MUSE Magazine Issue 1

MUSE MAGAZINE - ISSUE ONE

the explosion

FASHION. ARTS. LIFESTYLE. ENTERTAINMENT.

[ your ad here ] to learn about advertising opportunities with Muse, get in touch with us at musemagazine.business@gmail.com

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HELLO from the publishers Look at your textbook, now back at Muse. Now look at your notebook, and back at Muse. Sadly, your books aren’t Muse. But with the first issue of Muse in your hands, your university experience could be inspirational. Welcome to Muse Magazine; the first Fashion, Arts, Entertain-

Our Dose of Inspiration

ment and Lifestyle publication of its kind to hit the Queen’s University campus.

Seeing as this is Muse’s cherry-popping explosive premier, we owe it to our readers to publicly answer the “Muse? What the &*$% is Muse?” question. The answer is that “Muse” is you. Muse Magazine is our response to the growing underground fashion, arts, entertainment and lifestyle interest that is sparking shockwaves across campus, and we simply hope to capture and share every electric moment. Dedicating one section of our publication to each of these four areas, Muse seeks to expose underground Queen’s talent, commemorate the student initiative that shakes up the bubble, and most importantly, share this treasured inspiration with the wider Queen’s community. We’ve perved on your shoes, gawked at your graffiti, adored your napkin poetry and now it’s our turn to give something back.

Starting off merely as a conversation between three friends, Muse has been graced with the creative touch of our awesome Executive and Editorial team, combined with our ridiculously sharp Business Team and the end result is this: our material tribute to the cultural inspiration of Queen’s University. So here it is, the first issue, our first step as University publication underdogs, and Muse Magazine’s first salute to you, the inspirational reader. This is “Muse: the explosion.”

We hope that you are as inspired as we are!

ZTC Zahra Jamshed, Tamara Navarrete & Cherie Tsang

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Emma Kreiner, Europe Through the lenses / on photography and Europe Phil Schleihauf, THE STORY OF A UNICYCLING HERO / on unicycling, child soldiers and being socially active

Julia Dales, BEAT IT UP / on bringing her beatboxing from Youtube to the world

Steph and Fallon, THE STYLE MONSTER / on their blog, Alexander McQueen and fashion influences

ARTS

FASHION

07 The Day Polaroid Died 14 Arts in Edinburgh 16 Stretch Your Perception 18 Ink 20 Get Your [Art] Fix

40 Muse Street Fashion 46 Review: 1000 Beards 47 The Changing Face of

LIFESTYLE

25 The Apple of Appeal 28 Youth Violence: Bridging the Gap 30 The Story of Stauffer Library

Fashion Advertising

49 My Closet, Angela Cooper 51 Profile: Suzzane Carlsen 53 On The Radar 54 Runway Report 58 Novellino: The Fashion Haven

ENTERTAINMENT

60 Up Close and Personal

31 Music & Films 32 M(You)SE 36 Kingston, Entertain me!

38 Ultimate Food Guide: The Dish

61 New York City: A Fashion

with Stacey McKenzie Lover’s Travel Guide

64 Day in the Life

interested in contributing? check out our facebook group at www. facebook.com/museatqueens for details

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:YOURS TRULY Co-Founders/ Zahra Jamshed Tamara Navarrete Cherie Tsang Creative Directors/ Nick Chong Fallon Collett Arts Editors/ Jacqui Playfair Elise Bousquet Lifestyle Editors/ Derek Lachine Ahrun Thiyagarajah Entertainment Editors/ John Yoo Natasha Kucerak Fashion Editors/ Gillian Mays Stephanie Rudyk Layout/ John Pangalos Charlotte So Illustrations/ Anya Mielniczek Photography & Events/ KYLIE BIGNELL Cynthia Oh ANDREA NAZARIAN Business Team/ Angelinda Chen Husain Gilani Christina Kunst Mensa Wang Joy Yang Contributors/ ANDREW BURROWS TAMMY GODEFROY EMMA KREINER ANYA MIELNICZEK ANDREA NAZARIAN ALIA J OUDEH ALANNA SMITH

TABLE OF CONTENTS | 5

the day

polaroid died an article by Emma Kreiner

an enormous thank you to our incredibly awesome supporters: FUNDING & SPONSORSHIP/ ams; Queen’s university CLOTHING SPONSORS/ tricolour outfitters oil thigh designs FELICITY AND FRITZ raw squared boutique NOVELLINO DIVA SALON EZIA COUTURE starLING VINTAGE LOVELIES

ADVERTISERS/ diva salon AGENT 99/BLUEPRINT TRAILHEAD VINNY’S PRINTER/ delta printing WISDOM/ neil & jeff, konekT

image and special font sources: on the radar: music & film (VV BROWN) arjanwrites.com - (BETH DITTO) www.eoinbutler.com - (THE GIRL) littlewhitelies. co.uk - (BILL CUNNINGHAM) billcunninghamnewyork.com APPLE OF APPEAL: themaclawyer.com youth violence STATICGUIM. CO.uK STAUFFOTRON: (STAUFFER LIBRARY) http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Stauffer_Library_2.JPG THE DISH (pizza) dickuhne on flickr - (martini) kingstoncanada.com boOK REVIEW: (MOUSTACHE PLUSH) LEMONPENCIL.COM - (1000 BEARDS) WWW.AMAZON.COM CHANGING FACE OF FASHION ADVERTISING: (MARC JACOB VICTORIA BECKHAM ADS) fabsugar.com NEW YORK CITY: (NYC) digitalapoptosis.com RUNWAY REPORT (ALL IMAGES) www.style. com uplose and personal with stacey mckenzie staceymckenzie.com blog

watch/collab of the year/finally crossing the pond (shirt) pringlescot-

land.com - (ikou tschuss) guyamarani.com

This publication is partially funded by the Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University. However, the views expressed in this publication are solely those of Muse Magazine, its principal members and the authors of the content. As such, the content published and distributed by Muse are not endorsed by and does not represent the views, opinions or positions held by the employees, agents or officers of Queen’s University.

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T

he art of photography is constantly changing. Traditionalists may scream and shout, but as Polaroids are replaced with iPhone applications, and the availability of film and film cameras continue to dwindle, there’s nothing to do but roll with the punches.

Photographs are employed in a multitude of forms. Musty family photographs lie haphazardly in old shoe-boxes, flipped through by the children of children in search of nostalgic remembrances. ‘Fine-art’ prints line the walls of museums and galleries, digital images fly across the virtual information highway. It is nearly impossible to go an hour without knowingly or unknowingly absorbing digitally or mechanically produced images. In today’s social networking and mass-consumption driven society, images are constantly ingested, regurgitated, and passed over. The proliferation of images is linked to the epochal shift in the nature of photography in the last couple of decades, from film-based to digital-based imaging. From high and low, the unceremonious ‘death of photography’ has been proclaimed.

I asked Jeff Dunas, whose photographs have appeared in GQ, Life, Vibe, and Esquire among others, for his opinion on the status of film photography. He wrote to me from his home in California. “A photographer today can’t stick with film indefinitely. One needs to master each new evolution in technology - stay abreast and embrace it - otherwise one is relegated to a practitioner of “old school” methods. It’s best to do both while film is still available - each has its own advantages.

The digital evolution is just a new hammer - a tool to add to one’s kit. On that note - it’s an interplanetary-age tool like nothing we ever had before. Now, anything is possible. I’m not sure I like that, but it is so.”

Marshall McLuhan, the much noted Canadian philosopher and educator famously touted, “the medium is the message”. As technology changes, so do the ways we employ it, and the ways we, ourselves, are employed. It is impossible to deny the newly expanding possibilities ushered in with the digital revolution, but probably more important than the ways in which technology is changing, is how ideas have already been changed.

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While gaping at Emma’s travel archives, I learned that a six-month exchange to the University College Maastricht turned into an eight-month, international travel affair. The university held central ground: “I could walk to Belgium and drive to Germany . . .We drove to Hamburg, we drove to Berlin, to Brussels, about an hour away. I went to Amsterdam, throughout Austria, England, Spain, Portugal, France—I spent a lot of time in Paris”. Already astounded by her credentials, I asked what drove her abroad.

“I went abroad thinking about photographic opportunities that I would have . . . Being in a different place, your awareness is much more acute and you’re able to really be creative. I knew that going to the Netherlands would inspire me in new ways. You don’t know what’s out there.

At least I didn’t know. I think it’s impossible to not be influenced by your surroundings . . . I experimented when I was there.”

Emma Kreiner:

EUROPE THROUGH THE LENSES

I

wanted to know everything. An eight-month absence and cities I’ve only read about in Art History textbooks.

