LILLY SAYENGA Editor In Chief
CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS
Sophia Almaraz, Maggie Brennan de Jesus, Hadley Damir, James Fall, Sabrina Geronimo, Caroline Miller, Alyssa Trac
PHOTOGRAPHY AND ASSISTANCE Natalie Anderson, Abigail Christopher, James Fall, Ava Hart, Jeslyn Lieu, Caroline Miller, Lilly Sayenga
MODELS On The CoverMaggie Brennan de Jesus and James Fall Throughout The IssueMaggie Brennan de Jesus, James Fall, and Lilly Sayenga “Spin It”Nicole Fletcher
DIGITAL/OPERATIONS
Social Media – Lilly Sayenga and Alyssa Trac Secretary – Grace Elia
MEMBERS
MODERATOR – Ms. Ellen Slatkin Sophia Almaraz, Natalie Anderson, Maggie Brennan de Jesus, Franklin Cheng, Abigail Christopher, Hadley Damir, Grace Elia, James Fall, Nicole Fletcher, Sabrina Geronimo, Ava Hart, Michael Johnston, Jeslyn Lieu, Caroline Miller, Lilly Sayenga, Alyssa Trac, Vincent Vazira
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Dropping The Mic IT IS CURRENTLY a time of chaos and
uncertainty, a time in which we are con fronted with an evil and our best weapon is to retreat into our caves and burrow in the folds of our hoodies and sweatpants for the duration of an unknown eternity. This issue of Rouge has essentially been in progress since the beginning of the school year, and now that I, your editor, am languishing in my sweatpants, I have the chance to unpack what the connection between fashion and music really is. Music is something that carries us, even as musicians are forced to
postpone gigs and grapple with livestream performances. It’s a force that manifests itself in our minds, creating a sort of visual haze as we listen to it that lends itself to unending interpretations. So, despite the calamity and the uncertainty and the retreat to an oversized loungewear uniform, the connection between fashion and music remains, ever evolving. Here are perspectives from a life before COVID-19. These articles may seem foreign to us now, an otherworldly paradox between what we thought life was and what it now is – yet our music has not left us. As you read, I ask you: how may they have
changed, and will we ever return to our previous ideas about what fashion and music mean to us as they seem to increasingly be wrenched apart from each other?
Lilly Sayenga ABOVE LEFT: The cover of Lilly’s September 2019 single
“Last Words”, released under her stage name Lilly Bidwell. ABOVE: Throughout the issue will be photos, taken at Poo-Bah Record Shop, by James Fall and Lilly Sayenga, with Maggie Brennan De Jesus.
TEENS AT PLAYLIST
Alyssa Trac on the role of the playlist in the chaotic life of the teenager
T
HE WORKLOAD at La Salle can get pretty hectic at times. To help with the massive stress levels, people create playlists to help them focus on their work. People usually create playlists on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and other streaming services. Every playlist is unique in its own way, highlighting certain moods or genres that generally create a cohesive theme. A playlist depends on preference and what helps the listener to focus better or reap the numerous other benefits of music. Personally, my playlist is ex tremely mellow and relaxing because that’s what helps me continue to push through doing homework or assignments. The majority of people who create playlists to teenage fanbase. Whenever I’m stressed out from help them with academics put songs in that school, her music definitely helps me focus on aren’t too rowdy or loud because it causes them my work and power through my responsibilities. to disassociate with their focus. A few other musicians and bands that I listen My Spotify playlist consists of alternative and to while doing work are Girl In Red, Cigarettes indie music. One of my favorite indie musicians After Sex, Mazzy Star, and Mac DeMarco. There is Clairo – she is a 21 year old songwriter that are many other bands in my playlist, but these has created multiple albums and singles. Even artists are mostly found in the playlist. though she is an indie musician, she has a strong
THE ROUGE PLAYLIST “We Fell in Love in October” – Girl In Red “Feel Something” – Clairo “Heavenly” – Cigarettes After Sex “Kids” – Current Joys “Welcome and Goodbye” – dream, IVORY “For the First Time” – Mac DeMarco “Teenage Blue” – Dreamgirl “Bluebird” – Beach House “Sodus” – Cemeteries “Alewife” – Clairo
“WHEN
you are an ARTIST you can turn your hand to ANYTHING, in any style. Once you have the tools then all the art forms are the SAME in the end.” -DAVID BOWIE
THE FASHION OF MUSIC CULTURE
James Fall explains how clothes and musicians harmonize
ARTISTS ARE ALL ABOUT aesthetic self-expression. Though their art form is for the listener, the importance of looks is not at all lost on musicians. The zeitgeist of each different musical genre has its own sort of “look” or style. For example, to the right is a picture of a performance of my jazz combo. Jazz musicians traditionally wear a business-casual combination of dress shoes, slacks, and button-up long-sleeve shirt, with a tie, vest, or sport coat being optional. Professional musicians for musical theatre productions, talk shows, etc. are often called to wear “concert blacks”, or clothes that are all black and will cover the majority of one’s body so as not to attract attention away from the main spectacle. In this case, an artist’s aesthetic expression will be put aside for the “greater good” of the show they are a part of.
