Latest
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Shaping Fashion Thrift and Vintage Dress Up The Beauty of Fashion
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Cool Shoes Take you Cool Places Pg. 38
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“What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today when human contacts go so fast. Fashion is instant language” - Miuccia Prada, fashion designer
Table of Meet the editors Letter from the editors Shaping Fashion Thrift store anatomy Thrift & Vintage Bat city Boutiques
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6 8 10 14 16 24
26 30 32 36 40 42
Dressing up Colors of Fashion Beauty in fashion Shoes take you cool places Timeline of shoes
Contents Credits
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Meet The Editors Milani Weerakoon enjoys vintage clothing
and music. She is a LASA freshman and an editor for The Latest, for which she designed a map ASF of thrift stores in Austin, Texas. She wrote her feature story about thrift stores and vintage fashion, providing a closer look into how a popular thrift store works as well as thrift buyers’ and resellers’ perspectives on thrifting. Milani wants to get into either acting or interior design in the future, but she’s still undecided.
Henry Hasik is a freshman at LASA and
editor for The Latest where he wrote a feature story on costume design and the nuances of the field. Additionally he designed an ASF about some great color combos for outfits he thinks you should try. In his free time he enjoys playing soccer, listening to music, and working out. When he graduates he is thinking about pursuing a career in law or finance.
Sophia Porter is a LASA freshman who, in her
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free time, plays tennis and partakes in Sneakerhead activities. She lives in Austin, Texas with her parents and brother. Porter wrote a story about shoes in fashion, and made an ASF showcasing a shoe from every color. In the future, Porter wants to go into the medical field, but is unsure of what she wants to specialize in. She also wants to own a good surround sound system, and a diverse shoe collection.
As a freshman at LASA, Triyatha Jammula’s accomplishments go beyond being an editor for The Latest, as she’s a national spelling bee competitor. Her extensive vocabulary helped her deep dive into her feature story about makeup upping the fashion industry. Heavily influenced by the diversity in style seen at LASA, Jammula composed her ASF of pictures of people representing five different styles. Apart from designing magazines, Jammula’s avocations consist of going on runs and rowing on the lake. After LASA, she has big goals for a future in the medical field as a dermatologist. A freshman attending LASA high school,
Reina Zou is an editor for The Latest. She goes into
detail about sustainability in fashion, as her interests in supporting the environment influenced this topic of fashion. With the recent rise in popularity of thrifting, she thought it would be a good idea to create a visual understanding of the activity to inform and educate more people about it. After graduating from LASA, she plans on exploring the medical field to either become a dentist or a pediatrician. In her free time she enjoys traveling, listening to music, and swimming.
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Letter from the Editors
Meet Milani, Reina, Triyatha, Henry, and Sophia Greetings from the editors of The Latest! The Latest is a fashion magazine that explores new topics and trends in the fashion industry. Fashion is a great way to express you’re personality in a physical representation. It gives such a variety of ways to stand out or fit in. Clothes can be used as tools to become the best version of yourself, and style can give someone a clear look into who you are. In our feature stories, we looked into sustainable fashion, thrift stores, beauty and makeup, costume design, and how shoes play an important Spring 2022 - The Latest - 8
role in an outfit. Our magazine also has a slight Austin, Texas twist, as some of our designs involve specifics from Austin. The creation of The Latest has brought our whole team together to work towards a common goal. We all had an interest in writing about fashion and different parts of the industry. The thing that we are most proud of as a team are our ASFs. We believe that they match our theme well, and they compliment each other. The biggest struggle we all faced was trying to conduct interviews. We reached out to many people who just didn’t respond, so we had to contact more people in hopes that they would be willing
to get interviewed. Despite that challenge, we were able to get interviews and eventually write our feature stories. As you keep reading, you will see more about different aspects of outfits and fashion, as well as ASF’s that are wellthought out. We hope you enjoy the rest of The Latest, and you get more insight on clothes and style.
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Shaping Fashion By Reina Zou
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Photo courtesy of Reina Zou
With trends spreading across the globe, one action can influence one another’s actions, meaning that to be aware and careful of what people do in their everyday life and how it relates to the protection of the environment can make a dramatic difference. Trends such as fast fashion are just a few examples of how trends can negatively impact the Earth. These widespread changes can influence so many people to follow these trends, as they are promoted by influencers and media, but no one really looks beneath the surface, and how these purchases and decisions can change the Earth. Since the late 2000s, many popular and well-known brands have been switching over to recycling and renewing resources, as the impact clothes have made on our environment is becoming more and more apparent. Fashion production and purchases have made up 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions, dried up water sources, and pollution in rivers and streams. This is only the beginning of the impact clothing has on our Earth, and at the rate climate change is headed, we need to put a stop to this. Many companies such as Patagonia, New Balance, and Nike have partnered with environmental programs and acknowledged the impact resources in clothing have changed the environment. Using recycled materials will not only keep theEarth clean, but also make clothing unique. Patagonia clothing is unique in its own way, as the recycled products and resources in these articles of clothing make it last and sustain longer than usual, and also can be recycled and renewed over again.
