the mini: restless
MODA the mini: CHLOE KARASKIEWICZ Editor-in-Chief Deputy Editor Caroline Kreul Art Director Jesse Tovar Assistant Art Director Alexandra Folino Creative Director Mekea Larson Fashion Editor Paige Schultz Lifestyle Editor Jennifer Anderson Social Editor Barbara Gonzalez Arts Editor BrontĂŤ Mansfield Mens Editor Andrew Connor Photography Director Roberto Leon Contributing Writers Alexa Carlson, Margaret Duffey, Caleb Foust, Jessica Hamilton, Marissa Monett, Phebe Myers, Haley Nippert Photographers Alexandra Folino, Ashleigh Kozlowski, Karlee Mikkelson Models Maya Campbell, Kendall DeCoker, Masy Engel
2 | April 2015
F
letter from the editor:
or me, the word restless has always had a positive connotation. More often than not, it’s associated with anxiety and the jitters— lying awake at night or feeling troubled. I think perhaps that the reason restlessness excites me is that it tends to work as a catalyst in my life. Spring comes and we crave the outdoors, we stay in one place too long and we feel the need to explore somewhere new. The feeling of antsiness is invigorating partly because you can only stand it for so long. All of a sudden, we are compelled to pick up and go: for a run, on a trip, somewhere, anywhere. It’s about embracing what you hunger for, driven by a desperation that seems at once mental and physical. We find in ourselves a new possibility, a new capacity for greatness—if only because we can no longer stand the status quo. This month, as the weather turns palatable again and we can feel the warmth of the sun, our
bodies encourage us to get outside and to become physically productive. Jessica Hamilton shows us how to balance this new need for activity with productivity, while Phebe Myers and Maya Campbell school us in dressing for the events of the season in our time off. Before you get too restless—this month’s opinion pieces feature commentary on ephemeral relationships and embracing self change from two incredible contributors; Caleb Foust and Haley Nippert. Finally, feel the season’s revival with a shoot directed by our Creative team and catch up on the best trends with Fashion Editorial Assistant Marissa Monett before exploring Takashi Murakami’s Chelsea exhibit via Arts Editorial Assistant Margaret Duffey’s thoughtful insights. As we brave the onset of spring and the doldrums of post-break midterms this month, we hope you are as inspired by your restlessness as we are.
Chloe
April 2015 | 3
Written and Directed by Phebe Myers Styled by Phebe Myers AND Maya Campbell Maya Campbell photographed by Alexandra Folino
sCenDIng April a ascending
Pair the season’s hottest trends with Madison’s favorite Spring events for a month of fabulous fashion.
April 2015 | 4
Look 1:
Missed out on Sundance Film Festival? Never fear, the Wisconsin Film Festival is here, April 9th-16th. Keep your look relaxed with this season’s trendy, distressed denim and a crisp, patterned blazer.
5 | April 2015
6 | April 2015
Look 2:
Steal the spotlight at the Chazen Museum’s exhibit “Tradition and Innovation: The Human Figure in Contemporary Chinese Art,” open April 10th-July 5th. Maya’s flashy gold blazer pairs perfectly with an easy sundress and incredible boots for a funky yet luxurious appeal that is sure to impress. April 2015 | 7
Look 3:
April 18th marks the return of one of Madison’s favorite events, the Spring Farmer’s Market. Embrace the season with a flurry of floral fabrics and layers of shiny jewels as you walk around the Capitol Square hunting for the perfect fresh produce. 8 | April 2015
April 2015 | 9
10 | April 2015
Look 4:
In one of our favorite events of the season, Moda’s Spring launch on April 30th, the attire is hardly casual. Stand out from the typical LBD crowd with snazzy trousers and sequins. Maya’s drool worthy Chanel Boy Bag is in a league of its own, but accessories can give a formal look that extra edge—so bring the pizzazz.
April 2015 | 11
“IN THE LAND OF THE DEAD, STEPPING ON THE TAIL OF A RAINBOW” Takashi Murakami’s exhibition “In the Land of the Dead, Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow” embodies Murakami’s attempts to break down the barriers that separate worlds through art. The new paintings and sculptures featured are well-fitted to Murakami’s self-termed “superflat” movement. The movement, which includes Murakami and artists inspired by him, combines modern Japanese art like anime with commercial graphics while still hovering in the realm of “fine art.” This combination manages to blend “low brow” art with high culture.
