

Shirt, Chloè. Pants, Stella McCartney.

Bag, Chanel.

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“I feel like I really understand that kind of world because once I was an insider and once, I was an outsider.” ways, and hang out.” When I explain the struggles and failures to pass legislation that would ban smoking, she shrugs knowingly and laughs. “Yeah, my fondest memory is just hanging out and smoking!” Her bubbly nature is infectious, and I can feel her zeal—something that is slightly lost in the current generation of Columbian high-stressed over-achievers. I make a mental note to “just hang out” more often before asking De la Cruz about her writing career.

It is clear that she draws inspiration for her novels from her own, interesting life.

The author grew up in an elite Manila society with an investment banker father. Her family then moved to San Francisco, where they suddenly became struggling immigrants. She attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart, which boasts former students such as Paris Hilton and Lady Gaga.

The lifestyle change left an imprint noticeable in many of her novels, which feature privileged youth; her characters are the cream of the social crop, as au pairs in the Hamptons or supernatural beings who rule New York society.

“These communities are so crazy. To that have kind of insular [way of thinking] … I kind of just wanted to write about that because it made such a huge impression on me. I feel like I really understand that kind of world because once I was an insider and once, I was an outsider.”

De la Cruz always wanted to be a novelist. After graduating, she took a day job as a computer programmer to support herself, penning her novel during breaks at work and on the weekends. “I wrote my first novel at 22 called Stuck-Up Trendy Asian Bitch, which never sold. Wonder why,” she quips. “But because I wrote a whole novel, I was able to have an agent and [meet] some editors, and they encouraged me.” One of those editors was

Geoffrey Kloske, now Vice President and Publisher of Riverhead books. He advised De la Cruz to write for magazines to build a clip file, so she would have a more recognizable byline by the time she released her next book. So began De la Cruz’s stint as a magazine writer and editor for multiple publications. As a beauty editor at Allure, she laughs, “My beauty closet was stocked.

It was fantastic! Every day the little trolley would come by to the Condé Nast offices with gifts for the editors … and then I was on contract with Marie Claire and doing stuff for Harper’s BAZAAR.” She traces her foray into the polished world of fashion magazines back to her education. “Columbia was a good, solid footing … when you go to college in the city, you become really sophisticated; you have a leg up on a lot of people.” Not to mention she curated an enviable wardrobe in the process; she showed up to her cover shoot wrapped in Moncler, toting Chanel, and showing off multiple pairs of cool pumps.

It was that urban sophistication that inspired her first published novel, Cat’s Meow, about a New York socialite. Shortly thereafter, she went on a book tour for the tongue-in-cheek How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less, co-authored with Karen Robinovitz, now co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Digital Brand Architects.

While on tour, the idea of writing for a young adult audience started to come into the picture. “I would see the Gossip Girl books and I really liked them. I [thought], this is great; I could do this.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants had just come out, and then my editor from Simon & Schuster asked me if I wanted to write for teens, so she … gave me the idea.” Having enthusiastically accepted the proposition, De la Cruz began writing her first series for young adults, The Au Pairs, which was later optioned by Warner Brothers for two years before the option expired—but not before she

had written four books. When writing the series, the author shares, “I felt, this is what I’m meant to do, as a writer. I loved writing for teens; I loved writing for that voice. I just really enjoyed it and I’ve been doing it ever since.” Her most popular series at the moment, and the one for which she is in New York on a book tour, is Blue Bloods, an intriguing tale that retells American history with a twist—all the important figures are undead. The series now has six published books, with the seventh and final installment set to publish in January 2013. It is an extensive story, and one that involves an extensive back-story. “I like to know what happened to the parents, what happened before my characters get on stage, because then it’s richer and there’s a lot more mystery.” De la Cruz laughs before sharing her inspiration for creating such a complex story-before-the-story, “Probably Star Wars. I remember reading something that George Lucas had said— that he’d written all these pages of the back story and then realized that the story started on page 90.”