Ancient chapels and textiles and tapered streets that I’ve only seen in the flatness of a photograph. I had so many questions that I was rendered speechless. Literally. All points of departure evaded me as I sought to separate one query from the next. Words locked to other words in disorderly fashion, and congestion en route to speech is all that transpired.

Luckily, her presence brought me warmth and ease— just as I remembered it. I met up with Emma in the early afternoon, only the second time I had seen my friend since her return. She looked different to me now. She had a glow about her, which shone from the ochre tones in her hair to the yellow on her sleeves, and even in the way she hugged me and meant it. She was excited.

She had ripened with experience and I could see it. She had stepped out of the streets of Maastricht and back onto University and Union. Now she was sitting in front of me waiting to share her stories and her photographs.

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AN Article by Jacqui Playfair We had gotten our bearings (ice cream samples, coffee, a couch) and settled in by a huge window. The sunlight streamed in, warming our backs and casting impenetrable glares over our computer screens. We slid down, moved over, changed chairs, and finally maneuvered ourselves away from the cheeky rays. I didn’t even know where to begin. I figured building on the basics would help move things. I knew already that Emma was a fourth year Art History major with a passion for photography. I had lurked her photos on Facebook (where else?) and noticed her knack for artistic focus and composition. After admitting my less-than-professional research methods to her she pointed me to her online portfolio, where she had created a legitimate face for her craft—bookings, contact information, the works. I was thoroughly impressed. I admire those who are productive about their passions— it’s extremely motivating, and part of what makes them such inspiring figures. As I scrolled through photo upon photo of beautiful shots featuring the Netherlands, Berlin, and Portugal, I thought: this girl is good. She deserves recognition.

From scholar to nomad, Emma concluded the books and the backpack beckoned. She documented her entire journey through photographs. As I looked through the digital images, I felt her sentiments emanating from every single one. Each was inflated with life; some were so incredibly candid, others so remarkably joyful. I knew that she had worked with a couple of different cameras, and I wondered how they had impacted her creative output.

“ Being in a different place, your awareness is much more acute and you’re able to really be creative. ”

“Everyone has always said to me that anyone can have the best camera. You can go pick up a Canon DSLR and call yourself a photographer. But I think what defines somebody who claims to be a photographer is the fact that they can make important pictures with whatever means they have. It’s not about the camera, or the technology, it’s about their way of seeing. I just roll with the punches.”

Emma was laughing and entirely modest, despite my embarrassing swoons. She started to tell me about a few “technical difficulties” she encountered—which may or may not remain sore subjects.

“I took a cheap flight to Vienna. While I was there I got a call saying our student house had gotten broken into. My camera [Canon 30D] had been thrown down and was officially out of use. From then on I decided I would revitalize my dad’s old camera [Olympus OM1] that he had given to me. I used that until finally after backpacking the whole summer, it gave up its ghost at the end of the trip. I plan on finding a new one on eBay.” Despite slight differences in quality each photo’s authenticity remained.

They were unavoidably truthful. I asked if this had been the intent, and my question was received with surprisingly careful consideration.

“For the most part [I’m interested in] honest portraiture— most is documentary, I’d say. Capturing the essence of the moment I’m in . . . you can find beauty in the ordinary.”

We sifted through photos of rustic cities. I saw the faces that complemented them. There was so much personality in these places, and these photos had selected fine moments and punctuated them. I wanted to know when she had begun to take up the craft, because now she seemed to work with the refinery of experience.

“I found my dad’s camera in my basement. I think I was thirteen. And I just learned how to focus it and I started taking pictures. I used to take pictures of kids at my high school . . . I feel like everyone has something in their life that they can say is their passion. I’d say for me its always been photography. At one point though I thought I wanted to be in the WNBA. That was my goal when I was twelve.

Honestly. I was determined.”

She chuckled and it was charming. Between moments of conversation she was humming the songs that played over our heads and thinking carefully about her experience.

I asked how much her travels had influenced her progression as an artist, and which cities she favoured.

“Berlin is probably the most interesting place in Europe right now.

There is so much going on there with the East and the West. There is a ton of room for artists to maneuver [and to] create. There’s so much space. It’s really the city-to-be I think. It has a big underground art scene. Lisbon [is also] beautiful. The sun, the sea.

I enjoy Portuguese culture.”

She seemed nostalgic now, like the sights and sounds were still front-runners in her memory. And then she added:

you expand your world vision, and so your inner vision is also expanded.”

This was the unspoken thread that wove through her images.

There was a refreshing sense of maturity in the way she spoke to me; I could tell she had been doing what she loved. I wanted to know more about the philosophy behind her work. She began to speak of two American photographers that she followed for enjoyment and inspiration: Diane Arbus and Edward Weston.

“I’m interested in the history of photography—the early beginnings.

Because I’m an Art History student, I like to think about purpose and context. You always have to find where your work fits in the larger dialogue. I might be getting too into it, but if I’m gonna call myself a photographer, I’m going to want to [examine] those things.”

What would come of these ambitions? I wanted to learn more of her path to sustaining her passion. Queen’s might have provided lift off, but where exactly is the destination?

“I’m definitely interested in the relationship between writing and image . . . and I’m currently working on a portfolio submission for grad schools.”

She said she had been mindful of this while abroad, and maintained thoughtful alignment between each photograph.

Professional portfolios should offer a narrative, especially one that illustrates personal growth as an artist.

Initially I thought that to return to Queen’s would mean tucking away the traveler and bringing back the sleepless scholar. I asked Emma where she found herself now, mentally and creatively.

“I’m in a good place. My attitude towards art and life is always on the same page, which sounds kind of corny.”

I found it amusing how often she would call herself corny, because I found her nothing but personable. Natural. She continued.

“And at first I didn’t want to be back, but I realized that I am in my last year at Queen’s, I’m surrounded by a ton of really great people . . .”

She had stopped and the sun had shifted once again, now outlining her hair and flooding the tiles beneath our feet.

“Kingston is a beautiful place when the sun shines.”

“Once you travel and immerse yourself in different visual cultures,

(PREVIOUS PAGE & LEFT): some of Emma’s brilliant pieces Want more? Follow the link below: www.emmakreinerphotography. photoworkshop.com

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Arts in Edinburgh one student’s visual overload

AN ARTICLE BY ELISE BOUSQUET

B

y the time January arrived this past year, I was already thinking about summer. During the height of the cold Canadian winter and the perusal of Facebook albums, the time when friends were documenting their extended university hiatuses to distant countries, I decided to start looking into summer abroad programs.

It is easy enough to type in to a search engine, “Study Abroad Programs”—but finding one that suits you can be daunting. Deciding on top priorities and goals for your trip are important steps in choosing a program that’s right for you. Although I study English Literature at university, Fine Arts has always been my passion and I knew I wanted to pursue it further after secondary school. After this recognition, I had chosen my subject matter. In my first year of university I briefly visited Edinburgh, Scotland and knew immediately that I would one day return to explore the city. I now had my location down and began researching programs at every university and college in Scotland. Choosing one was difficult. The more I researched, the more factors that came into play: program start dates, student accommodation, and pricing. After much humming and haring with phone calls to various program coordinators, I decided on the ‘Edinburgh College of Art Summer School Program’.

The program offered fifty five-day intensive courses over a six-week period from July 19th to the 27th of August 2010. The variety of disciplines was outstanding; everything from painting to animation was an option, making the simple process of selecting only a handful of courses the difficult task.

I booked my flights to the United Kingdom, arranging a total of six

weeks abroad before having to journey back to the “Queen’s Bubble” in September. The summer school was flexible - it provided accommodation for out-oftown students and allowed students to choose how many weekly classes they wished to pursue. Once I picked my classes—Introduction to Oil Painting, a Foundation Studies class on colour, Painting in the Studio, and Introduction to Watercolour— I considered what my level of experience would be compared to other students in Fine Arts. Luckily, the program coordinators reassured me that this was an issue that could be dealt with upon arrival at the college.

Over the summer I worked hard at preparing myself both artistically and financially. I bought a new sketchbook and resumed drawing and watercolour. Knowing that travel and art supplies would be expensive, I worked two summer jobs. When July 23rd rolled around, I hopped on an almost nine hour flight from Vancouver to London Gatwick, followed by a second flight from London to Edinburgh. I eventually arrived dazed and jetlagged with my luggage, but incredibly happy to have finally made it.

After a long and restless first night in the student accommodation, I went to my first class on Monday morning, and so began the routine. Every morning began with a talk of materials and various executions of techniques: from brushes to paint thinners, to surfaces and tone, and finally to colour and composition.