By: Margaret Duffey, Arts Editorial Assistant
The exhibition ran from November 10, 2014-January 16, 2015 at the Gagosian Gallery in Chelsea, New York. The works burst out of the confines of their mediums and into viewers’ minds. Glossy cartoonish characters became increasingly disturbing upon closer inspection. Murakami merges the worlds of life and death through a canvas covered with smiling flowers and skulls with the word “hollow” spray painted across it.
Photo By: Margaret Duffey
A 56 ton replica of a Japanese Buddhist temple sat at the front of the exhibit’s largest room. The striking interactive piece introduced the religious theme that would carry through the rest of the exhibit. Religious imagery collides with images of natural disasters, death, and destruction to conjure up feelings of human powerlessness. Many of these heavy images are interspersed with Murakami’s playful touch of vibrant colors to mask the seriousness of the issues the pieces address. In Murakami’s signature usage of layered themes, he portrays collision and discord in an almost harmonic way. Murakami’s devotion to his Japanese roots is a theme that remained constant throughout the exhibition. Giant Japanese dragon statues, paintings of traditional Japanese flowers, and kimono-clad elderly men were all featured but with modern twists, making them unusual and, at times, disturbing.
Photo By: Margaret Duffey
12 | April 2015
By: Rob McKeever http://www.gagosian.com/exhibitions/takashi-murakami--november-10-2014
By: Rob McKeever http://www.gagosian.com/exhibitions/takashi-murakami--november-10-2014
The strong emergence of natural disasters in the exhibit is attributed to the Great Tōhoku Earthquake which devastated Japan in 2011. The magnitude-9 earthquake was followed by many tsunami waves that reached land at heights as high as 128 feet and ended over 18,000 lives. Murakami’s art depicts the strength of natural disasters and their ability to alter more than just land, but human lives and those individuals’ understanding of life as well. Of the Gagosian Gallery exhibition, Murakami said, “[t]o me, religions are a narrative...Natural catastrophes, earthquakes, are things caused by nature. Such chaos is natural, but we have to make sense of it somehow, and so we had to invent these stories. That is what I wanted to paint.” The exhibition also featured a critical self-portrait of Murakami in the form of a semi-reflective silver statue entitled “Invoking the Vitality of a Universe beyond Imagination.” Murakami’s mouth is wide open while distorted images of the room in which it was featured reflect back to the viewer as a monstrous figures emerges out of his skull. It is a captivating piece that gives its audience a literal look inside the artist’s head—the art he creates is a reflection of what he sees in the world. Murakami is best known for his collaboration with Louis Vuitton and for his creation of cover art for Kanye West’s album, Homecoming, but his Gagosian exhibition was much less commercial in purpose than both previous projects. Through his combination of themes, mediums, and worlds, Murakami’s “In the Land of the Dead, Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow” portrays the true brevity of humanity and its relationship with religion. References http://www.gagosian.com/exhibitions/takashi-murakami--november-10-2014 http://artradarjournal.com/2013/10/11/what-is-superflat/ http://www.livescience.com/39110-japan-2011-earthquake-tsunami-facts.html April 2015 | 13
IT’S RAINING TREND BEAT THE WET WEATHER THIS SPRING WITH WATERPROOF PIECES SO COOL YOU MIGHT JUST WEAR THEM RAIN OR SHINE.
By: Marissa Monett Spring is a bit of an ambiguous term here in the U.S. While those to the west are enjoying the coat-less life and those on the East Coast may be breaking out a lighter jacket, the lucky few stuck in the middle brace the unpredictable, the chilly and the damp.
Just because the weather here is slightly unpleasant doesn’t mean your wardrobe has to suffer a similarly unfortunate forecast. Long gone are the days of canary yellow raincoats and one-size-fits-all ponchos. Embrace these rainy days with water-resistant pieces that will keep you dry and on trend.