When asked what she likes best about her chosen profession, she says something that certainly resonates with readers everywhere—“That you get to escape. They’re an escape for me too … To me, I have to be excited as a reader when I read my books.”

Her methods have certainly worked, as countless accolades—and YouTube videos devoted to the characters she creates—attest. When prompted for advice for aspiring writers, both fiction and nonfiction, she does not skip a beat. “Never give up,” she says, before adding, “And read as much as you can.” It is a fitting piece of advice from the reader who became the writer.

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/ l l a n F o i k h r s o a Y 12 F w Ne er 20 t Style t e n i e r W k St e e W

ight a r t s h mes d stylis o c ays nappe d a ow ctor s n c i e s ch log dir ’ t a t wh t’s co-b enter. a h t o C t ecre ets. Ho Lincoln s o e It’s n the str around er Jung h from -goers d by Est e show aph gr

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Fashion

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cosmic

catastrophes It’s 2012 and the world’s going to end. Why not go out in style?

PHOTOGRAPHER - Julia Hannafin MODELS - Nikita Bhasin, Kathryn Palmes MAKEUP - Sharon Shum HAIR - Elizabeth Williams STYLED BY - Nora Rose Mueller, Jina Lim,

Stephanie Balakrishnan

Beauty

SOLAR STORM

Will solar storms leave us without communication and electricity?

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PLANET X

Is Planet X—sometimes called “Nibiru”—headed for a devastating collision with Earth?

alien

invasion The truth is out there—but is it coming for us first?

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Making Mental Health a Priority New organizations focus their energy on improving students’ quality of life by jina lim

S

ince the suicide of a Columbia College student last October, dialogue about student mental health has been gaining unbeatable momentum on campus. New student organizations such as Student Wellness Project (SWP) and Active Minds (AM) were created, Columbia Psychological Services (CPS) hired more psychologists, and Student Affairs conducted a staff-wide training on student wellness in the past year alone.

each year. It is a stressful place for most students—perhaps more than expected for the average college student.

“I know this can be a very stressful place. The thing that troubles me is the way I’ve seen many people at Columbia brag about that Daily Beast ranking to their other friends. It’s weird; we really ought to stop glorifying this kind of thing. Too often, we feel the pressure to sacrifice our personal wellbeing in order to pursue ‘success,’ whatever that means.

As a result, our campus culture glorifies stress, and upholds the image of the unwell, overworked Columbia student as an archetype or ideal. What we’re trying to do is change that,” explains Wilfred Chan, CC ’13, founder and president of the new student group Student Wellness Project.

What we hope to do is to keep the conversation going, and going, and going Columbia was given the infamous title of the most stressful college in the nation by the Daily Beast; approximately 4,500 students visit Counseling and Psychological Services, resulting in almost 27,000 visits

According to the American College Health Association National College Health Association (ACHANCHA) survey administered by Al-

ice! Health Promotion in spring 2011, 79.3% of undergraduates and 73.4% of graduates reported experiencing stress in the last year. Of those who reported experiencing stress, 42.2% of undergraduates and 23.5% of graduates said that the stress had a negative impact on their academics, such as receiving a lower grade, receiving an incomplete, dropping a course or being disrupted in thesis/research work.

For most students, the troubles are more or less temporary, and caused by the common stressors that accompany the college experience: lack of or irregular sleep, newfound freedom, uncertainties regarding career and future, and the pressure and competition to perform academically and thrive socially. But for some students, college is when they find themselves facing more serious issues such as eating disorders, depression and other mental illnesses for the first time.

“So often mental health related illnesses and struggles are seen as a weakness or something [one] should ‘get over.’ High-achieving students want to be anything but flawed. I have faith that our school atmosphere is

Health

Students smash boxes on College Walk at CU AMSA’s stress-busting event during CNS’s Mental Health Awareness Week. Photo by Jina Lim. On Left: Members of Student Wellness Project give out cupcakes and thankyou cards on Appreciation Day of RAK Week. Photo by Rebecca Pottash

beginning to change ... and soon we will realize that exploring one’s own mental health and accepting treatment will be actually be a sign of incredible strength,” says Sam Keller, CC ’13, founder and president of another new student group Active Minds.