Photo taken by Milani Weerakoon
Many brands have been switching over under the influence of how clothing and climate change are related, and have switched over to environmental programs and environmentally friendly organizations. Such brands include New Balance, Patagonia, and Nike. Patagonia has been making recycled resources from soda cans and bottles, and people know them for “turning trash into fleece”. Patagonia is moving toward 100% renewable and recycled raw materials. They use recycled polyester, rather than virgin polyester, which comes from dependence on petroleum, to utilize waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Patagonia has avoided more than 5.2 million
pounds of CO₂ being emitted into the atmosphere. Brands like New Balance have also taken sustainability into account. New Balance is focusing on transforming their main materials into recycled and environmentally friendly choices. Making the switch to recycled polyester is a huge step forward in improving their carbon footprint. A special type of material produced by New Balance, known as Tencel, is made up of wood pulp and the production of this material uses less energy and water than producing cotton, and is known as a closed loop process, meaning that they recycle water, and use non toxins to produce this material. Not only are they Spring 2022 - The Latest - 11
making changes to their products, but they are also working with industries that support sustainable manufacturing, and improve their environmental conditions. Some of the organizations that New Balance is a member of include Textile Exchange, Outdoor Industry Association, and Leather Working Group. Keith Strait, a worker at Fleet Feet, talks about how stores like Fleet Feet have been supporting these brands that are working towards a clean environment. “I think that the environment is very dependent on the resources used in clothing, and that part of the problem in the environment is affected by the sustainability of the clothing worn by others,” Strait said. “We try to support brands like New Balance and Hoka, which are popular shoe brands switching over to sustainable and recyclable clothing.” A new development by brands that are carried in the chain of Fleet Feet has switched over to is a special type of material that is biodegradable. “Some of our newer shoes
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incorporate recycled PET material, which reusing over and over will allow sustainability to take place.” said Strait. Since these shoes are biodegradable, they can be used and recycled many times. Not only does Fleet Feet carry these brands to support the environment, but they also choose to support
“Thrifting is recycling and reusing clothing” those involved in environmental programs. Fleet Feet tries to select brands that are dedicated to their impact of their carbon footprint, and use these brands to promote sustainability in society, especially shoes. The recent rise in thrifting has brought up a lot of attention towards recycling and reusing
Photo courtesy of Reina Zou
clothing and it’s role in the environment. Throughout the past couple of years, thrifting has grown very popular and in trend. Teenagers and adults post about thrifting all over the media, and have influenced many to participate in the growing trend. Now, it is very popular and normal for a teenager to ask their friends to go thrift shopping with them over the weekend. Plato’s Closet worker Leyla Redfield informs us on how thrifting has changed over time, and how it impacts the environment. “The audience has shifted extremely,” Redfield said. “Before, sustainable fashion was only targeted to low income homes because of the affordability aspect, so I used to only sell to those types of families. It was almost impossible to come by anyone under the age of 35 but times have changed. Ever since sustainable fashion became a trend across social media, it is a healthy mix of teenagers and adults and on some days teenagers can be the majority of the thrifting audience.” The trends widespread through media over thrifting have changed the participants of thrifting over time, and now many people of a wide variety of ages enjoy thrifting. “Thrifting ultimately just gives clothing a longer shelf life and slows the process of the ever growing landfill of the world,” Redfield said. “It can cure many of the issues that fast fashion presents because of the second-hand aspect of the clothing. It can better the environment, by sustaining the clothing’s life and selling it to those who are less fortunate you are not only helping the environment, but also helping humanity” The process of thrifting has
definitely changed the environment, and how clothing impacts our home, as the process of reusing and giving clothes longer lives, rather than them ending up in landfills and garbage cans drastically improves the way our environment is treated. Not only is thrifting beneficial to the environment, but it is also very enjoyable and there are so many aspects within thrifting that make it unique. The variety and styles of clothing sewn into thrifting is what makes this activity unique and diverse, whereas buying from a brand name store at the mall, you would probably not see as much diversity and variety. “I have always preferred the used and worn look to the new and fresh look so I like that the clothes always have that vibe to them. I also like that there is a large variety of clothing every time you go thrifting so that you have options,” said Redfield. Apps such as Depop, Poshmark, and Curtsy have been around for a long time, but with the recent pandemic, and self isolation period, these apps have gained a lot of popularity and audience. Social media platforms, such as Tiktok, Instagram, and Youtube have promoted and supported these programs. With the ongoing trends that go on and off, and new trends every months, many teenagers look through their closet, and see clothing that haven’t been touched in years. What better way to get rid of these clothes, but not harm the environment, than to resell them to others who may have interests in them on these apps? Eva Boeke, a middle school student who enjoys fashion and supports the environment, shares her story of reselling clothes on
Photo taken by Milani Weerakoon
Curtsy.
“At first, I saw an ad on TikTok that showed how teenagers could make money, while also taking action in saving the Earth, and it was an ad for Curtsy,” Boeke said. “I downloaded the app, and looked through my closet, which, not to my surprise, found so many articles of clothing that hadn’t been touched since forever. I was so excited to see how this app would take these pieces of clothing, and bring life to them to another person, rather than just tossing them into the garbage can.” Reselling these pieces of clothing on this app not only provided sustainability, but also provided the customers with pieces of clothing that had been revived and recycled. These apps also stay up to date with the recent trends on social media, and you are able to customize what you want to pop up on your page, to interest you more. “Accessories and shoes are some pieces of fashion that are overlooked a lot when it comes to talking about clothing and the environment, although they have just as much of an impact.”