UMBRELLA Hunter Original Bubble Umbrella, $45, bloomingdales.com
RAIN JACKET T by Alexander Wang Oversized Hooded Metallic Shell Rain Jacket, $325, net-a-porter.com
BACKPACK Timbuk2 Spire Backpack, $99, onlineshoes.com
SHOES Hunter Boots Original Low Top Sneaker, $125, shopbop.com
ALEXANDER WANG PHOTO BY STYLE.COM
PANTS H&M Rain Trousers, $22, hm.com
ATHLETIC MINIMALISM 14 | April 2015
URBAN SAFARI EARRINGS Yoins Red Jewelry Tassel Earrings, $5.90, yoins.com
PONCHO Postalco Rain Cape, $422, lagarconne.com
UMBRELLA Zara Home Leopard Umbrella, $26, zarahome.com
CROSSBODY Hunter Original Fringed Small Shoulder Bag, $395, hunterboots.com
BOOTIES Cole Haan Leslie Waterproof Bootie, $150, colehaan.com
MARC JACOBS PHOTO FROM STYLE.COM PUBIC HOUSE PHOTO BY STYLE.COM
BLACK AND WHITE HAT Vinyl Rain Bucket Hat, $10, villagehatshop.com
BOOTIES Stuart Weitzman The Slosh Boot $298, stuartweitzman.com
PULLOVER NO KA ‘OI Waterproof Kagool, $190, alducadaosta.com
RAIN JACKET Hunter Original Clear White Rubber Jacket, $215, harveynichols.com
UMBRELLA Kate Spade New York “Rain Check?” Umbrella, $38, macys.com
15 | April 2015
UPTOWN METALLIC RAIN JACKET Sacai Luck Hooded Rain Jacket,$605, shop.harpersbazaar.com
T-SHIRT Burberry Brit Rain or Shine Cotton T-Shirt, $150, shopbop.com
SUNGLASSES Ray-Ban Clubmaster Mirrored Metallic Sunglasses, $170, intermixonline.com
BOOTIES Hunter Original High Heel Chelsea Rain Boot, $150, nordstromrack.com
UMBRELLA Moschino Cheapandchic Umbrella, $130, moschino.com
TOM FORD PHOTO BY STYLE.COM
16 | April 2015
BANGLES BCBGeneration Bangle Set, $22, BCBGeneration.com
SCARF Valentino Printed Silk-Twill Scarf, $275, net-a-porter.com TOTE Hunter Original Medium Tote Bag, $305, julessb.co.uk
RAIN JACKET Noa Noa Weather Long Sleeve Light Coat, $175, houseoffraser.co.uk
RAIN BOOTS Pre-owned Emilio Pucci Rain Boots, $115, therealreal.com KNEE SOCKS Elle Plain Bamboo Knee High Socks, $13, houseoffraser.co.uk
VINTAGE PATTERNS
VALENTINO PHOTO BY STYLE.COM
April 2015 | 17
Spring Into Sportswear
18 | April 2015
By: Alexa Carlson, Fashion Writer Photographed by Ashleigh Kozlowski Alexander Wang’s spring/summer 2010 collection marked a turning point for sportswear in fashion. Inspired by football uniforms, Wang styled sporty silhouettes and fabrics in a way that allowed sportswear’s wearability to transcend workout environments. Brands like Nike and Lululemon keep up with just as many cutting edge trends as traditional clothing brands, allowing sports attire to create a niche for itself. Must-have pieces like leggings are now staples in our wardrobes, but other pieces leave us questioning how athletic attire can be worn without giving the illusion that we’re headed to the gym. The key to pulling off athletic pieces in an everyday outfit is finding the right mix. Balance out sportier pieces with everyday wear so your look isn’t head-to-toe spandex and lycra. If you choose to wear leggings, look for a pair with unique details like Lululemon’s Wunder Under leggings that come in a great herringbone pattern that add depth to your look. Other details like colored stitching, mesh insets or even larger patterns turn a simple pair of leggings into a statement piece. If crazy colored or patterned leggings aren’t your style, stick to basic black, but add personality with a cool pair of sneakers. When choosing a top, look for tanks with interesting ruffles or draping, or open-back tees to show off a sports bra with intricate straps. The majority of athletic gear is made from spandex and lycra, so balance out the onedimensional stretchy fabric with other pieces that offer different textures. For cool spring days, swap out the expected hoodie for a fuzzy cardigan or light jacket to add texture. A slouchy sweater gives a classic twist to the sporty kicks and reflective aviators provide edge to complete the look. If you are hesitant to mix multiple sportswear elements into an ensemble, test out one of the easiest pieces to get this look; the unconventional sweatshirt. Stylized sweatshirts offer the comfort and ease of a sweatshirt, but have details like an interesting silhouette, graphic print, or unusual fabric that sets them apart from the age-old standby. With sportswear brands becoming more popular than ever, it is easier than ever to find athletic pieces to fit your personal style. To make the most of your sporty attire, try unfamiliar styles and unique mixes. Integrating sportswear into your everyday looks is the perfect trend for an on-thego lifestyle this spring, so whether you actually are running to the gym or just running to class, you’ll look effortless and cool without appearing to slack.