The ACHA-NCHA survey showed that only 56.8% of undergraduates and 39.5% of graduates reported ever receiving information on stress reduction from Columbia University.

With its effort to “inform students of the mental health resources on campus and to break down the stigma surrounding mental illnesses,” AM, serving as a link between students and the resources on campus, hopes to see more students utilizing support services such as Ask Alice! and CPS.

Columbia’s first ever Mental Health Awareness Week, held by the Columbia Neuroscience Society (CNS) the week of March 26, is emblematic of countless students’ desires to transform the campus into a more mental health friendly one. Over 30 groups, ranging from the Deans and administrative groups to the Artist Society and the Columbia Bartending Agency,

gathered for one cause. “I think this week is great because a lot of student groups are collaborating for the first time. It’s CU American Medical Students Association’s first year collaborating with CNS,” Teresa Pelleter, BC ’13, says. Each day was filled with events – for example, a workshop on how to recognize a friend in distress, and a discussion on stigma and mental health moderated by ROOTed and Relate2Us. In addition to CNS’s Mental Health Awareness Week, SWP’s Random Acts of Kindness Week was held the week of April 2 to “spread cheer and love around campus.” Highlights included Chaplain serving root beer floats on Motivation Day, Student Development and Activities handing out stress-relief dolls while dressed up as characters from Alice and Wonderland, and a thank-you card station and delivery service with free cupcakes brought by Dean Martinez on Appreciation Day. Not only did the administration participate in the student-led initiatives, but is also doing its own part to push for a healthier campus.

“Counseling and Psychologi-

cal Services (CPS) has recently hired four new psychologists and is in the process of recruiting and hiring a fifth staff member. CPS began planning these additions to the staff last spring in an effort … to keep pace with rising demand for services,” Dr. Anne Goldfield, Associate Director of Outreach of CPS, says.

With the new psychologists, CPS plans to “open in a fifth residence hall counseling office in the Broadway residence hall, scheduled for fall 2012.

Similar to existing offices in Carmen, EC, Hartley and 600 West 113th Street, this new office will operate on a dropin basis, and provide services after normal business hours,” Dr. Goldfield says.

Whether the awareness on student mental health and the new initiatives will sustain over the coming years is dependent on the attention and undying effort of both the university and the students. For now, the attention seems to be providing enough impetus for change. “What we hope to do is to keep the conversation going, and going, and going,” Chan says.

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MAC Viva Glam Tinted Lipglass, $15 All proceeds from MAC VIVA glam products will go towards the MAC AIDS fund.

beauty that gives back

edited by stephanie balakrishnan

Want to give back to others while shopping for something you love? In addition to your regular beauty products, sprinkle in a few that give back to charity. Companies such as Sephora, Mac and Estee Lauder are featuring beauty must-haves that donate to charitable organizations as well or give a percentage of profits to medical research. Here are our top picks.

Beauty

EXTREME HAIR From pastels to neon brights, dying your strands is the ultimate spring makeover by mariana orbay

T

his spring season’s most popular hair trends make Columbia’s campus seem more like a vivid arrangement of fresh blossoms than the grounds of a thriving university. Students are dying their hair both bright hues and pastels like yellow, pink, lavender, mint and turquoise. Like those first blooms of springtime, these students are making similar statements of rebirth and renewal.

Malotra-Gaudet’s colorful mohawk is not only representative of her renewal, but also of her individuality.

She says, “I decided to dye my mohawk one of my favorite color gradients.” Instead of a solid hue, her hair ranges from tangerine orange to a soft lilac. Juxtaposed with her unique ap-

However, Columbia students are not the only ones celebrating this new craze. Many celebrities have recently been spotted flaunting this tinted hair trend. Fellow New York college student Dakota Fanning, a first-year at NYU, recently dip-dyed her ends hot pink; Kelly Osbourne was spotted flaunting lavender locks; and Nicki Minaj got shamrock green highlights in time for St. Patty’s.