Photo taken by Milani Weerakoon
Photo taken by Milani Weerakoon
Photo taken by Milani Weerakoon
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Thrift and
Vintage By Milani Weerakoon
Photo taken by Milani Weerakoon
L
ight-wash jeans, colorful crew neck sweatshirts, and patterned pants lined up on racks filling a thrift store. Like many other trends, clothes circulate in and out of style. In the past few years, and especially over the course of the pandemic, vintage/ thrift fashion has risen to be very popular all over social media, and all over the world. Thrifting has become more popular due to its environmental benefits, as well as pricing and spending on a low budget. According to Samantha Cradduck, a vintage buyer and reseller, thrifting has always been relatively popular, as many people started thrifting at a young age, whether they saw someone else doing it or if they just wanted new clothes at a cheaper price. “It was definitely my grandmother, and I had an older cousin who always did it and… I was just like, I guess like a goth emo kid back in the 90s,” Cradduck said. “I would Spring 2022 - The Latest - 16
Ella Ricks looks through the racks at a local thrift store. She buys clothes both for herself and to resell on her shop. Photo courtesy
of Ella Ricks
Photo courtesy of Samantha Cradduck
always go to thrift stores and go to that one The initiative to save money was shared that my grandmother went to because it with Daisy Sullivan, manager at Pavement, was kind of like a really big one- I think like a popular second-hand clothing store in the a family thrift or the ones that don’t have Austin area. dressing rooms, so it’s cheaper.” “I kind of grew up in this area with a lot Another common reason to thrift was of access to Buffalo Exchange, Uptown to save money. Ella Ricks, a vintage buyer and Cheapskate, and all of those places,” Sullivan reseller on Instagram, said. “I was always said that spending super interested in “I definitely prefer shopping less was one of her not spending a ton at thrift stores and it’s so main reasons to start of money on really thrifting. cool clothes instead therapeutic to me. I love the “I just started of newer, really aspects of the treasure hunt, thrifting because I expensive ones, you just really wanted to even if I don’t find anything.” know, like Urban buy new clothes… I Outfitters and all -Ella Ricks, Buyer and Reseller wanted to get clothes that jazz that’s without having to always in trend”. pay a bunch of money, so I started going to thrift stores pretty much just so it can be Reselling Thrift on the Internet more affordable,” Ricks said. “As I sort of got Ricks, a Texas high school student, has older, and, you know, had a source of income amassed around 31K followers on her TikTok and stuff, I still like thrifting better, because I account, @thriftsbyella. She posts videos mean, it’s just so much more unique.” centered around thrifting, including
Samantha Cradduck’s room full of stocked racks. These clothes are modelled and sold on her Depop.
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and holds bids. Knowing what people will like, especially on the internet rather than in person, can be a challenge, but Ricks just posts what she buys and lets people choose for themselves. “I feel like when you have a thrift account on Instagram, a lot of the reason that people follow, I guess, is just ‘cause like…they like the stuff that you buy,” she said, “so honestly, I buy whatever I would wear and I feel like that’s a thing that- like a lot of accounts are selling clothes that they don’t want anymore and that’s why it’s really hard to have an account where you’re selling your old clothes.” With popular items in thrift stores, clothes such as vintage jeans and sweaters are very popular for a comfy yet stylish outfit. “A good embroidered hoodie or sweatshirt sells so quick for me,” Ricks said, “and I think it’s just because they’re vintage, especially Ella Ricks shows off an outfit she put together. Thrift shoppers just because they’re trendy, like those vintage not only look for affordable pieces, but interesting ones too. Photo embroidered crewnecks are very trendy, but courtesy of Ella Ricks. having a vintage one that you know that no her thrift finds and useful tips, how to find the one else has like I think that’s a really cool best items in thrift stores, where to look, and element.” where to go. Cradduck runs shops on Etsy and “I think my best tip is to look in those racks Depop, @lechuzablanca, based in Oklahoma. by the dressing rooms, and also the random She runs an Instagram account, @ racks off to the side, or like the end of random lechuzablancavintage, where she posts styled racks,” she said. vintage items that “When people are she sells on her “I guess it started as like trying Depop. For her buying stuff, they take all their stuff store, she buys to save money, but then the they don’t want, and vintage clothes, more I did it, the more really they either put it on takes them home, awesome stuff I found.” the end, or they just and DIYs them. -Daisy Sullivan, Pavement Manager put it on the dressing “If I see something, rack, and so it’s like I kind of grab it, stuff that people you know,” she have already picked out.” said. “When I was in Austin, I was doing popIn addition to posting on TikTok, up shops. So everybody in Austin saw vintage Ricks also runs a thrift reselling Instagram and so I kind of started tie-dyeing stuff so account, also @thriftsbyella. With a little over everything that doesn’t sell, I’ll try and rework 7K followers, she posts the items she thrifts it.” For Cradduck, she just needs to know what Spring 2022 - The Latest - 18
will sell, and then from there she makes changes to the clothes and puts a cooler twist on them. “I just learned denim sells, boots sell, so whatever sells,” she said, “and if it doesn’t sell in either of my shops or where I sell here locally at a shop, then I rework it.” In addition to selling her reworked and thrifted items online on Depop, Cradduck also occasionally sells at pop-up shops. Popup shops, also a common way to sell vintage, are small booths where vendors can set up and sell their items for a few hours. People passing by can stop and browse through the clothes, then they’ll go on with their day. “You just go and you basically take a rack, you take a table, and you know, you put a bunch of stuff up and you stay for four hours and you sell,” Cradduck said. “We did one at Bouldin Creek every Sunday at that little coffee shop on South 1st… I did really well because a lot of my tie dyes would sell there.” Reselling thrift has become more and
more popular as thrifting has come back into trend. Online and in-person, reselling has become a legitimate source of income for many people. Small businesses dedicated to buying and selling clothes have come up on social media, where it’s easier to grow a following and get more customers. Thrifting tips and best finds After going to thrift stores and buying vintage clothing for years, Samantha Cradduck has sort of developed an eye for vintage clothing. “Most of the time, I’m not kidding you, I’m like, “it’s something vintage” like, because you can just tell the patterns, just how it looks,” she said, “you know what I mean? You just know what to grab.” Her favorite item she’s thrifted is a Mongolian lambskin coat, which she got for only $4. “I found that at goodwill outlets so it probably weighs like two pounds, so I
Racks of jeans at Pavement. Jeans are a very popular item to get vintage.