SHAKE IT OFF:
GETTING RID OF ANTSY FEELINGS
There are many simple solutions to getting those ants out of your pants without ever leaving your apartment. By: Jessica Hamilton, Lifestyle Writer Photographed by Alexandra Folino Spring is the season when Wisconsinites can finally shed their oversized parkas and come out of hibernation. And while the sunshine and above zero temperatures bring a feeling of rejuvenation, the months of April and May can leave college students feeling like they need to get out and do something. This time of year, it becomes easy to let your grades slack in anticipation of summer. Don’t let your restless feelings leave you in a rut. Try a few of these indoor activities to shake off your restlessness, while still being productive.
LISTEN TO A PODCAST
Audio apps are entertaining when you’re doing chores that require little focus, like laundry or dishes, or when you’re simply lounging on the couch. By downloading TED Talks, Serial or NPR, you can become more informed without staring at a screen for hours. Disclaimer: once you start Serial, it’s hard to stop.
UPDATE YOUR LINKEDIN OR RESUME
Restlessness can leave you feeling like you have a lack of direction in your life. Cleaning up your LinkedIn profile or résumé will remind you of all of your accomplishments and will help you feel inspired to send your polished credentials out into the real world.
SPRING CLEAN
Clean out your makeup bag by switching dark lipsticks for those of pastel colors. Swap items in your room, like photos, candles and décor for brighter, spring choices. Ridding the clutter in your life can help you feel prepared for a fresh season.
MAKE AN INSPO BOARD
Sometimes when you’re antsy, you aren’t feeling inspired enough to pursue any one thing. Go back to the drawing board. Grab a copy of a magazine you have lying around, flip through the pages, and cut out any words or images that make you feel inspired. Then, organize them on poster paper or corkboard.
MEDITATE
There are plenty of free apps, like Headspace, that talk you through simple meditation steps. Meditation can improve your immune system, reduce stress and improve brain functioning.
YOUTUBE A WORKOUT
YouTube offers a workout video for any type of exercise you like, from yoga to Jillian Michaels. If you’re not into someone telling you how to move, blast some music and just dance for 15 minutes. It will help rid your body of built up anxious energy.
April 2015 | 19
OPINION
Trial and Error: A Path to Self-discovery Through Change By: Haley Nippert, Social Writer Everyone dreams of figuring out who they are. Films and novels would have people believe that some huge life event will result in an epiphany where all of the sudden everything becomes clear. Life, however, has a different plan for everyone, and even if a clear moment of self-realization never occurs, making a change for yourself can bring you closer to where you want to be. Whether it is modifying your style, a dramatic haircut, or new tattoos, sometimes the smallest changes can make the biggest difference. A modification of your style can be the best, and likely easiest, way to reorient yourself. We are constantly told how to dress, through fashion magazines and the people with whom we surround ourselves. Controlling your style can help reclaim yourself. When asking around, my friends Patricia and Danaya both commented that when they were younger they attempted to dress in order to cover what they perceived as their flaws. The changes in their styles were the result of trying to find what made them comfortable.