Live models were brought in once or twice a week to provide new and challenging subject matter. As I began to meet the other students, I discovered that individuals came from around the globe in addition

to many from around the UK. There were a variety of reasons why people had come to the College. Many, like me, simply wanted to further an amateur love for painting and other disciplines. Others were getting up to scratch on their Fine Art skills in order to prepare for Art College applications. And of course, there were those who were merely there for the pleasure of it, the tutors still provided individual mentoring and advice for furthering one’s talent.

When classes weren’t in session during the week, I spent my time either with other students or by myself exploring the untouched corners of the city of Edinburgh. With the college located in the downtown area, it was easy to wander through various historical sites, shopping centres and beautiful art galleries. The main attraction was the International Edinburgh Fringe Festival, it is one of the biggest arts festival in the world.

The city plays host to a wide variety of performances throughout Edinburgh’s multiple venues, showcasing everything from theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, operas, musicals, exhibitions, and the like. I had the chance to catch a few of the theatre performances as well as a few of the comedy shows. Streets were shut down in the centre of the city to accommodate the influx of tourists and festival enthusiasts; street performers would gather crowds to watch their twentyminute shows on the cobblestone.

Edinburgh is an incredible city that can provide such a large variety of entertainment and arts; the sheer number of participants in the festival demonstrates it’s allure for the creative consciousness.

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stretch your perception

THE ART YOGA - CONNECTING, CREATING, AND BREATHING. AN ARTICLE BY ANDREW BURROWS

Dallas Delahunt: the sunniest person I know (despite her wardrobe of only black), the yogi, the one I know who simply just knows. Wise in the mind, gentle to the eye, soft in the ear, patient in all she pursues.

I was granted the warm opportunity to speak with Dallas in mid October, the coowner of a yoga studio on Princess, Studio 330. We met when I began my exploration in, through, and yoga – as an art, and as a lifestyle… an expressive and delicate escape, enriched with personal flavour.

What is yoga to you?

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Yoga is a union. There is no separation, no me versus you. No others, but all one.

If people were to come to terms with this notion, there would be no violence, no

wars, no rape, no illnesses… No harm.

Yoga, to me, is about creating tension to release tension. It is taking the chaos and demands in your life and using breath to stay present, and to move through physical challenges of practice with each breath, in order to stay calm. It is about opening yourself to all vulnerability, on and off the mat.

What is Art to you?

Creativity…. Art is about knowing, about deepening your skill of intuition, opening up and excavating with a stronger sense of self. If you have yourself and your intuition has been developed, then that is creativity.

Art is for your expression to be explored, to be revered, and then to be witnessed.

That is art.

“

If you have yourself and your intuition has been developed, then that is creativity. ” On Friday October 15th, Studio 330 became the only donation-based studio in Kingston. I asked Dallas if she would compare the philosophy of the studio from before the donation style of the space came into play, to the energetic yet serene Studio 330 today. Her response was simple, stressing the significance of the element of community in all things 330.

‘Then’, the community of 330 was evident in the connection that surrounded the two studio owners, before extending to the citizens of Kingston, and further yet.

Within the walls of their website, to the warming presence of the food bank in the studio, and the people that define it - 330 has always exemplified and encouraged this ‘togetherness’ that bonds all within the studio space, on and off the mat. The

philosophy of the donation has enriched and enhanced the strength of these bonds and this noticeable notion of community, and acts as a vehicle to so many things, including the opening of doors to so many members of Kingston who want to practice yoga but are not financially able. Now more than ever, Dallas’ beliefs can be applied to all that choose to indulge in the art of yoga, by entering the ‘oneness’ of the studio.

The community of 330 itself supports other communities, and internationally so. They provide assistance to South Africa, a geographically distant location that, according to Dallas, is not “far off”... not “separate”.

Throughout this transition into a donationbased studio, Dallas has kept one crucial phrase in mind – applicable to the lives and consciousnesses of many: “From fear to faith”. She is not thinking about the potential unsuccessful consequences – “Why dwell on the unknown?” Dallas questions.

Forget consequence, loss, and just do.

She has no back up plan. This is yoga. This is art.

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I got my first tattoo when I was fifteen, it’s shit - but I would never change it. It’s on my finger, a couple of letters stringed together to form a quote. Nobody knows the meaning behind it, and I don’t tell - exposing that would mean that its significance is devalued. So instead it just sits there ‘chilling’, waiting for an opportune moment when maybe it’ll mean something in the same way to someone else as it does to me. This tattoo itself was a breeze, costing me 30 seconds of virtually no pain before fleeing the sketchiest tattoo shop and booking it back to my home, and my mother. I let her believe it was Henna, she let me believe I had gotten away with it - for a month.

ink.

AN ARTICLE BY ANYA MIELNICZEK To talk about my tattoo experience is to talk about what tattoos mean to me as a whole. I’ve come across a massive amount of reasons why people decide to get them, or why they enjoy them, or just the question over why tattoos in general.

I’ve seen them come as statements, beliefs, healing, spontaneous decisions, cool things, commemorations, achievements, memories, just ‘cause, misjudgments or potential regrets.

I’ve realized for me that my tattoos come as a form of expression of my beliefs, and as a testament to who I was or what was happening in my life each time I got one.

For me they’re almost like milestones.

My second tattoo came the day after my nineteenth birthday. I’m pretty sure I was still drunk and feeling ‘badass’ with my newly acquired legality, so I ventured out to a local K-Town tattoo parlor and got a line of text on my foot. There I was, pumped up and feeling ridiculously daring, but apparently my previous piece had prepared me for nothing. This tattoo was a rude awakening. If this tattoo had taken more than five minutes, I would have been out like a light. It took three, Thank God. I was misinformed/completely uninformed about the intricacies of foot tattoos: of the fact that a tattoo job closer to the bone hurts a lot more or that holding your breath for three minutes straight can add to the discomfort. I walked out of the parlor with the line “I got sunshine in a bag” (Clint Eastwood by Gorillaz) etched into my foot. In high school I used the quote in a couple of art and photography projects, I don’t know why. I just liked it and it intrigued me. It was only once I got to Queen’s that the following lines meant anything: “I’m useless, but not for long, the future is comin’ on”. Entering University as a Fine Art’s Frosh, I damn-freakin’-straight felt confused.

I had no idea what I wanted or what was going on around me half the time, struggling to comprehend that I was at university to draw and to paint—something that I’d always done, but had never taken seriously. Maybe this sounds corny but I’m realizing that my latest piece is one that soothed the transition from high school to university, with everything in between. The point now is just that: the future is comin’ on, and its rad.

I had my third tattoo done this past summer.

Getting it done was a more difficult decision at age twenty than it was at age fifteen because at this point my ‘decision’ was grounded solely in the appeal of visible hand ornamentation. I don’t know what it was: the

feeling that you have to make “responsible life decisions”, or letting my parents actually know my plans beforehand. Or maybe it was the “but its going to be on your body forever” line that people seem to whip out at convenience. It was funny to realize at that moment how much societal pressure or perceptions have a way of seeping in. I knew I loved tattoos, every time I see one on someone I’m fascinated. Every tattoo is a story, and it’s interesting.

So...figuring that at twenty it was time for me to take a more mature approach to this process, I decided it was about time I let my parents know I was getting some big work done, and that yes my previous tattoos hadn’t been some infantile joke, and that yes, I actually loved tattoos as an unappreciated art form.

The conversation was super heavy and emotional, but from it I realized just how much I actually wanted this tattoo “forever”.

Contrary to any negative cultural opinions on tattoos, I had my positive ones.

The third piece is on my ribs. It’s an orchid and blossoms and the words, “just be”. What it means to me is super complex. I want to say that the pain was less than my foot, because this time I was prepared. But, it was still a complete ten out of ten on the scale. At times the pain was just “mehh” or awkward, at worst I swear a knife was being sliced under my ribs. But getting some sleep, eating a solid breakfast, and actually breathing made it totally bearable.

I feel like sometime soon I’m gonna have to take a break from all of this meaningful tattoo-artry and get a tattoo purely for aesthetics, or some deeply obscene terminology on my inner lip.

Just

‘cause.

Just to k i c k it. One l i f e right?

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS FOR WINTER 2011: • •

GET YOUR [ ART ] FIX T

“MyWar: Participation in an Age of Conflict” by artists Dune and Raby, Harun Farocki and Milica Tomić “Dimensions of the Figurative” by artists Katie Strang, Laura Stewart and Bronwyn Loucks.