Taken by Milani Weerakoon
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Photo taken by Milani Weerakoon
probably paid like $4 for it,” she said, “I mean brand new who knows how much, but I’ve seen vintage ones on Etsy for like $800 or $900.” In addition to having an eye for valuable items, knowing the best times to go to stores is also important, as Ella Ricks also mentions in her videos. “Just like, to know what time to go. Definitely, the weekdays are the best. And then also usually in the morning,” she said, “like I went thrifting both today and yesterday and it was not good. Like- and then I go on the weekend and I spend hundreds of dollars.” One of Ricks’ favorite thrift finds is a Coach mini purse that she was able to get for only $5. “I’ve definitely had a favorite item that I’ve sold and then probably that I’ve kept for myself. I thrifted this little Coach mini purse. And it was like $5,” she said, “And it is my Spring 2022 - The Latest - 20
purse like every single time I go out, I bring that purse and I’m never parting with it.” Trends and styles Since trends circulate back around every so often, many clothing pieces and styles from the 70’s-early 2000s are making a return in the everyday fashion world. Items like jeans and sweaters that are now considered vintage are being worn and sold again, and clothing companies even manufacture products that are meant to replicate those styles. “All these fast fashion companies are making clothes that are supposed to look like vintage clothes, but they’re just like, bad quality,” Ricks said. “I’ll find a grandpa’s sweater from Shein that is supposed to look like it was some grandpa’s from the 90s. But it was made from Shein, like, two months ago.” Shein is a popular clothing company, known for its trendy styles. The store is centered online and became extremely
popular all over social media around 2020. The clothes are cheap and very up-to-date on current trends, adding to the appeal of shopping there. Due to its popularity and fashion trends that are constantly changing, a lot of items from Shein end up in thrift stores once the trend dies. “It feels so, I don’t know, fake, in a way, just trying to replicate vintage fashion,” Ricks said. “It’s just adding a completely new era of clothes that are just going to get cycled through in like two weeks, you know, and there’s so much. I am finding thrift stores taken over by Shein, ROMWE, Forever 21, like it is everywhere.” Pinterest has also become a popular site for trends to spread, outfit inspos and posts for different styles are frequently found there. However, many Pinterest trends are short-lived and lots of those clothes end up in thrift stores as well. “Just following whatever’s on Pinterest is just never gonna work,” Ricks said “You’re just always gonna be a few steps behind.” New trends aren’t all bad, though. Because of how popular vintage fashion has become, it’s easier to find pieces in thrift stores. “It’s a lot easier to find pieces that are, I guess, trendy… and fashionable even though I think anything is fashionable, just like whatever you like,” she said. “We have some regular, older sellers who are just incrementally like getting rid of their vintage collections, which is really cool because we get really cool quality stuff from them,” Daisy Sullivan said. Behind the Scenes: Pavement Pavement is a popular recycled clothing store located in Houston and Austin, Texas. Daisy Sullivan, the manager of one of the Austin locations, grew up in the Austin area, near a lot of popular thrift stores such as Buffalo Exchange, Uptown Cheapskate,
and more. Like many others, she found her love for thrifting because she wanted to save money. “I was always super interested in not spending a ton of money on really cool clothes instead of newer, really expensive ones, you know, like Urban Outfitters and all that jazz,” she said, “I guess it started as like trying to save money, but then the more I did it, the more really awesome stuff I found.” She also found that thrifting had other benefits than those to the wallet. “I started figuring out that, it’s a lot better to not buy new clothes than old clothes,” she said, “Recycling clothes is like, a lot better, obviously, for environmental and labor purposes.” Sullivan started working at Pavement after nearly a year of being quarantined at home. “I started working there in December of 2020, after like a year of being quarantined,” she said. “I think I mostly wanted a job to like, get out and about because I’m a very introverted person, to begin with, and I wasn’t talking to literally anyone….in general, I joined for the friends, I needed people to talk to, and things to do and responsibilities.” A manager at Pavement has a lot of responsibilities. They have to make sure everyone’s staying on top of inventory and supplies, making sure everything is clean, and more.
