Stand Out and Stay Warm

HOW TO INCORPORATE STATEMENT COATS INTO YOUR WARDROBE THIS SPRING By Jane Houseal, Fashion Staff Writer Photographed by Molly Jacobs, Staff Photographer Modeled by Anisa Pontes Makeup by Riley August

When social distancing in unpredictable weather, many are faced with the choice of either sacrificing warmth or their sense of style. Luckily, you can avoid that dilemma by choosing to wear a bold coat. Statement coats have been seen everywhere this year; from vintage-inspired jackets seen in the Netflix hit show, Queen’s Gambit, to the pieces Alexander McQueen designed for his Spring 2021 Ready-to-Wear collections. No matter what inspires you, there is a statement jacket perfect for your closet!

While it is not new for designers to incorporate vibrant outerwear on their runways, jackets in Ready-to-Wear shows last fall were even more exceptional than usual. Italian luxury company Fendi included a variety of elevated neutral-toned coats in their collection.1 The collection had everything from textured beige fur coats to brown suede trenches with laser cutouts.

Irish international fashion designer, Simone Rocha also delivered a remarkable show. Black leather biker jackets with frills and Edwardian balloon sleeves were sent down the runway, followed by jackets with clusters of 3D satin roses.2 The creativity in these Fall 2020 Ready-to-wear shows are the perfect inspiration for adding eye-catching outerwear to your wardrobe.

If you want a statement coat for yourself, search for unique colors, patterns, textures and silhouettes that speak to you. If you want to try upgrading your outerwear, but still prefer a laid back look, opt for a unique puffer or quilted-down jacket. A longline quilted jacket is a chic and laid back piece. Try looking for a pastel version for the perfect spring layering piece. H&M and House of Sunny both have a wide selection of quilted jackets.

When seeking out unique items, shopping second hand is always your best option. Luckily, these coats are especially popular on resale apps and in thrift stores. Search on eBay, Depop, and at your local thrift store to find a great deal.

1 Luke Leitch, “Fendi Fall 2021 Ready-toWear Collection,” Vogue, 2021. 2 Sarah Mower, “Simone Rocha Fall 2021 Ready-to-Wear Collection,” Vogue, 2021. Another option is going for a fur trimmed trench. Celebrities including both the Jenner sisters and Rihanna have been spotted wearing the iconic Saks Potts Foxy coat. The leather belted coat features stunning fur trim on the collar and cuffs. The coat is a splurge garment, but fortunately there are many stylish dupes. Asos, Petit Moments and & Other Stories all have similar styles available along with an extensive selection of fashionable trenches and belted jackets.

There is such a wide variety of outerwear options, so styling choices are unlimited. For example, statement coats work well with any neutral outfit combination. Boots, jeans and a simple sweater or tee shirt can look amazing with a stand-out jacket. In addition, coordinating shoes with jackets always creates a cohesive, stylish look.

Another tip to create a fun look can be to coordinate the colors of your statement jacket to the color of your shoes. If you have a jacket that hits mid-thigh, try pairing tall boots and a mini skirt or dress for a flirty, feminine look. To take the look in a vintage/70’s inspired direction, add brown heeled boots or go-go boots. You can also create an edgier look with platform boots and patterned tights.

This spring, everyone needs a statement coat so they can look like a badass without freezing. Upgrading your outerwear is one of the best ways to look put together and fashionable without spending a lot of time putting together outfits. With endless styling options and a variety of coats to choose from, it is a great way to stand out and express yourself through fashion.■

The Mother of SciFi

AN EXAMINATION OF MARY SHELLEY AND THE FEMINIST ROOTS OF SCIENCE FICTION By Kate Lawless, Deputy Editor Graphic by Maya Hofman

We all know the infamous cry from Dr. Frankenstein when his monster finally comes to life. The scene, and the famous line, have resonated through history along with the horribly human feeling of realizing the powerful, yet potentially terrible consequences when we harness nature and science to do our bidding.

The science fiction genre captures that feeling exactly. The bond and conflict between humanity and nature mixed with limitless human imagination have made this one of the most successful literary and media genres of all times, producing works like “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and “Star Wars.” Science fiction stories are gripping to the public and are often adapted, given sequels or become franchises because of their loyal fan bases and limitless storyline potential. The story of Frankenstein’s monster has been adapted many times over since it was first published in 1823. People are often surprised that “Frankenstein” was written by a woman, considering how few female characters there are in the book. But actually, the absence of women is the major plot driver of the book. A man trying to subvert nature and create life without a woman is the whole horror aspect of the story. It’s unnatural and causes a series of events that devastate anyone connected to Dr. Frankenstein.1

Mary Shelley, one of the first science fiction novelists, wrote “Frankenstein” as part of a storytelling competition

1 Williams, Deborah Lindsay. “Monstrosity and Feminism in Frankenstein.” Electra Street, November 21, 2015. between her future husband Percy B. Shelley and their friend Lord Byron. Her story was influenced by Gothic and Romantic styles, but also by her own experiences as a daughter and a woman.2

Mary Shelley was the daughter of legendary feminist writer Mary Wollenstonecraft, but tragically had no relationship with her because Wollenstoncraft passed away shortly after Shelley was born. In honor of her mother, Shelley’s father raised her to be a proud supporter of social and political reform for women and Shelley quickly fell into a crowd of progressive creatives in her young adulthood, traveling Europe and experimenting with her craft.3

After losing her mother and having her own traumatizing miscarriage, Shelley was well aware of the important, but awful potential of women’s life-giving power. That personal experience, combined with her cynical perspective on the Enlightenment period, formed the themes of “Frankenstein.”

Since Shelley’s success with her book, science fiction has grown into an immensely popular genre, albeit one that has been male-dominated, especially in the 20th century. Science fiction stories often center around the adventures of men and sexual exploitation of their female sidekicks. These issues originated with male science fiction publishers who felt that first-wave feminism was an overstep of women’s natural place in society, so they shut women out of the genre, solidifying the culture of sexism that still haunts science fiction.4 While scifi

2 “Mary Shelley and the Birth of Science Fiction.” The Great Courses Daily, August 19, 2020. 3 Ibid. 4 Galaxy, Geek’s Guide to the. “The History of Women in Sci-Fi Isn’t What You is equally enjoyed by men and women, there is still inequality in authorship and representation in the genre today. Despite the science fiction media industry trying to increase representation by introducing more leading female characters, there is often backlash from the male scifi fans. For example, there was massive outrage when the most recent Star Wars trilogy had a female lead, Rey. Actress Daisy Ridley and her Star Wars team faced misogynistic threats and complaints from men who wanted to gatekeep the genre, arguing that scifi is for and about men.

Given the feminist roots of the genre, why do men continue to either sexualize women in scifi or shut women out entirely? Like Dr. Frankenstein himself, they believe that they don’t need women to make something great. But that simply isn’t how the world works. And it isn’t good for the evolution and expansion of the scifi genre either. So support women in science fiction! Follow actresses and female directors for apocalyptic movies, read women’s short stories in scifi zines, and if you like Shelley’s work, check out Ursula K. Le Guin, Octavia E. Butler and Margaret Atwood. Honoring the feminist roots of science fiction and including women in the community is key to making a better environment for fans and creators. Not only do we have to support female actresses and female-led plots, but also support female writers and directors. Just like in Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” tragedy ensues whenever women are absent from the narrative. ■

Think.” Wired. Conde Nast.