I decided to dye my mohawk one of my favorite color gradients.

Barnard freshman Lauren Malotra-Gaudet was recently featured on the popular blog Humans of New York for her elaborate hair dye. After experiencing an understandably tough first semester of college, Malotra-Gaudet sought a way to rejuvenate herself. She explains, “I did it for a change, and I suppose it really helped. It wiped away the previous semester and anything and everything bad that happened.”

parel that combines bright colors and loud prints, Malotra-Gaudet’s bold hair color is yet more evidence of her vibrant personality.

For those students interested in giving the new trend a try, Splat Rebellious Colors Hair Coloring Kit is an easy, beginner’s hair dying set. The kits come in fun washes like green, aqua, lavender, blue, pink and raspberry, and can be purchased at Target, Walmart, and Walgreens. Whether you decide to dipdye, streak just a few strands, or color all your tresses, a uniquely-hued style will turn heads on and off campus.

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City Musings

Five of New York City’s best open-air parks by sasha henriques

The sun is shining, the temperature is blazing-hot, and every minute spent in class is another painful minute not spent outside. Need a shady place to get homework done? Check out some of New York City’s best open-air parks and get the most you can out of a spring among the skyscrapers.

High Line

First opened in 2009, the High Line is an elevated public park built on what were originally freight train rails; it stretches nearly 20 blocks along 10th Avenue on the West Side. An architectural masterpiece, it blends a visually engaging path with plant life that seems to burst out of the planks of concrete that form the walkway. Stretch out on one of the many sundecks and unique sitting areas, and grab a homemade, artisan popsicle from La Newyorkina, a Mexican sweets stand that has become a popular fixture in the park.

Prospect Park Prospect Park, the home of Brooklyn’s only forest, is truly one-ofa-kind. Long Meadow, located in the northwestern area of the park, is considered one of the longest meadows of any park in the United States. If finals prove to be too much, take a day to relive your childhood; visit the Prospect Park Zoo and ride the iconic Carousel.

Riverside Park

Central Park Photos by Hannah Keiler

Construction is currently underway for the year-round park feature Lakeside, which will include two ice skating rinks, a small water park, a boat dock and a café. Sate your craving for fresh fruits and vegetables at Greenmarket, an open-air market that features organically grown foods from farms in upstate New York. If you find yourself in NYC for a summer internship, stick around; the Prospect Park Bandshell is one of the most popular music venues in the city. Celebrate Brooklyn! sponsors a summer performance festival at the Bandshell featuring dance and theatrical performances, film screenings and concerts.

Bryant Park

One of the most iconic parks in the city, Bryant Park is the former location of New York Fashion Week. It also may be the best park for a study session! Its proximity to the main branch of the New York Public Library allows easy access to books and resources.

Several cafés on the park grounds offer free Wi-Fi. Be sure to sample the many cafés and grills (most notably ‘wichcraft), and check out the Reading Room, modeled after the park’s original Depression-era library.

High Line

Riverside Park When looking to stay closer to home, search no further than Riverside Park. One of the city’s premier waterfront parks, it stretches along the Hudson River for nearly four miles.

The park features many prominent monuments; Grant’s Tomb, the largest mausoleum in North America, is a great place for peaceful contemplation and is only a few blocks north of campus. Take a picnic basket and blanket to watch the sunset over the Hudson.

Central Park It is not exactly New York City’s best kept secret, but there are several lesser-known locations that offer a refreshing outdoor experience.

Cherry Hill, found mid-park at 72nd Street, is a perfect place to enjoy warm weather and offers a lovely view of the Lake. In the spring, it features an assortment of intensely hued flowers.

Located on the East Side from 67th to 76th Street, the East Green, famous for its fragrant Kwanzan cherry trees, is one of several designated quite zones in the park. If you need a fix of delightful romance, visit the Shakespeare Garden on the West Side between 79th and 80th Streets. Plants and flowers mentioned in Shakespeare’s works fill the space, which also features the Bard’s quotations on bronze plaques.