Photo taken by Milani Weerakoon
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“We do a lot of that [clothing and customerservice type work], on top of making sure that everyone is completing their tasks at their full potential and keeping the store clean and stocked with supplies, and managing scheduling issues, and staff problems, and all that kind of stuff, those are monsters in itself,” Sullivan said. “But a lot of my actual job description is- a big thing is keeping our inventory balanced. Obviously, we buy in
Daisy Sullivan standing with the inventory at Pavement. Many items come from estate sales and people selling their old clothes. Photo courtesy of Daisy Sullivan
clothing, it’s like a consignment store… So we have to keep the amount of things that we buy from people balanced with the amount of vintage and new items that we have on the floor.” A lot of the clothes in Pavement are sourced by estate sales, and also people who come in and sell their old clothes. “People will bring their stuff in, and we have usually four to five trained buyers,” said Spring 2022 - The Latest - 22
Sullivan. “Each day, usually in the morning, there’s only one there, but near the end of the day, there are usually four to five buyers who have been specifically trained on what we should be buying for our store, what our store needs are like, what we don’t have in the warehouse and what we need to stock, or what is trending, what’s in style, what’s in season, we take it.” Buyers are trained vigorously over nearly a month to ensure that they only buy what will sell in the store. They also need to know how to properly price items that they buy and make sure that they don’t go over budget. “Usually the buyer training lasts like a full month because we really have to worry about not spending way too much money on people’s items, but also giving people a fair price for nicer things or actual vintage things,” Sullivan said. “That’s why we work so hard to train our buyers for so long. And buyers can only be buyers after they’ve been at the store for a while as an associate. Because we want them to know what sells the best in our store.” Part of the manager’s job is to supervise and look over what’s bought to make sure that the buyers aren’t purchasing random things that they want to buy in. “We have a little chart of things that are like trending right now what we can use and like what we need to fill our floor,” Sullivan said, “and then also stuff that we like absolutely don’t need, that we just already have too much of, or that’s not in season that we don’t need to be buying anymore.” Monitoring inventory is a huge part of the manager’s job. Ensuring that everything is in season and in style and will sell is crucial for business. Occasionally, there are items that people try to sell in that won’t sell, and are turned away. “What we don’t buy-in, we give back to the people,” Sullivan said. “And we ask that people come back and get their stuff because
They also get many jewelry vendors to make appointments and sell their work. “We’re not supposed to buy in a lot of jewelry every day because we have a lot of it and we buy a lot of it new and it doesn’t get sold as quickly,” Sullivan said, “but we do make appointments for jewelry sellers and we have a pretty large handful of regular jewelry sellers who make their own jewelry and come and sell it to us, which I think is really cool.”
Samantha Cradduck’s setup where she models the clothes she sells online. After reworking the items, she posts on Instagram and her Depop. Photo courtesy of Samantha Cradduck
we’re not supposed to take donations.” Whatever gets turned away, Pavement either has to contact the original owner to come to pick it up or donate it to another organization like Goodwill, or other thrift stores that do take donations. Pavement is not allowed to sell and make money off of what they did not pay for. A lot of Pavement clientele is around the 14-26 age range. Because of the location of the Pavement that Sullivan works at, they also get several college students from UT, as well as tourists and people from all over who are visiting Austin. “We get a lot of tourists that are just walking the drag because it’s a place to be. Obviously, we get a lot of younger customers, I would say from ages like 14 to 26. Like, just our average, Austin youth clientele. I feel like that’s most of who I see in there,” She said. “As well as Millennials talking with their friends, and people out and about doing their thing. Also, we are on campus, so we get a large amount of UT students. So that brings people from lots of corners.” Pavement also gets quite a few regular sellers. A lot of their sellers are older sellers who are slowly getting rid of their old things, as well as young people who buy things from the Goodwill bins and try to sell them in.
Thrifting over Retail? When comparing shopping at thrift stores to shopping retail, the answer was unanimous. “I don’t even buy. I don’t go to the mall anymore,” Cradduck said. “I mean, I buy shoes, but I can get shoes there too. But running shoes are basically what I just buy brand new. And of course, like, you know, undergarments. Of course I buy. But that’s it… like it’s purely thrifting.” Convenience is also a valued trait for thrifting, with wide selections of items for all uses. With the selection comes uniqueness, another desired factor. “100%. It’s just, like I said, I love finding a piece that I just know that I couldn’t get anywhere else,” Ricks said. “And also the quality is so high, like buying Vintage jeans, getting a vintage pair of Levi’s that was like made in the 90s.” Even with the price and quality aside, thrifting has become a huge part of people’s lives. “I definitely prefer shopping at thrift stores and it’s so therapeutic to me,” Ricks said. “I love the aspects of the treasure hunt, even if I don’t find anything. I love looking through that, I like popping in earbuds and just going through. It’s so fun.”