Further down University Ave and at the corner of Bader Lane is the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. This comprehensive art space has a permanent collection of both historical and -contemporary work, as well as several temporary exhibitions. The gallery showcases an exclusive collection of Baroque art, which even features a Rembrandt—the Dutch Master’s Collection is a must see. The temporary exhibitions are equally worth exploring; especially the sculptures and stone cut prints that highlight materials used by Inuit artists during the 1960’s and 1970’s. What’s more, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with the gallery. The Agnes offers film screenings and creative workshops, as well as a Student Docent Program—which is an extremely unique opportunity to learn about the paintings and to lead tours for local elementary schools. The best part is… the gallery is free for students!

These exhibitions are highly impressive and absolutely worth checking out.

CURRENT AND UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS FOR FALL 2010 - WINTER 2011:

AN ARTICLE BY ELISE BOUSQUET

he Union Gallery, located at the main entrance to Stauffer Library, is committed to increasing awareness and appreciation of contemporary visual arts. The gallery is open on a regular basis, driven by a predominantly student-oriented staff. It features exhibitions by Queen’s students as well as artists of regional, national, and international profiles alike. As a central site on campus, it’s easy to drop in between classes and explore the latest instillations and projects. It’s the creative hit you’re looking for.

• • •

“With Rasp and File” borrowed from Northern Canadian artists in Nunavut and Northern Quebec.

“Collecting Visions” African Gallery “Discord and Harmony in the Art of the Baroque Era” Bader Gallery

For more information, visit each gallery’s website for upcoming exhibitions and events!

The Union Gallery http://uniongallery.queensu.ca/ The Agnes Etherington Art Centre http://www.aeac.ca/index.html

nine days later, he arrived in Ottawa, gaining experience and helping him establish himself as a strong social activist.

And this past summer, he completed the cross-Canada tour by cycling from Ottawa to St. John’s, Newfoundland.

This positive attitude resonated not only during the actual riding, but even on days off, Phil—along with the other members—campaigned throughout the cities and towns, constantly working to raise awareness for child soldiers.

And, by collecting over 1,000 red handprints—the international symbol for child soldiers—from numerous people met during the tour, they were able to further spread awareness for the issue, as each handprint will be mailed or delivered to national media outlets.

/ ARTICLE BY DEREK LACHINE

Phil Schleihauf:

Thoroughbred determination: the Story of a Unicycling Hero AN ARTICLE BY DEREK LACHINE

T

hough most twenty year olds spend their summer working and reminiscing with old friends, there are others that strive to make difference, be it through volunteer opportunities, or through a charitable foundation.

For Queen’s University student Phil Schleihauf, he chose to forfeit the ordinary summer of an undergraduate student, and venture across Canada in an attempt to raise money and awareness for child soldiers. It was no ordinary trip, for his method of transportation was a one-wheeled vehicle—a unicycle. Picking the hobby up at a young age, it started out as a subtle interest, offering him a way to get to and from school; however, being raised in a socially active family, the hobby quickly

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evolved into an opportunity to make a difference.

The transition began in 2008 when he decided to take a year off from school, and do missionary work in Africa.

However, in spite of Africa’s fantastical allure, he decided against the idea: “I started thinking to myself of ways I could make a considerable difference and have a positive effect in Canada, without going overseas. What’s the point of spending a large amount of money and burning all these fossil fuels, if some of the same opportunities are offered in my own backyard?” With his selfless attitude in hand, and maintaining his constant aim to raise awareness for child soldiers, he ventured out for his first tour, stretching from Victoria, British Columbia, to Ottawa, Ontario. Seventy-

His constant absorption in social-activism would lead one to believe that he would have to stay continuously inspired to pour his own time and resources into the cause. However, it is not a mere question of inspiration, it is rather the sheer number of child soldiers that pushes him further into the cause: “The issues themselves inspire me to continually try to make a difference. In light of them, I don’t feel that the time I put into it is sufficient enough to truly explain the magnitude of the issue of child soldiers; that there are over 250,000 of them in the world today.”

And Phil explained, “when we tell them the number of child soldiers in the world, the shocked expression on their face when they realize the issue doesn’t garner much national media coverage, is quite visible.” It is not necessarily his ‘duty’ to bring attention to these issues, however, due to the lack of coverage in Canadian mainstream media, his selfless attitude and his passion to raise awareness has helped him subtlety catapult the issue of child soldiers into minds of Canadians, simply by word-of-mouth.

why is it that the majority of Canadian citizens unwillingly snub their nose when terror comes knocking? Perhaps it is the growing self-absorbed attitude that ensnares many of today’s population, or, perhaps it is simply the lack of coverage that induces this universal pandemic of ignorance.

However, it’s not only about word-of-mouth these days, modern social media offers a completely new outlet for social-activists and journalists to relay information to society. But in this, meaning and importance can get lost in one-line news releases. With Twitter rapidly becoming the new CNN, a subjective relationship with global issues continues to falter, resulting in a new-age ignorance that places one’s Facebook status updates as a more reliable outlet than the newspaper. Despite the rapid advancement of social media technology, there are still those whom use human interaction and expression to relay important messages and to garner a heralded voice in an otherwise distant and impersonal world. As Phil has proven, despite the lack of coverage in Canadian media outlets, the issue of child soldiers is beginning to resonate across university campuses, and into households. To Phil, it is that power of speech and human interaction that is most comforting: “Seeing the welcoming we received throughout each tour, it proves how powerful just spreading a message can actually be, and how big of an impact one’s voice can have on modern social issues.”

wouldn’t be comfortable with myself if I were to completely ignore these issues now that I’ve learned about them. ”

Saying that it is his ‘duty’ or ‘responsibility’ to relay these issues to Canadians would be a bit of a stretch. However, as our interview progressed, he emitted a sort of heroic effigy: the able hero in a world filled with antagonists.

Perhaps it was his gentle demeanour, or perhaps it was his strong sense of selflessness that transformed a normal teenager into a socially active student. But nevertheless he used his humble beginnings as a spring-board into social activism: “I am really lucky in where I ended up being born, and the lifestyle I am able to enjoy, and I wouldn’t be comfortable with myself if I were to completely ignore these issues now that I’ve learned about them.”

It’s no secret that when it comes to Canada, most citizens are more apt to check hockey stats, rather than the global issues section of the Globe and Mail. If one engineering student can donate his own time, resources, and well being to help garner attention to an international issue,

For that is the real issue with our generation. We are so consumed in our daily tasks that we fail to realize how fortunate we are to enjoy the lifestyles we have come to obtain. Turning on a lamp at dusk, taking a shower every morning, and having clean water pour effortlessly out of

“ I am really lucky... and I

LIFESTYLE | 23 LIFESTYLE | 23

the apple of appeal

a tap, are all things we take for granted. Yet for Phil, it is these minute details of life that offer inspiration for him to make a difference, and spread a selfless message to have a voice, and to show support for not only child soldiers, but a plethora of issues that surround us.

Through a simple one-wheeled vehicle, Phil was allowed access to numerous outlets, and by example alone, was able to spread awareness for child soldiers. What began as a simple hobby escalated into a means of social activism.

He proved that with a selfless attitude, our generation could do fantastic things. That is the problem we face in modern society: we show compassion and sympathy for the unfortunate, yet we fail to act on those emotions, and without action, there will never be a solution. Despite the growing lack of student social activism, there remains a small glimmer of hope in today’s generation: that the more and more we are induced to global issues via modern social media, the better chance we will have to make a difference. Modern technology now offers a plethora of outlets to have a voice and to spread a message, but in the end, it inevitably comes back to our willingness to forfeit our own well-earned resources and time to stand up for an issue we feel strongly about. For that is all it takes, if we remain determined, and maintain a strong sense of self, we can do anything we set our mind to.

“I’m most proud of proving to myself, that you can really do something that you really want to do. With my first tour, I told myself I was going to cycle across Canada, and I don’t think I really believed it until I actually began. Actually trying and succeeding in creating these campaigns, simply trying on your own to come up with an idea that might actually have a significant effect on Canadian national media seems crazy; but if you simply put your mind, time and passion into it you can do anything.”

tech talk: the SEXY fruit of innovation AN ARTICLE BY AHRUN THIYAGARAJAH

The apple’s got a bite to it. At least that’s what Mac and iPhone users push for.

In a world where a lack of innovation draws the chagrin of students, Apple knows no struggle. At Stauffer, Douglas, and Bracken – you name it – there are signs of the Apple revolution; a cultivation of culture, where its patented brand of technologically driven products are instantly recognizable.

From the hanging white headphones to the aluminum-cased Macbook Pro, Apple is nothing if not image-conscious.