Left: The Sex Pistols in 1977; Right: James Fall and Aidan Holland playing in a La Salle Jazz Band Concert in 2019
The punk music movement, while claiming to be centered around pure, unabashed self-expression, has one of the most uniform and strict “dress codes” out of any genre of music, especially in the earlier days of punk. The band pictured to the left, The Sex Pistols, is one of the most iconic of the early punk bands. They helped pioneer the fashion of punk, wearing black leather jackets with spikes and pins in them, spiked up hair, combat boots, and sticking to a black and white color palette. Today, Doc Martens manufactures a special line of boots dedicated to celebrating these pioneers of “stickin’ it to the man”.
A quintessential fashion piece within the worlds of rock, punk, and metal that I would be remiss to not mention is the patch vest, more popularly called the “Battle Jacket”. This is the ultimate form of self-expression in the broader scope of rock fashion. This is a vest or jacket usually made from denim or leather that is DIY decorated with studs, spikes, and pins and patches from one’s favorite bands or whatever someone wants to put on it. Many fashion companies have tried to capitalize on this trend by making factory-sold jackets with generic patches on them, but none could ever come close to capturing the true ethos of what these vests are supposed to represent: the individual wearing them.
Battle jackets worn by music fans in Sweden (above) and Oregon (right), from the book Defenders of the Faith: The Heavy Metal Photography of Peter Beste
My own personal patch jacket errs more towards expressing all my interests. I have some of my favorite bands on it, such as Tool, Very Sorry, and Mastodon, but also Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and two Star Wars patches, among others. (Editor’s note: James’ jacket, worn by him, can be found in pictures seen throughout the issue.) Music is as much about self-expression as fashion is. The mentality of creating an outfit is much the same as creating a song. Most people want to create something they like, while still staying within the boundaries of what is popular and will be liked by others. Few will go out on a limb and do something new, and though it may not conform to the status-quo, and many will not like it, they might just be the ones to create the next big thing.
“A group without a photo is like a land without a map or a country with no flag.” – Ian Svenonius
Clockwise from left: Nirvana, The White Stripes, The Make-Up, and The Beatles.
W
HETHER ONE listens to it in class or in the halls, music has long been a massive influence on teens around the globe, but the 21st century has marked a turning point in the way we consume sound and the images of our favorite artists. From their music, the artist’s fashion becomes integrated into their brand. For example, Billie Eilish’s baggy clothes or even Ariana Grande’s iconic boots and high ponytail have become unmistakable trademarks that are synonymous with these stars, furthering their worldwide recog nition and fanbase. Often we see teenagers following in these popular influencers’ footsteps and making their style known to the world. Here, we have taken the hallmarks of the clothing of the legendary music genres of rock, jazz, hip-hop, and country and interpreted them in the context of the adolescent wardrobe.
TAKE FIVE
For jazz, a dress was a necessity since female jazz singers in the past typically wore dresses to their gigs. They would style their short hair in waves and slicked back to add elegance and class to an otherwise explorative and nontraditional genre at the time.
SPIN IT
Caroline Miller, Nikki Fletcher, Ava Hart, Natalie Anderson, Jeslyn Lieu, and Abbey Christopher establish the connection between the genre and the modern wardrobe.
FEARLESS
The resurgence of country music in the last ten years is due in part to Taylor Swift’s global phenomenon. We paid homage to the trademark elements of jeans, leather bags or shoes, and a simple tank top by streamlining – Nikki is shown here in a simple white tank, jeans, and a leather belt.
BEASTIE GIRL
In the hip-hop category, the style has always been baggy clothing or tracksuits, crazy hair and glasses, and bold sneakers. We represented this with jeans, which were also popular in this category of music. Glasses are also seen here and a baggy tee-shirt.
DISORDER
In the rock look, we chose a Rolling Stones long sleeve shirt to honor their enduring impact on the genre. The band’s iconic logo is one that most Americans know – another example of effective branding.
KIMONO: THE MELODIC EMBODIMENT OF JAPAN HISTORY Kimono, a Japanese garment, translates into “wear thing”. The literal translation does not responsibly hold the weight strewn in the four tans (fabric pieces) tied by an obi (belt). As a universally worn article of clothing, what were the origins of the kimono? Initially, the preliminary model of the kimono was crafted during the Heian period (794-1192 AD) in Japan. These straight-cut kimono could suit any body or occasion. Then, the arrival of the Edo period (1603-1868) introduced the kosode, which translates to “small sleeves”. Due to the all-embracing usage, the moving textiles embrace the lives of the people wearing them. DANCE In Japan, the chanto (properly, perfectly) dancing of Nichibu or Nihon Buyo transcended with the colors and figures of the kimono. The symmetric movements of the limbs with the fleeting strokes of the fan correlate to cherry blossom season, traveling, or other activities. Later, Nichibu became the basis of the Kabuki Theater. From a seiza (bentknee position) to bow, the dancer in a standing position would focus on keeping their back straight, knees bent together, toes inward, and maintaining a center of balance.