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Bat City BOUTIQUES Popular Austin Thrift Stores
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Goodwill Lake Austin Store 701 Newman Dr, Austin, TX 78703 Thrift Store- 4.1
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Graphics by Milani Weerakoon
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Goodwill 10th St. Boutique 914 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703 Thrift Store- 4.1
Pavement 611 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 Vintage Clothing Store- 3.7
Uptown Cheapskate 3005 S Lamar Blvd #110-A, Austin, TX 78704 Thrift Store- 4.6
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Pavement 2932 Guadalupe St. Unit 102, Austin, TX 78705 Thrift Store- 3.8
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Buffalo Exchange 2904 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705 Thrift Store- 3.7
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Monkies Vintage and Thrift 1904 Guadalupe St C, Austin, TX 78705 Vintage Clothing Store- 3.9 I-35
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Charm School Vintage 1111 E 11th St #150, Austin, TX 78702 Vintage Clothing Store- 4.6
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Treasure City Thrift 2142 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702 Thrift Store- 4.3
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Stax Austin 500 San Marcos St, Austin, TX 78702 Vintage Clothing Store- 3.9
Dress Up By: Henry Hasik
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C
ostumes are one of the many tools used to tell a story and maybe one of the most important. Whether a film or play is set in the present, past, or future, costumes can help the audience have a better understanding of what they’re viewing. Costumes can also tell us the details and niches of a play and can help actors transform into new and recognizable characters. Tenured Professor at Mclennan College, Kathleen Laundy got into costume design at Texas A&M University while getting her bachelor’s degree. She originally wanted to be a lighting designer but was swayed when she took the required costuming course during the summer of her junior year. She described it as “basically a private lesson” due to her being the only student in the class. “I learned to sew and together, me and my professor, Susan Kelly, built seven medieval costumes for the show that year by ourselves… and that changed the trajectory of my career,” she said. This process of designing and building costumes begins with the research of a play/movie and its time period. This can be done in many ways, but Laundy said that she prefers to study films and productions of the same genre or of the play itself. “My favorite part of designing costumes is the research part. I love doing a deep dive into the play and the time period.” Laundy said that this is because she is able to see what other designers are doing in the industry and enjoys being able
to watch TV as part of her work. After this, a costume designer will create an initial design of the costumes whether they’re sketched or rendered through a digital program and then shown to the director, lighting and scenic designers, as well as the actors and actresses. Costume Production Director at The University of Costume Sketch for Empress of Eden Texas at Austin, (Courtesy of Nanette Acosta) Nanette Acosta, collaborators. So your Scenic said that apps lights, Integrated Media, any of like Procreate have made that sort of stuff, then come up her job much easier when with your concepts and how you designing costumes for a show. think you want to implement “I just learned Procreate and I absolutely love it”... “I can show them” … “it’s essentially about how to support the storytelling.” the director a red dress or I she said. can show the director a purple dress and I won’t have to redo a After the design of the costume is done, the construction starts whole new sketch or I can even and this process can take days decide to change the sleeves depending on how elaborate and I won’t have to redraw the costume is. “The initial something new completely construction of the costume from hand,” she said. After the designers meet with the director can take multiple hours but after fittings, meeting with the and other staff, a costume director, and just other logistical designer will implement any stuff, I’ve had costumes that final changes the director may have wanted to make and create take days to complete,” Laundy said. Throughout this entire a final rendering or sketch. process, it is very important Acosta said that this process to be working with the other of meeting with the director is crucial and happens many times designers on set, but one of her biggest struggles in this when designing costumes, “It industry like many others has is very important that we work Spring 2022 - The Latest - 27 with the director and the other
been working with other people. create costumes but for the also created a Reciprocal “If you have a scenic designer University of Texas, “We Borrowing agreement with that doesn’t understand period, have a costume stock” Acosta other universities in Texas and you can end other theaters up with a in Austin. So stairway or we can borrow doors that are from them too narrow for and they can large dresses.” borrow from “If you end us,”. This up with a allows the bad lighting University and designer, your other theatres color palette in and around could end Austin to have up washed a larger stock out,” Laundy of costumes said. Acosta which said that when some working with costumes personalities can take days can be a or weeks to very big complete challenge and can be very Costumes from Mwindo at the University of Texas sometimes can helpful. (Courtesy of Nanette Acosta) interfere with Another this process. said, “Our costume stock not reason that costumes are kept, Oftentimes when only serves our productions, especially in film, is that you designers are in need of but it also serves our other never know when you’re going costumes they will buy or departments at UT … We to need costumes for a flashback scene. Acosta also said that they’re also often donated to Goodwill, schools, and can even be put up for display in museums. Acosta said that costumes from previous plays are one of the best materials her students can use to learn. Studying other designers work can often inspire creativity and can help to implement their ideas and be able to actually go out and work with the tools we’ve given them Acosta said. The University of Texas at Austin may have one of the best theatre and film programs The Boy at the Edge of Everything produced at the University of Texas in the country and Director of (Courtesy of Nanette Acosta) Costume Production Nanette Spring 2022 - The Latest - 28
Costumes from An Ideal Husband produced at the University of Texas (Courtesy of Nanette Acosta) Acosta has been there for nearly 5 years. She said that it’s sort of a dual job between “overseeing the costume production, and then also teaching.” UT is unique due to the fact that they have a master’s program so their graduate students are the designers for the plays she said. “I hire a lot of students, so they work with us in that way, which is really great” this can be very helpful for them because they are learning in a professional environment much like they would experience in a theatre in the US. Acosta said that it’s important for her
students to think of themselves as part of the whole process, as a collaborator. “Sometimes it’s thought of that, like, Oh,
“it’s essentially about how to support the storytelling.”
Nanette Acosta
you’re just serving the director, or you’re just, you know, sort of this person who goes out in shops or something,” she said. “We encourage them to kind of think of themselves as a full artist unto themselves, … so
they can contribute in lots of ways.” It’s important to act like and go through the motions of a costume design when learning so that when you become one it already feels natural she said. Costumes are one of the most important aspects of a play and for centuries have been affected by what’s popular in the fashion industry. In the fashion industry, the line can often be blurred between costume and clothing and many costumes we see in films aren’t too different from what many people wear in real life. Possibly the most popular example of a costume is a princess dress, but how different is that from a wedding dress or elaborate dress one might wear to a ball or party. Costumes are not only crucial to plays and films but to the whole fashion industry and culture as well. Spring 2022 - The Latest - 29
Color Wheel of Fashion By Henry Hasik
Are you curious how the color wheel comes into play when styling clothing? Blue and orange may be a very unexpected pairing for you, but they create a lot of contrast when paired with one another. In fashion however, using the color wheel may not always work for colors that typically go well together. While red and green are complementary colors, it may look like you’re going to a christmas party in the middle of december. See how you can elevate your fashion with one simple tool.