A&E

Lincoln Center It’s more than you think by emma goss When New York Fashion Week rolls around, Lincoln Center is the hub that unites fashionistas and socialites from all (cat)walks of life. But this cultural epicenter is more than just for the fashion-obsessed.

student IDs, students have the opportunity to listen to live jazz, win prizes and, for those 21+, have cocktails. The next “Student Nights” event is on June 1. Mark your calendar if you are still in NYC!

Lincoln Center is the largest art center in the world, with a 16-acre campus of eight buildings and 23 theaters. Since its opening in 1964, it has always been an art center by the people, for the people. It was the first art center to be entirely funded by private donations, and it is dedicated to sharing art with the public at an affordable price.

From Script to Screen: Snagging a seat in Butler is not always painless, but Lincoln Center’s New York Public Library for the Performing Arts is easily accessible, and holds an expansive collection of documents and media from history’s greatest musicians and films. Here, anyone can access the collection of autographed manuscripts, stage designs and more for free. Another option is the Film Society of Lincoln Center, which is currently screening an 11-program series, Through Our Eyes: 3 Decades of NYC Youth Documentaries, showcasing the last 30 years of New York history documented by teenage filmmakers. The series runs until May 15, so squeeze in a showing before the summer.

When itching for a study break, keep these Lincoln Center luxuries in mind: En Pointe: Anyone who has gracefully walked down College Walk in heels will appreciate the balance and poise of the ballerinas at the New York City Ballet, housed at the David H. Koch Theater. With student tickets as cheap as $15 with a student ID, there is no reason to not be in one of the theater’s 2,500 seats this spring.

Pitch Perfect: The Lerner Piano Lounge plays host to some sweet melodies every now and then, but for a classic NYC treat, head over to one of Lincoln Center’s music performances. Lincoln Center is home to the New York Philharmonic orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera and Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC). The New York Philharmonic orchestra theater has state-of-the-art acoustics, providing audience members from front row to nosebleeds with the same high-quality listening experience, without microphones or speakers. Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, in collaboration with the satirical newspaper The Onion, hosts “Student Nights” throughout the year. With

Caption

New York Philharmonic

Ways to Save: No money? No problem! Each week Juilliard hosts free concerts at Alice Tully Hall. Just for Columbia students, both the TIC box office (located in Lerner Hall Lobby) and CUarts sell discounted tickets to JALC, the Metropolitan Opera and the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

The Metropolitan Opera Photos by Hannah Keiler

Dining at Lincoln Center • David Rubenstein Atrium: ’wichcraft • Metropolitan Opera House: The Grand Tier Restaurant • The café in the lobby of Alice Tully Hall • Avery Fisher Hall: Arpeggio Food and Wine

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Sherman stares at us with tired disdain from Untitled #465, a portrait from her Society Somen series.

Cindy Sherman. Untitled #465.

2008. Chromogenic color print, 63 3/4 x 57 1/4″ (161.9 x 145.4 cm). Courtesy the artist and Metro Pictures, New York © 2012 Cindy Sherman

The Art and the Artist Cindy Sherman at MoMA by kelly lane

T

hose unfamiliar with the work of Cindy Sherman might be baffled by the buzz surrounding her retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art. Any online search of her work will bring up photos of a woman dressed in a warped nude bodysuit or depicted as a starlet gone to seed. Some viewers are understandably skeptical of her work or find it aesthetically unpleasant to discern whether it is intended as ironic. As the extensive retrospective reveals, it is to some degree.

Sherman, an American artist who emerged in the mid-20th century, produces series of photographs focused on different themes, such as her notable Untitled Film Stills series in the 1970s and 1980s. She is a photographer who inserts herself into all aspects of photography. She plays all the roles— dressing herself, doing her own hair and makeup, modeling and ultimately photographing. Her approach to photography makes each picture seem like a theatrical production, assembled painstakingly by a one-woman crew.