The goal is to create sexy products, with marketing campaigns that promote user-friendliness and reliability. As ComputerWorld Canada’s editor Dave Webb points out, “Who wants to be the PC guy in the Apple commercial?”

What are Apple’s keys to success? For one thing, it plays off the goal of being in the loop. Selling millions each quarter, Apple still has that rare quality of making each individual feel that their product is unique. In some ways, it is the top dog that attracts all the underground clients.

Apple knows its strengths, and plays to them.

In addition, perhaps more importantly, Apple is fearless. They create a niche market, portray it as a need, and let the

LIFESTYLE | 24

rest of the pieces fall into place. Take the iPhone for example. It has been in the market for three years, and has already surpassed Research In Motion (RIM) in overall production, shipping 15.4 million units over the last quarter in comparison to Blackberry’s 12.3 million (Strategy Analytics). It does this by adding the little things that make a decision, from the millions of apps available on the iPhone 4, to the dual operating system capabilities of the Macbook Pro. Apple instinctively takes a bite out of their major customers by incorporating what these firms do best, adding features to make it oh so irresistible.

Throw in the fact that they have a slew of celebrity endorsements, most of which are free, and you have a recipe for disaster for Apple’s competitors.

From the likes of Beyonce, Barack Obama, Kanye West, and even George Clooney, Apple is the standard for music, whether it is for the average listener

or aspiring producer. You see it all the time, the widespread question, “What’s on your iPod?” Hailed for its high performance capabilities, the Apple users are its greatest resource. It thrives, in many ways, on being an untapped viral marketing campaign, always looking for new ways to gain customers through positive reputation.

In reality, the aura of Apple centers on maintaining its status as a pseudo-cult.

They have tremendous foresight, which enables them to develop products that fit with their image. According to the 2010 Interbrand report, Apple Inc. is ranked as the 17th best global brand; a feat not surprising when considering its place among the modern day folklore of pop culture. Apple is a symbol of status, a symbol of innovation, and a symbol of triumph. Like it or not, this nutritious fruit is here to stay.

LIFESTYLE | 25

journalism vs blogs The Power Shift in Social-Media: A Revolution or Adaptation?

ARTICLE BY DEREK LACHINE With the rapid technological advancements occurring in social-media, news is continually becoming more and more depersonalized, completely revolutionizing journalism. But is it really a good thing? What happened to the paternalistic feeling one gets when one flips the thin, recycled pages of a newspaper? What happened to the time where journalism was a respected and fulfilling career?

The growing accessibility to modern technology has allowed average readers to not only develop their own opinions, but also make it available to the global online community. Due to the growing number of online blogs, journalism is continuing to fizzle out, and inevitably becoming more and more unreliable. However, what truly defines a journalist? What makes a journalist more reliable or credible than a blogger? These questions are continually being raised in the growing dispute between the mainstream media and the blogosphere. To many readers, news is news, no matter the outlet. However, the growing appreciation and popularity of not only political bloggers, but those in sports as well, are threatening the proverbial ‘turf’ that journalists and reporters have maintained for years. But what’s to blame for the sudden shift in power? Some would argue that it is the bloggers themselves causing the revolution; but in hindsight, it is rather the general public’s constant thirst for news and knowledge that has revolutionized the entire media world.

Technological advancements in social-media are continually changing the ways in which society receives news; these changes are removing the agency and power from the old-world journalist, and instead placing them in the hands of the online community. Why bother flipping through the newspaper when one can read the same headlines through a simple one-

sentence amalgamation on Twitter? And due to the limitless access to social issues, it gives the average blogger numerous weapons in their arsenal to not only promote their writings, but to deliver them to the masses.

This accessibility has fuelled the mainstream media’s sudden distaste for online bloggers.

Though there are those that embrace the rapid advancement of social media, there are still the ‘dinosaurs’ that continue to live in the past; and due to the increasing popularity of the blogosphere, it has these ‘dinosaurs’ questioning the writer’s credibility.

However, what truly defines credibility? Is it the 8x11 piece of gold-flaked paper that hangs obscenely on one’s office wall? Or, is it one’s conduct, quality of writing, and devout following? This question of credibility isn’t necessarily what the mainstream media is concerned with; perhaps the proverbial ‘turf’ that they feel they were once entitled to is beginning to diminish, therefore, they have no choice but to act and attempt to lessen the reliability of the blogger.

But nevertheless, how is it fair for the mainstream media to attack a simple outlet of opinion and information? How can there not be a positive impact from being allowed access to a wide variety of opinions that are now offered via the online community? There’s nothing wrong with a widely accessible means of human opinion. If anything, the blogosphere offers the average person an opportunity to engage in the newsworld and relay their opinions on a local, national, and global scale.

It is modes like Twitter that enables news-thirsty readers access to the wide variety of opinions that are not only those of amateur bloggers, but also of the ever-increasing amount of professional writers that are gradually easing into the new technological world.

However, other than offering the cyber world access to Kanye West’s sudden outbursts, Perez Hilton’s humiliating tales of Lindsay Lozon, or even the score of a hockey game, can Twitter actually be recognized as a valid news source? The answer is no, for that’s not what it’s intended for. It’s meant to provide an outlet for expression—no matter how important, or how ambiguous that expression may be.

If there were a message that could be taken away from the ongoing battle between the blogosphere and the mainstream media, it would be that the boundaries that once existed between news and society are being continually blurred. The personal connection that once existed between the printed words of the Globe and Mail and the ‘self’ is being stymied by the impersonal sectors of quick-hit news sources. Gone are the days of 17th century salons where in-person discussion stimulated the mind; now, due to the ever-advancing digital world, a defamiliarized relationship has emerged between reader and information. However, despite the negative implications that modernity may hold, the individualized voice is as powerful as ever, due in large part to the constantly evolving social-media world.

the facts

*according to canadian center for justice stats 2008 AND statistics canada 2007

+41%

youth violence BRIDGING THE GAP/ an article by ahrun thiyagarajah

Living at Queen’s, many of us fall victim to being enclosed by the proverbial bubble. In a place where new friends are the norm, experiences are rich, and workloads are daunting, we are often sheltered from a world that, just yesterday, we were longing to escape. We push through the system, so excited by the opportunity to reinvent ourselves that we sometimes forget the reality we have run past, one in which acts of youth violence and bullying still perpetuates strongly.

LIFESTYLE | 28

In its 2008 report for instance, the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics states that violent youth crimes have increased by 12% over a ten-year period, with a 41% rise in the youth homicide rate. This means that during some point in each of our lives, we have played witness to this statistic. We are defined, essentially, as a generation where the criminal offences by youth are becoming more and more connected with violent acts.

What is even more frightening? The

rise in youth homicide rate from 1998 to 2008

10 - 15%

youth reported being victimized by verbal bullying

+7000

national gang members across Canada

fact that gang violence, in particular, appears to be a strongly pervasive trend. Dispelling truth from rumour, it is important to understand the facts encompassing the over 7000 national gang members across Canada. For one thing, the most proportionate numbers (according to the Canadian Police Survey On Youth Gangs) do not belong to any one single group, with African Canadians (25%), First Nations (21%) and Caucasian (18%) members rounding out the top three.

In addition, as reported in the joint Canadian-U.S. Drugs, Alcohol and Violence International (DAVI) Study there is a strong relationship present between gang membership, violence, and academic success. Of the 904 male students, dropout, and young offenders surveyed for example, “18.7% of boys (ages 14 to 17) in Montréal and 15.1% in Toronto have brought a gun to school.” This, in turns, means that there is a good possibility that many of us either know

of – or know personally – someone who has fallen victim to this reality.

Youth violence, however, also clearly manifests itself in other forms as well. Besides physical violence, there also exists the verbal and social abuse that is inflicted through everyday bullying. Perhaps most telling of this is the fact that over a one-year period, the Statistics Canada 2007 report indicates that in Toronto specifically, “16% of youths in grades 7 to 9 [have] been bullied on more than 12 occasions during the year.” To make matters worse, 10-15% of youth also report being victimized at the hands of verbal bullying each week.

Hence, for many of us, this is a clear indication of a widespread problem. Having not been too far removed from the elementary experience, it is likely that we have experienced or observed youth violence in some form. The enamored view of university however often tends to cloud our understanding. For some, the world just escaped is a triumph, inevitably causing us to close that chapter of our lives. What is necessary though, is awareness of the fact that just because we have succeeded in such an environment doesn’t mean we should leave behind the same factors that impede the idea of success for so many.

Youth violence is a pressing topic, one increasingly correlated with gang membership, violence, psychological bullying, and school drop out rates. Awareness is the key to prevention, and the motivator behind true action; bridging the gap between the youth of yesterday and the youth of tomorrow.