20 | April 2015
Frustrated by the lack of clothes produced for her body type, Patricia decided to forego pants for the entirety of her senior year, wearing only dresses. “This did amazing things for my self-esteem and my fashion sense,” she said. “I found that if you look good, you feel good.” Danaya also decided to begin experimenting with her style, trying out statement items like large earrings and cardigans. “Testing different styles with some trial and error is beneficial to finding a balanced level of comfort,” she said. Though they still have moments where they feel insecure, they realized that their clothing can be used to bolster their self-confidence instead of as something to hide behind. Breaking out a new wardrobe allows you to find what style you actually like, not what others have limited you to. Feeling good about your outward appearance, no matter how small the difference, can positively affect your self-confidence. What is most important is that you wear what makes you feel good, and that you realize you do not need to impress anyone but yourself. Taking charge of your style can be
a liberating experience that can help you discover, or rediscover, yourself. In a fashion similar to changing your style, tattoos, too, can alter how you perceive yourself. Tattoos are a huge commitment, and not for everyone, but taking that leap and reaching for something permanent can help to ground you. When life becomes hectic and everything appears to be shifting, the lines on your body will not, and in that way tattoos can serve as a source of strength. Even if you regret inking your body later on, those images will serve as reminders of where you have been and that you made it through.
Haircuts are far less permanent than tattoos, but can be just as significant. During the most stressful times of my life, exams, family trouble, etcetera, I have chopped off all my hair. Not only does it lift the weight off my shoulders, both literally and figuratively, but it forces me to look at myself differently. It is easy to get stuck thinking of yourself in a certain manner, especially when focusing on the negatives, but seeing the physical manifestation of your ability to adapt forces you to acknowledge that you will not always be that person. In fact, you might not even be the person you thought you were seeing in the mirror. There is a certain amount of trepidation that goes along with cutting your hair. When I first went for shorter locks I was terrified that my peers would mistake me for a boy or call me names. I realized that it did not matter because I loved my hair. When you let go of the expectation that you need to please everyone, you learn how to refocus on your own happiness. There is a sense of empowerment in choosing how you present yourself, and a new haircut is one way to challenge yourself and take on your future. If a dramatic cut is not the way to go for you, even just styling your hair differently will alter your perspective. A new hairstyle can be your way of recovering yourself and learning that change can be a positive experience.
“What matters is that you love who you are becoming and that you make choices that will better you.”
Making the choice to permanently ink your body can be stressful, and there will always be that nagging thought about possible regrets. My friend Julie put it best when describing how she reconciles the permanence of her tattoos with their “ephemeral” meaning: “… it’s not like we have a static relationship with our bodies. I know what my tattoos mean to me now, but those concepts are in flux.” “Ephemeral” is her clever way of referencing her The Little Prince tattoo, as well as recognizing the “paradox” of the lasting ink of a tattoo and the impermanence of the moment that initially defined its significance. The particular relationship you have with a tattoo may change, but it is still a part of your journey. That is not to say that every tattoo has to have some big, symbolic meaning. At their core, tattoos are art, and having them for purely aesthetic purposes is your prerogative. In the end, it is your body and your choice, and realizing you have that kind of control can help you to disregard the influences that would have you think otherwise. Regardless of the reason behind a tattoo, they represent commitment and ownership of who you are, and learning that you have the strength to take a step toward something so permanent can give you that strength to move forward.
Ernest Hemingway once said that “there is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” The only way that idea can be realized is through change. This is not limited to changing your clothes or hair or ink on your skin; there are many more ways to positively impact your life through your decisions. What matters is that you love who you are becoming and that you make choices that will better you. A plethora of different factors will affect who you become, from your friends to the ads on television, but your choices are the determining factor, and ultimately you will choose what path you take.
April 2015 | 21
THE CITY AWA K E N S At long last, the city begins to defrost after a restless winter. It’s time to breathe in a new air.