A monochromatic outifit is one that layers colors of the same or similar hue in an outfit. Monochrome colors often look good together in fashion and are easy to pull off because of their dramatic look. This can be pulled off with almost any color but using more muted colors like browns, blacks, and whites has been very popular in recent fashion. A common look in modern streetwear involves using a muted pant color like Khaki and white with a bright shirt or sweatshirt. This allows the color and or design of your top to be the center of attention in your outfit. Some of my favorite pairings for this are Khaki pants with a green shirt and white pants with a purple top. Triadic colors are pairings of colors that are evenly spaced in thirds on the color wheel. Triadic colos will give your outfit a more diverse feel and give you more options for experimentation with your outfits. Some of my favorite colors combos for this include green and orange with a purple accent and/or teel and pink.
Milani Lipgloss, NYX Purple Color Corrector, and Laura Mercier cocelear on a table with a green Aritzia dress out of focus in the background. The makeup products and dress represent the interconnection of beauty in the fashion industry. Photo2022 by Triyatha Jammula. Spring - The Latest - 32
The Beauty of Fashion By Triyatha Jammula
Men and women stand and stare back at their dappered selves in the mirror with silk suits, long shimmery dresses, or perhaps a new trendy piece they acquired, wondering what looks off -- it was their makeup. Beauty, an essential part of fashion, is expressed in makeup as well as clothing. Makeup goes beyond eliminating insecurities, but expanding on the statement clothing items make. Many consumers take pride in the comfort, and enhancement on style that makeup has brought upon.
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The fashion industry has been quick to take advantage of the many benefits makeup has to offer, according to Doniella Davy, a fashion industry makeup artist. “I love that makeup can accentuate so many people’s features and how it can help with confidence,” Davy said. “That’s really how [my career] started.” Working in both worlds, Davy started out professionally by collaborating with film students in Los Angeles, but her love for
when I started experimenting with basically every color of eyeshadow I could get my hands on,” Lovora said. Knowing that color is the most common factor that allows fashion to interconnect with makeup is not knowledge limited to a professional makeup artist. Teenage makeup artist Wren Ingram acquired makeup skills by watching influencer Manny Gutierrez’s YouTube videos. “It’s just super fun to take on the challenge of finding the perfect hue of eyeshadow or lipstick to contrast the colors of my outfit,” Ingram said.
or uneven complexion,” Lovora said. “For example if someone has bold red undertones, a green color corrector will be used to cover it since green is across red on the color wheel.” Davy explained that color theory also ties into fashion. “I use color theory to find the best makeup look based on the color scheme of the outfit,” Davy said. Though both a makeup artist and fashion makeup artist utilize the science behind color, the
Lovora added that color is an important part of applying and utilizing makeup. Model in photo is wearing black mascara. Mascara legnthens and thickens the eyelashes. Makeup artists use different colors to match outfits. Photo by Triyatha Jammula
makeup and fashion started out as a young kid. The same was true for Sara Lovora, a Sephora makeup artist, as her love for makeup is also rooted from selfconfidence. “I realized that there was much more to makeup than just covering up my flaws and that’s
“Color theory is used for eliminating unwanted colors on a face such as hyperpigmentation or uneven complexion,” Lovora
“Makeup can help express ourselves in a way we can’t with words.”
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-Daniella Davy
Pan stik is used to help conceal unwanted pigments. It’s useful for theatrical purposes. Photo courtesy of Max Factor
application process of makeup differs, she explained. “My job is a bit different because the makeup looks that I do have to be more dramatic and have to look good on the runway,” Davy said. “We purposefully overemphasize the shading and highlighting to boost the impact of the desired look for stage, movie, or catwalk.” Even with their differences, makeup artists share many
challenges. “It’s very important to know how to work with different people because they all come with different skin colors and texture,” Lovora said. “I’m still working on perfecting my knowledge about the skin.” Ingram, however, said he experiences challenges on a more emotional level. “It’s always been tough for me to accept my interest in makeup, especially as a boy,” Ingram said. “Makeup has originally been meant for girls, and well, I wasn’t a girl.” Ingram is an example of how while makeup can be a confidence booster, it comes with its own set of stereotypes. Davy’s obstacles with makeup tie into fashion. “I think that the biggest challenge we face is staying up to date with changing trends and styles,” Davy
“Since trends and the fashion industry change so frequently, it forces us to always research the latest styles.” Staying up to date with trends is more particular when working in film. Davy got her experience working as a makeup artist in the film industry when working for the mainstream TV show Euphoria. “The characters’ makeup is unlike anything seen on teens in the real world,” Davy said. “It’s much more accentuated to a character’s persona which includes their style, making it that much more
important to study them.” Makeup and fashion are interconnected industries that benefit each other, Davy explained.