LIFESTYLE | 29

◄

fer Library The Story of Stauf REK LACHINE AN ARTICLE BY DE

For some, the library is the only option for meaningful and strenuous study. Like many, I find myself tucked away in a single cubicle at Stauffer for hours on end, attempting

Curious of how much time students spend at the library, I conducted a 50-person survey. Out of those 50 students, the average time spent at the library during an average week of study was 18 hours. Though that number may not seem extraordinarily large, one has to remember that not only is the average student subjected to an average of18 hours of library time a week, but also the 15-25 hours of class; one could justly argue that the average student has a more strenuous job than their parents.

Considering the heavy increase of more and more young adults venturing into post-secondary studies, it’s no wonder why finding a seat in Stauffer often turns into a game of musical chairs: where an intense rivalry co-exists with the natural bond established through universal high stress levels in undergraduate and graduate students.

The natural gravitational pull that the library emits is easily understandable. It’s a safe-haven that protects us from the on-slaught of the real world—a world beyond books, coffee, granola-bars and laptops.

LIFESTYLE | 21

Listen to: Shark In The Water, Crying Blood

► The lead singer for the rock band Gossip may have last made headlines when she posed naked for the cover of Love magazine in 2009, but when she decides to wear clothes we’re just as impressed. Beth Ditto launched her own clothing line for plus-size women last year, and it matches her big, outspoken personality. Her latest collection features large prints and 80s brashness, proving that this brave woman has got nothing to hide.

Available at bethdittoatevans.co.uk Listen to: Standing in the Way of Control

◄ Bill Cunningham has been New York’s fashion photographer and photojournalist for decades, snapping stylish ‘everyday’ people for his columns in the New York Times. Not only did he capture some of the city’s most courageous, quiet moments in daily life, he also gave New York a sense of its own uniqueness, a self-consciousness that fostered innovation and personality. As Anna Wintour pointed out, “We all get dressed for Bill.” This fall, his work is documented in the movie Bill Cunningham New York, exploring one of the fashion industry’s greatest minds behind the lens.

Designer Jonny Johansson and his line Acne have become ► wardrobe staples, synonymous with oversized tees and zippers.

However, Acne has always been a creative agency, branching out into furniture design and TV advertising. On September 17, they released their first full-length feature film, Flickan (“The Girl”), which deals with the loneliness and constant change of childhood. Placed in the care of her flaky aunt while the rest of her family helps with relief work in Africa, the 10-year-old girl is left fully alone when the aunt, accompanying a cute paramour, leaves on a two-month sailing trip. The film chronicles the events of her summer, gently exploring the issue of growing up and becoming an individual. From a fashion house known for its hard-hitting and structured styles, this melancholy and beautiful film is a welcome change of pace.

FILM:

But out of those 450 or so students that converge in Stauffer, how many are actually working? Take a look around and glance at the multitude of computer screens that are damp with signs of Facebook, Twitter, or an array of other socialnetworking sites. Every once in a while the slight sound of bubbles resonates from a nearby laptop, only to be halted by a finger, frantically tapping the mute button. There’s nothing wrong with taking a five minute break every so often to catch up with friends or to check the latest sports scores; but there are those that never truly begin their assigned task, and for hours, seem to be ensnared in the goings-on in 1 of their 796 friends lives. Regardless of the few who fail to understand the meaning and use of a library, there are still those who treat it as a sanctuary.

to meet deadlines and maintain some sense of stability in my daily life. Though to some it will forever remain a baron wasteland, the library will continue to stand as a symbol of initiative, intellect, and education.

Fashion and music have always been intertwined for VV Brown, the English singer, songwriter and model with her trademark flattop fringe hair style. In both fields she melds different genres and reaches across the decades, producing a type of honest, emotional expression that catchy songs usually lack. Brown has modeled for Vogue and remains a style icon in her own right, pulling off graphic prints and unexpected volume with whimsy.

NEW FLICKS ON THE RADAR

Despite what one may think, the confrontation between student and library is incontrovertible; the sheer magnitude of assignments, essays, quizzes, pop-quizzes, tests, labs, mid-terms, and exams that the average student is accustomed to, makes it obvious why whispering voices never seem to cease reverberating off the sterile walls of Stauffer library.

MUSIC:

It’s hard to imagine anything more seductive than the soft scent of stale coffee, twice-toasted bagels, and a combination of twelve thousand different types of scented body sprays. Sometimes referred to as “my second home”, “my other lover”, or, my personal favourite, “Stauffotron”; Stauffer library seems to be constantly filled to the brim with bright, young, intellectual minds joyfully reaching towards a better tomorrow. Though that previous statement may have been laced with a hint of sarcasm, one cannot ignore that be it morning, noon, evening, or night, the libraryturned-transformer never journalism fails to consume a multitude of students. Its metabolism must be based highly on Activia, due its never-ending appetite for Queen’s undergraduate and graduate students.

OUR TUNES ON REPEAT

Heroic Autobot or Evil Decepticon:

M

SE

Awesome students, sick parties. It’s all ‘bout you guys. September to November 2010 // Photography by Cynthia Oh at “Barely Legal presents Steve Aoki”,“Bydek Presents Designer Drugs” at Stages Night Club and “Deadmau5: Unhooked” at the K-Rock Center For more: www.savetherave.blogspot.com and www.musemagazine.tumblr.com and

entertainment calendar_

video.

M: Do you have any Beatboxing idols?

My beatboxing idol is Christopher Perry because he helped me master my skills throughout high school. He was older than me and, even though he’s fresh to the music scene, he is awesome. I also find a lot of inspiration from the beatboxer, “Beardyman’’.

M: What’s the most challenging thing about Beatboxing?

J: Coming up with new sounds and creative sets.

M: Haters? How is it dealing with them and do you take them personally?

Julia Dales:

J: It was hard at first to see something negative and unconstructive comments on the internet about my beatboxing, but I’ve come to realize there are a lot of difficult people out there that you just have to ignore, so I’ve learned to not take it personally. I’ve dealt with it by ignoring and disregarding those comments but fortunately , the majority of the comments are positive - which keeps me motivated.

BEAT THAT up, FROM YOUTUBE TO THE WORLD an article by john yoo

J

ulia Dales is a second year Queen’s University student with a huge following: As the 33rd most subscribed musical Youtube artist in Canada, Julia has over 20,000 people subscribed to her page. Having been featured on justintimberlake.com and yahoo.com, Julia even has Ashton Kutcher “repping” her on the side. Using Youtube as the base to further continue her Beatboxing passion, Julia’s following and fan base keeps growing. We caught up with Julia to find out the story behind her musical passion, how she balances her growing artistry with student life, and what’s next for Julia Dales.

M:How did you get started with Beatboxing?

J: When I was six or seven, a coach at tennis camp beat-

| 34 28 ENTERTAINMENT | MUSE

boxed for me and after that I was instantly hooked. I kept asking him to do it over and over until I realized it would just be easier if I learned how to do it myself. So I tried it, and realized how much there was to it… and just kept going!

M: How has it influenced your life?

J: It’s hard to answer that question because beatboxing and music has helped shaped everything in my life. Music gives me a much-needed creative outlet, and beatboxing has given me some amazing opportunities to develop as a musician. And now, since I started posting my videos on Youtube, I have been given this amazing opportunity to perform for thousands of people every time I post a

M: What is your Favourite video?

J: My favourite video of mine is of a remix I did of Poker Face and Slave For You. M: Any words of wisdom?

J: Anybody can try it! I’d say that the best way is just to put some music on and just do whatever you can with your mouth to make a beat to it. Eventually your technique will improve and your skills will expand.

M: What’s the next for Julia Dales: The Beatboxer? The Musician? The Student?

J: I play guitar and write songs so I’m still trying to figure out if I really want to be a musician, as well as if I can handle the pressure. In the meantime I am enjoying school and might do some collaborations with artists to eventually find my own path.