Sophia Almaraz breaks down the entrenched role of the traditional Japanese robe in the arts of the culture
MUSIC Since the Edo period, the stories told through dance include several archetypes of characters and music. These songs are created by taiko (drums), shamisen (strings), koto (strings), nohkan (wind), shinobue (wind), shakuhachi (wind), kagura suzu, etc. which can mimic nature’s sounds and maintain a beat of the story. STORY Additionally, these songs consist of religious origin (shinto sato kagura, Buddhist Bon), work (rice-planting, boatmen), occasions (parties, weddings, funerals), and traditional children’s stories (warabe uta and others). All of these characters are also found within those of the kimono.
Today, these songs and kimonos are commonly found in the midsummer Obon festivals which are now celebrated worldwide. Still, kimono fashion has produced traditional textiles to keep these stories alive. To preserve Japan’s stories from the Edo period and before, we must respect the kimono as a temple housing the lives of Japan before. Only then may we universally dance to the beats that the Edo dancers’ hearts listened to in past eras.
THE CLOTHES SAY IT
F
ASHION TRENDS come from a
variety of different influences, but some of the most prominent are rooted in the clothes of celebrities and musicians. One of the most notable examples of this is the sway Kurt Cobain had over grunge fashion. Similarly, Madonna set style trends of big hair and lace tops in the 80’s. However, while both Madonna and Kurt Cobain would wear these types of clothes, it isn’t always so easy to copy a celebrity’s fashion. For instance, Lady Gaga’s outfits are always outlandish and intricate: impossible to copy and
Hadley Damir investigates the iconography of rockstar fashion and its rippling impact on listeners. commercialize. However, she still plays her part in impacting her fans’ clothing choices. While it’s very difficult to exactly copy her style, fans express themselves and her music through bold choices in makeup and similar styles of dress (i.e. headpieces, jacket over a bra). Even if one can’t discern Lady Gaga in an outfit, the emotions in her music shine through – independence, confidence, and creativity. Similarly, the styles inspired by Kurt Cobain and Madonna reflect the respective elements of rebellion and Romanticism in their music. Directly copying an entertainer’s outfit isn’t nearly as important as conveying the emotion behind their songs and performances, and that’s why even the cheapest outfit shines with as much spirit and feeling as a ‘$1,000,000’ Alexander McQueen piece inspired by the same artist. Other fans aren’t inspired by their favorite artist’s clothing choices, but by the message behind the garments. Billie Eilish’s usual large sweatshirt and pants combos aren’t particularly exciting, but are massively popular due to the theme they emphasize: by wearing baggy clothes and hiding her body, Billie Eilish rejects the oversexualized image of young women in pop culture. In contrast, Shakira’s skimpy costumes celebrate her body and her sexuality. Both messages inspire and resonate with fans, despite their stark contrast.
“FASHION is inspired by YOUTH and nostalgia and draws inspiration from the best of the PAST” -LANA DEL REY
MUSIC IN ART
Maggie Brennan de Jesus desconstructs her process of conveying the power of auditory reactivity in her work
I
LIKE TO LISTEN to all types of music – depressing, chill, or upbeat – while I do art, to zone out and float off into a different world. Music has been an outlet (alongside art) in expressing myself and releasing the plethora of pent up emotions within me. In this piece, I show the abstract feeling of drowning out the world through beats and songs.
STEP 1 I started off this piece by taking anatomy reference pictures of myself in strange, floating poses showing a unique perspective of an outstretched hand. I then created the red/blue strokes with a simple, large brush to express the mystic and vibrant explosivity of music.
Here I also wanted to capture the feeling of “floating away” when listening, or the yearning for something more in the lyrics as one tries to understand and relate to them. This is signified by her longing expression and her hand reaching out as the music (shown by the headphones) dissolves. ABOVE: Maggie’s finished piece.
STEP 3 Finally, I finished the mystic piece that represents the lively, searching, and eruptive power of music.
STEP 2 I then edited this image on Adobe Photoshop and immediately loved the new contrast of white at the top and pink at the bottom bleeding and melting around the whole piece to give an airy, mixed feel. This cropped version also flowed better in terms of the composition, with the focal points now her hand and face instead of her whole body.