Sherman’s eyes reflect an innocence corrupted by both the sensuality she embodies and the message on the mysterious crumpled paper she holds in Untitled #96, a piece from her Centerfolds series.

Cindy Sherman. Untitled #96.

1981. Chromogenic color print, 24 x 47 15/16″ (61 x 121.9 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Gift of Carl D. Lobell © 2012 Cindy Sherman

Sherman’s interest in all the aspects of photographic production engages the entire history of visual representation. She poses in her own historical portraits, which reference great painters of yore. She masquerades as pinup vixens and movie stars from bygone days. She mocks fashion in advertisements commissioned for different houses. She imitates the stylistic ele-

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ments of different eras, and then turns them on their head. She is never shy, and she is always curious.

Sherman never plays the same character twice. Sometimes she is a clown, and sometimes she is a chic urbanite. Sometimes she is goofy, and sometimes she is downright disturbing. In all her photos, her eyes are staring past us at something none of us can see. From her unique vantage point as both artist and art, Sherman presents her understanding of the subject matter in a way that is both highly staged and deeply personal.

Sherman is especially concerned with the construction of femininity. Some of her most striking selfportraits are from her Centerfolds series from the 1980s, in which she poses in the all-too-familiar sexualized positions of centerfold models in men’s magazines. However, there is always a hidden layer of complexity to these women. In Untitled #90, a woman sprawled across a couch stares blankly at a telephone. In Untitled #92, a girl in a scanty schoolgirl uniform gazes with terror out of the frame at some unseen danger. These photos impart a depth to these female personas that is never accessible in commercial sexual imagery, but exists in the everyday world, as Sherman points out. This emotional range acknowledges the vulnerable and empowered aspects of women as they are sprawled across a bed or contorted on the floor—arguably for the pleasure of the male viewer, but with other thoughts in mind.

In another collection, Sherman leers from the surface of the photographs as a series of middle-aged women from California. There is something grotesque and resonant about these women, most of whom are presented

with their skin baked orange and their doughy smiles stretched unnaturally tight. These pieces are intimate exposures of women who are taking part in aspects of society that may hinder their success.

This idea of constructed femininity is expressed in Sherman’s fake nude photos. Here, the female body is quite literally constructed and presented in a way that might be most distasteful in other circumstances. But when seen in conjunction with her other pieces, these photos highlight the problems of the broader construction of femininity.

The last gallery of the exhibit is filled with portraits of aged society women,. They gaze at the observer with a self-possession that implies a lifetime of secrets. Viewers cannot help but become engaged in these works.

It is hard to discern whether there is a hardness to the way Sherman’s lips are set or a softness to her expression, but there is no missing the frankness with which Sherman meets and maintains our gaze from every photo.

Sherman stars as a blank-eyed pinup girl in her early piece Untitled Film Still #6.

Cindy Sherman. Untitled Film Still #6. 1977. Gelatin silver print, 9 7/16 x 6 1/2″ (24 x 16.5 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Acquired through the generosity of Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder in memory of Eugene M. Schwartz © 2012 Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman February 26–June 11, 2012 Free with CUID Museum of Modern Art 11 West 53 Street New York, NY 10019 (212) 708-9400 HOOT www.hootmag.org

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Food for Thought: Local eateries you might not know Bright colors, gelato bar, and crepe ingredients at Artopolis Cafe.

All photos by Amanda Tien

by amanda tien

D

ays full of classes, papers and tests can seem never-ending, but for many students, the light at the end of the tunnel is the promise of a good meal. It may be easy to resort to a familiar favorite, but one day this week, try something new. Enjoy the diversity of not only New York City, but the college town coziness of Morningside Heights.

Curry Puffs, an appetizer at Thai Market, wrap curried chicken and potatoes in a flaky pastry.”

Brunch | Artopolis (Amsterdam, between 113th and 114th St.) New Yorkers, transplants or natives, never kid about brunch. This café offers bright colors and expansive windows, along with an extensive brunch menu including a variety of crepes, omelets and smoothies.