Check out Julia’s online channels for her sick beats: Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/jd5squeak | FACEBOok fanpage: http:// www.facebook.com/pages/JuliaDales/155076861837

ENTERTAINMENT | 35| 29 MUSE

KINGSTON,

ENTERTAIN ME! an article by alia J oudeh

T

PUB QUIZ @ THE GRAD CLUB PUB TRIVIA @ THE BRASS LIVE MUSIC @ CLARK HALL PUB KARAOKE @ TIR NA NOG

F

LIVE MUSIC @ THE GRAD CLUB DJ SATH @ STAGES REQUEST NIGHT @ TIR NA NOG

S

sat

W

OPEN MIC NIGHT @ THE GRAD CLUB ACOUSTIC MUSIC @ THE BRASS LIVE MUSIC @ FANATICS GAMES NIGHT @ CLARK HALL PUB PARTY NIGHT @ ALFIES

fri

T

LIVE DJ @ THE MERCHANT

thu

LIVE MUSIC @ THE TOUCAN JAZZ AND BLUES @ ALFIES

wed

M

mon

sun

S

OPEN MIC NIGHT @ COMMON GROUND

SO, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TONIGHT?

tue

:DAILY EVENTS

LIVE MUSIC @ THE GRAD CLUB LIVE MUSIC @ THE MERCHANT SKYLINE @ STAGES CLASSIC ROCK @ ALFIES

30 | MUSE

(T) 03 Lost in Action @ The Grand (W) 09 KODO @ The Grand (F) 11-12 Queen’s Project Red Fashion Show (T) 17-19 VOGT C @ Car ruthers Hall (S) 19 The FLOW Show (T) 24-26 Queen’s Dance Club Recital (T) 29-31 Queen’s Vogue Charity Fashion Show

ARPIL

(S) 05 Entity Dance Show @ The Grand (T) 10-12 VOGT B @ Ca rutthers Hall (S) 12 Tango @ The Grand

MARCH

(M) 10 Fiddler on the roof @ The Grand (T) 11 Zeds Dead @ Renaissance Church (W) 12-16 Queen’s Musical The atre: La Mikado @ The Grand (F) 21-22 Broadway BeautieS @ The Grand (F) 28 Jesse Cook @ The Grand (S) 28 SYNERGY FASHION SHOW @ STAGES

FEBRUARY

JANUARY

:upcominG EVENTS 01/11 to 04/11 (F) 01 Queen’s Vogue Char ity Fashion Show (S) 09 Just For Laughs Live @ The Grand (S) 16 Legendary Downchild Blues Band @ The Grand (W) 20 The Music Man @ The Grand (F) 29 Paul Taylor Dance Company @ The Grand

ENTERTAINMENT | 31

the dish

AS TESTED BY NATASHA KUCERAK

If there is one thing I know about being a Queen’s University student, it’s the fact that we work hard, we play hard, and in between these extremes, we love our food! Tell me what student doesn’t?!

To celebrate our very first issue, I bring you an expose of this season’s FIVE best places to wine and dine in K-Town.

Ladies and gentlemen, as Julia Child would say,

Bon appetit!

Stooley’s Café 118 Division Street, Kingston, Ontario Check them out on Facebook!

01

02

When it comes to “fabulous” eateries, THE TANGO is at the top of the list. This chic and trendy restaurant is the best place to go if you’re looking for that “girl’s night out” or even that “table for two”. A hot and happening place filled with lots of table laughter, music, and the sweet-savouring aroma of Spanish inspired Tapas; Tango is hands down a MUSE favourite! Perhaps most famous for their fun & dazzling array of martinis with such titles as: ‘Eskimo Kiss’, ‘Curious George’, ‘Crispy Crunch’, and the “Romeo & Juliet’ we are quite partial to ‘The Muse’: A martini made with coconut rum, pineapple infused vodka, pineapple & pomegranate juice. Flirtatious and funky to say the least, sipping this cocktail will make you feel like you’re on Miami Beach! This is definitely the drink and the destination to keep in mind during the long winter months when you’re yearning for that “tropical getaway”.

BEST TIME TO GO: LADIES NIGHT: Every Wednesday night between 6pm-10pm, Tango offers ladies their exclusive “$18 Martini & a Manicure”. What better way to spend a night out with the girls! Call and reserve a spot for you and your friends to enjoy this professional service.

best french fries

A greasy spoon treasured by Queen’s students, Stooley’s is a little joint located on the corner of University and Johnson. Open from 11am-2am every day, and with décor that will surely take you back to circa 1970, I guarantee never will you feel more at home! This is especially the case when in between classes and sharing a basket of their delicious “famous fries”, amongst friends. The fries, boasting a special “top secret” seasoning will have your taste buds running wild and have you licking your lips and fingers the rest of the day, to make sure that none of this seasoning has gone to waste! The thickly cut golden fries are the real deal and have found the perfect balance of being not too salty and not too oily. I guarantee, once you try one, you will be hooked.

COST: $3.95/BASKET CROWD: Students, professors, alumni, locals, everybody JUST HOW FAMOUS ARE WE TALKING? Stooley’s “Famous Fries” are so legendary that loyal customers (especially Queen’s alumni), will actually make the drive from Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal to fulfill their craving.

Apparently, nothing beats Stooley’s!

03

best MARTINI

331 King Street East, Kingston, Ontario (613) 531- 0800 / www.thetango.ca Join the Facebook Group and/or follow on Twitter!

04

BEST WINGS

“Where to eat in Canada” calls them “wings like you wouldn’t believe” and we would have to agree! Dragon Wings really ought to be the proto type for all chicken wings because really, truly, deeply, they are just that phenomenal. Being marinated in and charbroiled (NOT fried) with K.B.P’s very own “galaxy famous” B.B.Q. Sauce, is what makes all the difference and sets these hearty bad boys apart from your average order of wings. K.B.P is the place to be if you’re looking for a place to sit back and enjoy good company. For beer and wings, they’ve got you more than covered! Between the food, friendly service and lively atmosphere I wouldn’t be surprised if you ended up asking for a job because you had such a great time! Ask any of the staff and they’ll tell you that’s how they got started! Take your parents for a pint and check out the onsite Brewery. K.B.P offers a infinite variety of beer for the pint lover. Hand crafted beers, contracted brews and speciality brews are available for $3.45 a pint!!!

BREW TIME: The Ultimate Dragon Combo: “Ghetto Style Dragon Wings & the Famous Dragon’s Breath Original Real Ale” – “authentic cask-conditioned draught ale, full bodied and rich in flavour”. Drawn through a traditional beer machine, your dark brew 6% a/v won’t taste or get more proper & wholesome than this!

(TOP) “GhetTo Style Dragon Wings”, Kingston Brew Pub (K.B.P) 34 Clarence Street, Kingston, Ontario (613) 542-4978 / www.kingstonbrewing. ca (RIGHT) Woodenheads Gourmet Pizza 192 Ontario Street, Kingston, Ontario (613) 549-1812 / www.woodenheads.ca

BEST DESSERT

I happened to stumble upon this dessert while on my expo downtown, and was it ever love at first bite. A must-try for all you chocoholics out there! The Peanut Butter Stick is a best seller at this cozy café located across from market square. After putting it to the taste test, we can see why. A decedent desert made with layer upon layer… upon layer of marshmallow, chocolate mousse, wafer, peanut butter, and caramel - It is all things heavenly and divine. Taste wise, this treat is sweet enough to be shared, so don’t be afraid to order one and bring out the forks!

Mind you, for all you connoisseurs who take your chocolate and your peanut butter quite seriously, after one bite, you will probably want this fabulous piece of heaven all to yourself… no judgments.

PRICE FOR WORTHWHILE INDULGENCE: $6.95 Sipps Coffee & Dessert Bar 33 Brock Street,Kingston, Ontario -- A “Death By Chocolate” Experience

05

BEST PIZZA PARLOUR

If you’re looking for a gourmet pizzeria to call home, Woodenheads is where you want to be. Popular & always busy, Woodenheads has the reputation for making some of Kingston’s best and most creative pizza pies! This modern and stylish restaurant boasts an impressive menu offering more than 35 sweet and savoury varieties of pizza.

If you’re feeling creative or are more particular with what you like, feel free to craft your own for the same price.

MY FAVORITE: Try the rustic “Dynamo Pizza”: a fusion of pesto, roasted roma tomatoes, feta, smoked chicken, and honey drizzle! It offers a great infusion of flavours and you’ll savour this pizza up to the very last slice! If you think you might have any room left over after your meal, than you best be ordering the ‘Apple Pizza’ for dessert. The gourmet version of the ‘Beavertail’; this dessert is made using sweetened pizza dough covered in a blanket of cinnamon sugar, caramel drizzle and topped off with fresh granny smith apples. I promise, your taste buds will be left so happy after this meal, don’t be surprised if you end up wanting to kiss the cook.

COST: $16.50/per pizza

MUSE STREET FASHION We always keep our eye out for the bold, beautiful and unique on Queen’s campus. Photography

by Cynthia Oh. For more, check out Facebook @ Muse Magazine at Queen’s and our blog at [www. musemagazine.tumblr.com].

entertainment calendar here - one page it can be side ways maybe...