WHAT THE AWARDS SHOWS TELL
F
ROM BILLIE EILISH’S
baggy clothes to Ariana Grande’s signature ponytail, every artist creates a historical moment in the music and fashion world as they hit the red carpets at award shows. Some of the most iconic events in pop culture come from the Video Music Awards show held annually in August. The MTV VMAs are notorious for being the “craziest” award show every year due to MTV giving every artist the most freedom to wear what they want as well as perform however they would like. The VMAs are not seen as being as contemporary as the Grammys or the American Music Award shows, but if one would receive a VMA moon man, it is considered incredibly honorable. Lady Gaga wore a meat dress during the MTV VMA red carpet 2010 to display to the public her wild and unique style that she upheld with confidence throughout her career at the time. Franc Fernandez designed the
meat dress with raw flank steak and it is now kept in the Rock and Roll Hall of fame. Another example of a mixture of music and fashion is Britney Spears’s 2001 VMAs performance of her song “I’m a Slave 4 U” involving a revealing green wrap top along with low rise jeans to accentuate her sensual persona. Within this performance, Spears accessorized her set by holding a burmese python behind her neck to add a sense of danger she wanted her audience to perceive her with. Although animals should never be seen or used as accessories under any circumstances due to possible animal abuse, performances like these raised awareness about the dangers of using animals as props.
Sabrina Geronimo discusses the significance of the most wild outfits of our generation’s honored artists
There has been a running trend throughout the years where internet personalities on platforms such as YouTube and Instagram would rank their favorite outfits from the red carpet, which would unintentionally promote the award show, ultimately boosting the watcher ratings for the event. Personally, the fashion is just a plus while watching my favorite artist perform, so it never truly matters what they wear: their voices are gifts enough.
IN THIS ISSUE TEENS AT PLAYLIST
THE CLOTHES SAY IT
Asaph, Katherine St. “Clairo: Immunity.” Pitchfork, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2019, pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/clairo-immunity/.
“Madonna: Lucky Star (1984).” IMDb, IMDb.com, www. imdb.com/title/tt6638684/mediaviewer/rm1488007168.
THE FASHION OF MUSIC CULTURE
Seliger, Mark. Nirvana.
Fazzini, Gianna. “10 Fashion Trends From Yester-Years That Are Making A Comeback In 2018.” The Odyssey Online, Odyssey Media Group, 15 Oct. 2019, www.theodysseyonline. com/fashion-trends-yester-years-making-comeback.
Wenn. The White Stripes.
WHAT THE AWARDS SHOWS TELL
Zimmerman, John. The Beatles. 1964.
Turbett, Virginia. The Sex Pistols. Graham, Pat. The Makeup. 1998. KIMONO: THE MELODIC EMBODIMENT OF JAPAN WillVii Corp. “東京カメラ部 Editor’s Choice.” 東 京カメラ部, tokyocameraclub.com/photos/detail. php?id=200445&type=editor “Kimono Refashioned Exhibition: Asian Art Museum.” Kimono Refashioned Exhibition | Asian Art Museum, infocus.asianart.org/ kimonorefashioned/ “Dance for Obon Festival.” Dance for Obon Festival | LACMA Collections, collections.lacma.org/node190540 “Woman’s Kimono.” Woman’s Kimono | LACMA Collections, collections.lacma.org/node/2259038 Karl, Charly W. “Cover Illustration by Murata Ryouhei for Murota Reiko, 2009.” Charly W. Karl, Tumblr, 21 Sept. 2015, cwkarl.tumblr. com/post/129565773905/blackcoffeecinnamon-saika566-%E6%9D% 91%E7%94%B0%E6%B6%BC%E5%B9%B3-murata.
Bradley, Laura. “The Snake from Britney Spears’s 2001 V.M.A.s Performance Is Alive, Well, and Much Bigger Now.” Vanity Fair, Condé Nast, 26 Aug. 2016, www.vanityfair.com/ hollywood/2016/08/britney-spears-2001-vmas-snake-alive. Edwards, Jess. “Lady Gaga’s Meat Dress Looks Pretty Bleak Now.” Cosmopolitan, Hearst Digital Media, 6 Oct. 2017, www. cosmopolitan.com/uk/fashion/celebrity/news/a38329/ladygagas-meat-dress-what-looks-like-now-photos/. Stiegman, Kelsey. “5 Times Ariana Grande Proved She Is the Style Icon of Our Generation.” Seventeen, Hearst Digital Media, 8 Feb. 2019, www.seventeen.com/fashion/style-advice/ tips/g441/ariana-grande-red-carpet-style/. Weinberg, Lindsay. “Billie Eilish Elevates Her Neon in Custom Gucci at Grammys.” The Hollywood Reporter, BillboardHollywood Reporter Media Group, 28 Jan. 2020, www. hollywoodreporter.com/news/billie-eilish-brings-neon-guccigrammys-red-carpet-1272764.
MAY 2020