After a latte (with a complimentary little cookie), browse the elaborate pastries and elegant cake display.

Saint John the Divine is in view, providing an excellent opportunity to walk off those crepes while sipping a well-executed drink in the spring sunshine.

Sandwiches | SubsConscious (Amsterdam, between 119th & 120th St.) Although waiting in a long line at one of Broadway’s establishments on a Tuesday night could be something akin to comfortable, a refreshing option lies on Amsterdam just beyond 119th Street. SubsConscious offers an endless array of sandwich

SubsConscious on Amsterdam Avenue offers over a hundred options.

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Cozy interior of Max Cafe, perfect for curling up with a novel and a few biscotti.

Fresh, homemade gnocchi with basil, mozzarella, and a tomato sauce at Bettolona.

options with names such as “The Commencement” and “He Said She Said.” Additionally, SubsConscious offers a large section of pastries and ice cream. Do your stomach and wallet a favor by taking a short walk uptown to satisfy comfort food cravings.

Foreign Flavors | on Amsterdam, between 105th and 108th St. Thai Market is a gem past the invisible 110th border on Amsterdam, urging patrons in with a hip, downtown-like atmosphere along with its flavorful dishes. The classic Pad Thai is crafted into a warm, sizable portion with fresh and flavorful ingredients. Among the appetizers are the mouth-watering Curry Puffs that are flaky and delicate enough to deserve a spot on the dessert menu. A few doors over is the ineffable Taqueria y la Fonda Mexicana, a hole-in-thewall far more genuine than Chipotle in its savory salsas and nutty moles.

Just a few blocks down around 105th is Curry & Kebab, whose cuisine is presented with a wide array of free sauces by some of the friendliest workers in the city. All three establishments offer lunch and dinner specials that are worth the short walk.

Coffee and Espresso | Max Soha (Amsterdam, 123rd St.) Walking in the other direction on Amsterdam will lead to Max Caffé.

While the menu offers a delicious fig and goat cheese crostini and a wide array of panini sandwiches, one of

Exposed brick walls, hanging light bulbs and live music are only part of the package. The wait staff is friendly, welcoming familiar customers with hugs and greetings. Fresh pasta is rolled in front of a firebrick oven baking thin crust pizzas. Bettolona is lively long into the night, populated by well-dressed elderly locals and talented students from the nearby Manhattan School of Music. Bettolona is an ideal choice for a night out with friends or to impress visiting parents.

Bring a friend or a book to enjoy the quintessential coffee shop feel that Max Caffé offers. the real treasures is the drink selection. Bring a friend or a book to enjoy the quintessential coffee shop feel that Max Caffé offers. Settle into a plush armchair below some original artwork with a cappuccino and almond biscotti to enjoy this escape from campus.

Night Out | Bettolona (Broadway, between La Salle and Tiemann Place) Not too far from campus lies this independent Italian restaurant.

Dessert | Café Lalo (Between Broadway and Amsterdam, at 83rd St.) Open until 2 a.m. during weeknights and 4 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, Café Lalo is a great option for dessert after a Broadway play, party, or just a case of the sweet tooth. Lalo boasts a wide range of pies, tortes, cakes, pastries, mousses and ice cream sundaes, in addition to its long list of savory meals. The décor of Lalo is welcoming and exciting, creating a warm slice of heaven (or chocolate espresso mousse pie) in the neighborhood. Vintage French posters offer eye candy while perching on tall stools or relaxing in a coveted window seat.

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Hoot Shops

edited by anna cooperberg

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Spring/ Summer 2012 Trends

edited by anna cooperberg

Madewell Soft Silk Boyshirt, $110

PASTELS Take a break from tough leather and spiky accessories with sweeter shades and prim shapes.

ASOS Pastel Color Block Ballet Flats, $45

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H&M Tapered Pants, $15

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runway images courtesy of vogue.com Etro

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