KENDALL DECOKER AND MASY ENGEL PHOTOGRAPHED BY KARLEE MIKKELSON DIRECTED BY ALEXA CARLSON, KAYLA COOKE, KELSEY DAYKIN AND KALLAN SWENSON CREATIVE DIRECTOR MEKEA LARSON
OPINION
Wander,
Lust
FINDING MEANING IN TRANSIENT RELATIONSHIPS By Caleb Foust Come spring, the Memorial Union Terrace takes its first trundling steps out of the irritating bog that is the Wisconsin winter. Much like its regulars, the Terrace’s trees dotting the baked brick verandas exchange their drab boughs for the lighthearted verdure of spring. It is hard not to see the romantic inspiration for countless poets, songwriters and otherwise thoughtful
28 | April 2015
folk in each embrace of a tumbling spring breeze. Beauty, in my eyes, is synonymous with transience, which is all the more common in an increasingly connected -- and temperamental -- age. There are few pairs of words, I think, that summon the same flurry of emotion as, “high school.” Somehow tucked into the term’s ten-letter construction is a
story -- be it an emotional roller coaster with a dollop of teenage hormones at the controls or a passé portrait of the American education system replete with football teams, honor societies and prom. It has about as much pertinence to our lives as the foreword of a history book -- it may give some background on where we come from, but very little insight as to where we are going. It
gives a framework for our achievements and stages of personal development, but it also may have given us our first introduction to the world of love. It is a time of wisdom, it is a time of foolishness. Most of what goes on during this time is a caricature of the actual romantic world. Strangely, this can go both ways -- for some, high school is an odyssey of long-term monogamy and hushed conversations between classes topped off with a smile like a cherry on a sundae. For others it is more akin to a political career, but the terms are a lot shorter and the voters a heck of a lot more fickle. You come into the limelight for a spell, but it is anyone’s guess as to what will happen next. Either way, when those four years expire, you are going to have scars— real or imagined. College, as if a recovery from that, is more like making a trip to the ice cream shop. Sometimes a taste is all you want, but sometimes you cannot help yourself from wanting a couple more scoops of the same flavor. You can never be sure that the flavor you are enjoying is just going to be there for the day or the place is going to work it into their usual offering. And there is precious little you can do to tell. I have found that you cannot put much stock in the whims of others when it comes to love, though I will not venture to make any sort of pessimistic generalizations. You know when it is a fling, but it is anyone’s guess what happens in the muddy area just beyond that.
This is not a new phenomenon: college is a turbulent period in our personal development, and it is only natural that this should affect our relationships—or lack thereof. If I come off as maudlin, it is not because I feel like a victim of a half-imagined societal machine, but as an active participant in a phenomenon of surging individualism. At the crossroads of all of these factors, be them personal development, past romantic experiences or desires for the future, is the amalgam that we all, as college students, find ourselves immersed in. How do you tell the difference between something tacitly short term and the real deal? Society tells men that during these formative years, plurality is par for the course, coming just shy of mocking those who “give up” too early and settle down. Almost in the same breath, we are told to keep our eyes open for the intangibly perfect “one,” though even that is looked down upon with some degree of irony, chauvinistically looked at like a lion being bagged by a gazelle. In the hapless bounds of this paradox we are led to differing conclusions, some more satisfying than others. From a logical perspective it makes sense. We still do not know what it is we are looking for in a partner, so it would be senseless to sell the farm and buy into something that may not match our ideals. That being said, no one can deny feeling the almost imperceptible fluttering of the heart when a partner
says, “this is only short term,” or some equally ambivalent statement. Even if you acknowledged the truth previously, it cheapens every gesture, making it seem like a pantomime of romance instead of anything real. Physical desires aside, why spend the time? I should specify that this is not a tirade against hookup culture. The terms of service there are pretty well delineated and hard to miss beforehand. It is the gray area after that many lose themselves in. If beauty is as much defined by the absence as the presence of something, then this experience is to be embraced. Though punctuated by adjunct communication, the ambiguity in these relationships is as much a part of our journey to happiness as anything else we have gone through so far. To quote Seneca, “a victory devoid of struggle is a victory devoid of glory.” Though his wisdom is rather warlike and seemingly inapplicable to the naïve soliloquy of a college student, it makes the struggle sound more worthwhile. The unavoidable transience of college relationships is a necessary part of our development, whether it be the result of a proclivity for instant gratification or just the waxing and waning of youthful fancy.
April 2015 | 29
MODA