]With the rise of social media and makeup, more fashion brands and icons are releasing makeup lines. “It’s honestly a win-win situation because it not only brings more profit from the makeup line, but to their fashion brand as well,” Davy said. “For example Rhianna who’s known as a singer and fashion designer has one of the most successful makeup lines, Fenty Beauty.” Ingrams’ favorite beauty products are an example of how makeup is bringing more attention to the fashion industry. “My favorite blush would have to be by Selena Gomezs’ brand, Rare Beauty,” he said. “She also has a clothing line I recently discovered called Dream Out Loud.” Beauty, glamor, and making a statement are all important aspects of the fashion industry. Makeup, which often goes unrecognized in the fashion industry, is not only used to help enhance the meaning fashion brings, but is its own way of expression. “Sometimes we just need to show, not tell, and makeup can help us do that,” Davy said. Spring 2022 - The Latest - 35
Cool Shoes Take You Cool Places In fairy tales and children’s stories, shoes have played very important roles in certain examples of those narratives. From Cinderella to the Wizard of Oz to There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, footwear has helped people find a prince or find their home, and people in real life can find shoes just as powerful as their fictional counterparts. Shoes have been taking the world by storm. The shoe world has become very popular recently, especially brands like Jordan, New Balance, and Adidas. These brands Spring 2022 - The Latest - 36
have always been well known, but their shoes have been some of the biggest things in current trends. More and more people have been getting interested in footwear and have been becoming “sneakerheads,.” according to graphic designer Luke Davis. A sneakerhead is a shoe enthusiast, and spends time looking for and discovering new footwear. “I like shoes because it’s more than just something to protect your foot,” Davis said. ”I feel like shoes can represent all sorts of things and also be a great way to express yourself.” Fashion can be a way of self
expression, and shoes can play a big role in that. Sneakers can be the base of an outfit or wardrobe, according to sneakerhead Brayson Gonzales. said, “They are probably the most important part [of an outfit], because they set up everything else,” Gonzales said. Shoes set the stage for someone’s style, agreed Davis. They can show creativity and personality, and can also be a way to relate to someone else. “Personally, I like them because of the stories and design put into them, and the collectibility they can hold,” Davis said. …”I’d say it’s a
Photo by Sophia Porter
“I feel like shoes can represent all sorts of things and also be a great way to express yourself” -Luke Davis
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major part and can be used to stand out or blend in.” Shoes play a vital role in the fashion industry. Many companies like Nike, Adidas, and New Balance started off by selling shoes. The way footwear can be so versatile is one of the reasons they have been so important to people and their clothes. They can be changed and tweaked to fit someone’s specific vision, according to Davis. “It seems shoes can be mixed in all sorts of ways to throw spins on fashion,” Davis said. “Like when Dapper Dan took high end Gucci bags and cut them and put them on the Nike Air Force 1.…” Fashion has no constraints, so neither do shoes. “Different designers can put their own ideas on a silhouette, and create new trends that swing over to wider markets,” Gonzales said. Designers can create something that has never been seen before, which is one of the reasons shoes have been so popular
recently. A lot of people have someone they look up to for fashion inspiration, and some celebrities have given others ideas for their next outfit. This includes Billie Eilish, Travis Scott, Harry Styles, Tyler the Creator, and more. Celebrity influencer Tyler the Creator is a particular fashion inspiration according to Davis. “I don’t have too many role models in fashion but I like Tyler the Creator and A$AP Rocky for sure,” Davis said. “Nigo and Pharrell as well.” The use of social media has also impacted the fashion industry in a major way. It has made it really simple for people to look at different outfits and find what they like. “Social media is making it easier for people to browse outfits and shoes to find what they want to wear and what they’re interested in,” Gonzales said. “It is super accessible and anyone can find inspiration.” Anyone can dress the way they want and can imagine
Photo courtesy of Luke Davis
themselves wearing some of the clothes they see online. Reselling shoes has also been extremely popular, and has proved to be very profitable. It is currently being valued at about one billion dollars, Davis explained., and people have been making a really good profit. Reselling sneakers can be is also something that gets can get you interested in shoes, and can be a fun way to make some money. Though there is a big chance you can make a profit by reselling. “Reselling isn’t as easy as it seems,” Davis said. “Not everything sells, and just because it says ‘Supreme’ doesn’t mean it’s and easy sell. So far I’ve found that selling shoes, in
the range of size 9-12, especially sizes 10 or 11, are the easiest to sell.” It’s hard to decide which items to sell, and which ones will make the most money. Shoes have been vital to clothing and the creation of outfits. T,they are the base of any outfit, and there are so many different ways to explore sneakers, w. Whether online, talking about it with friends, or just noticing people’s kicks in public, . Theyshoes are crucial to fashion and people’s style.
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With Jordan’s large variety of colors and silhouettes, these sneakers have became popular all over the world. By Sophia Porter
Design Credits
Credits
Front cover designed by Henry Hasik Front cover photo taken by Milani Weerakoon Inside front/back cover photo taken by Milani Weerakoon Table of Contents designed by Reina Zou Team Bios designed by Triyatha Jammula Letter from the Editors designed by Sophia Porter Beauty in Fasion graphics designed by Triyatha Jammula Back cover designed by Henry Hasik Credits page designed by Milani Weerakoon
Special Thanks Shaping Fashion:
Keith Strait, a worker at Fleet Feet Leyla Redfield, worker at Plato’s Closet Eva Boeke, a middle school student
Thrift and Vintage:
Samantha Cradduck, thrift buyer and reseller on Etsy and Depop Ella Ricks, thrift buyer and reseller on social media Daisy Sullivan, manager at Pavement Photos courtesy of Cradduck, Ricks, and Sullivan
Dress Up:
Nanette Acosta, costume director at University of Texas at Austin Kathleen Laudy, professor at Mclennan community college
Photos courtesy of Nanette Acosta
Beauty in Fashion:
Doniella Davy, a fashion makeup artist Sara Lovora, a Sephora makeup artist Wren Ingram, a new coming makeup artist
Cool Shoes Take You Cool Places: Luke Davis, graphic designer Brayson Gonzales, sneakerhead Bryson Moses, sneaker fixer
The
Latest