FASHION | 41

own first year, and I wondered how anyone could possibly connect over the finer points of fashion while wearing hand-painted, tri-colour coveralls. Fallon explained that their shared passion emerged later, while she was going through the job-search process in November and sought advice on appropriate interview outfits. Steph helped her prepare, from sharing her clothes to providing the valuable pearl of wisdom that wearing yoga pants is only acceptable when interviewing for Lululemon.

I asked them how that process turned into the decision to start their own blog, and learned that they originally meant to collaborate with three other girls on their floor. “There was one girl who was really into makeup,” explained Steph, “and then one who was into art, and we were into fashion, so we thought it could be sort of a general, lifestyle thing”. However, once they began earnestly organizing over the Christmas break, the others in the group pulled out, and Steph and Fallon parred it down to solely a fashion blog.

the style monster AN ARTICLE BY GILLIAN MAYS

In

the media world, the blogosphere has often received the harshest criticism for its sound-bite material instead of analytical depth, its self-absorption instead of reflection, its authors sitting in front of the computer screen instead of participating in the world they are writing about. Yet within minutes of my sitting down with the two busy women behind The Style Monster, they proved the falsity of all this negative press.

For Fallon Collett and Stephanie Rudyk, blogging functions as a method of communication--with themselves, with each other, with their heritage, with the international public. From getting dressed for interviews to mourning the late Alexander McQueen, the story of their friendship beginning in residence their first year inspires the blog.

After we grabbed our coffees from Common Ground and found a quiet corner, I began by asking them when they had met. Turning to her friend, Steph reminisced, “The first time we ever had a good conversation was walking to the football game, and thought you were really intimidating! I thought you were going to be really intimidating, and then I talked to you, and I was like ‘oh, you’re actually really awesome’.” Fallon laughed and noted, “people say that about me all the time.

Before they know me, they think I’m scary.”

“Not scary,” Steph countered, “ I just thought you were going to be too cool to talk to me.”

I remembered attending football games in my

I told them I remembered seeing a sticky note in one of the bathroom stalls in Mac-Corry with a link to TheStyleMonster.com. Steph laughed, “that was our guerilla marketing phase. It was actually pretty successful! And fun.”

“We put them in bathroom, and on chairs in lecture rooms and stuff,” explained Fallon.

Steph admitted, “I definitely graffitied the bathroom wall in Dunning,” but Fallon quickly cut her off, warning her, “I don’t think you want to say that in the interview!” I duly promised them I would not record it, but I am sure the wall has been painted over by now.

“If I want to put something on [the blog] it’s because I truly love it, not just because it caught my eye one day.”

During the transition to university, fashion became a common ground for the two friends to connect with each other, but they also provide separate, distinct views on the industry. Their different perspectives keep the posts interesting and varied; Fallon is interested in how home design and decor can influence clothing

design in the larger realm of style, whereas Steph’s previous work as a model influences her perception of photo shoots. Steph noted that, “although maybe now I’m getting a broader view because I’ve been out of it for a few years... in the beginning I would see the model’s view of the images. I would think, ‘oh, I like her pose’, or ‘she must have been feeling like this’. To me it was a lot about the model when I would look at editorials.”

On the other hand, Fallon considers the background context of the individual bloggers; their outside lives and their physical context contribute to the flavour of their writing. As she explains to me about her connection to one of her favourites, Garance Doré, “sometimes I just go back and read things she wrote two years ago, and I think, ‘I want to be Parisian, and married to Scott’. I look at a lot of tumblrs, a lot of micro-blogging [but some of my favourite ones are getting worse]. I feel like it’s sort of a general trend in the blogosphere, there are a lot of blogs that are up-and-coming, and they’ve done a lot of work to get their name out there, but as soon as they start doing other things, their blog falls apart.” When I asked her how they plan to keep the integrity of their own blog, Fallon does not ignore the possibility of change and argued that there is always a desire for progression.

She pointed out how their busy schedules have affected the quantity of their posts, but not the quality.

“We used to post a ridiculous amount of times per day, and now it’s hard to find five minutes a day where I can go on and find something that’s worth posting,” she told me. “I think because we posted so much in the beginning, we’ve both become much more selective. If I want to put something on it’s because I truly love it, not just because it caught my eye one day.”

Since blogging has become a very personal form of journalism, and these two women are without a doubt the soul behind their fashion blog, I asked them how they achieved balance between writing with personality and revealing intimate details online. Fallon agreed that it can be difficult, “because especially if there is a lot going on, you want to include it--you want [your readers] to understand why you have excessive amounts of time, or why you don’t have any time”.

Steph chimed in, “if I don’t post for a week I want

to apologize, say ‘I’m so sorry!’” As they are both avid blog readers themselves, they understand how failing to post regularly can disappoint and alienate the audience; once you lose constant readership, they realize, you have to struggle to retrieve it.

Far from existing only as another obligation on their busy schedules, however, they quickly point out that The Style Monster also positively impacts their daily lives. “Personally, even if I’m not having the best day, and I want to express that, I try to keep it still pretty positive,” Steph said. “I’m not going to go on there and be like, ‘my life sucks’, because that’s not what it’s about. It’s about fashion, and it’s about inspiration. I still try to keep it upbeat, which I find also helps me; I enjoy doing it, because it helps me put my own stuff in perspective. In a way it’s sort of an outlet, too.” Fallon seconds the opinion, “I think the blog was born out of a need for a creative outlet.

Because that’s definitely how I felt, I was considering leaving Queen’s at Christmas, because I felt I didn’t have an outlet, and I was going to to go into fashion communication and move back to Toronto, and totally change my direction. I thought that, with Steph modeling... when I approached her about it, I thought she might be looking for something similar.”

Steph had fallen in love with the industry even before she started modeling, and despite having to take a step back because of pursuing a degree, she missed the fashion world.

However, even though the blog fulfills such an important part of their lives now, both were lukewarm at best about considering a career in fashion after they graduated. “I’m not closing myself to the possibility,” Steph insisted, “but I think if I did, it would be something on the editing and writing side. I’m not a... cutthroat, crazy... fashion person... sorry if that sounds bad. I’m more low-key.” Fallon laughed and admitted, “I would fall more into the category of cutthroat fashion girls. Kelly Cutrone is one of my idols, and she’s a no-bullshit kind of person. I think that for a long time I didn’t see myself in fashion, and then the blog brought out a desire to work with the social media aspect of it. But I have a lot of interests outside of fashion as well, so sometimes I find it hard to picture myself living outside of Canada; I’m very

much a home-body and I’m very close to my family. But if I was to do it, it would be more in the PR/styling area, because I feel like I’m growing into a stronger aesthetic. and realizing what I like and what I don’t like.”

“I really value the fact that we both love fashion, and we both have areas where our tastes overlap,” Steph continued, “but we also have pretty different aesthetics.

Sort of an interesting mix. I definitely realized things about my own tastes and style since blogging, like the fact that I’m not a minimalist at all.”

Fallon added, “whereas I’m realizing that I am a minimalist.”

“I just like eclectic and eccentric things way better,” Steph summarized.

The blog has been both an outlet for them, as well as a source of information about themselves. It has been a place where they grow together, even while they grow apart in some aspects of their styles. By far the most interesting part of our discussion, though, was how they see fashion--wearing it, writing about it, creating it--as a method of communication to the outer world.

“Yeah, after Alexander McQueen died I think we both wore black every day for about three weeks!”

Fallon thinks that her situation is not completely unique, and that “a lot of people go through this, where you sort of try on different styles, trying to figure out what feels right. Style is an expression of who you are on the inside. As much as people don’t want to think that wearing sweatpants around campus all day, every day says something, it does say something. Not that it’s a bad thing, but it just says something. I went through a prep phase--” “--and I went through a wearing-all-black phase last year,” Steph interjected.

and the subsequent explosion in the blogosphere of commemorative posts. McQueen connected with so many individuals in the fashion world, and I was touched seeing how sensitively bloggers responded to the news.

Steph happened to be browsing Facebook at the time, and one of her modeling friends reported the death within half an hour. She ran to Fallon, who was in her residence room and on the phone with her mom. I only half-joked to them that it will become a similar situation to JFK’s death, with everyone asking each other, “where were you when Alexander McQueen died?”

Steph agreed, but noted that waves of shock were limited outside those connected to the industry. “Our friends would console us, saying ‘I’m sorry about that guy in fashion...’”

“It was like they didn’t understand,” Fallon explained.

“What did our religion prof call him? He didn’t even say his name right, and Steph and I were so upset. I felt like, because I’ve become more selective in fashion, and what I think it truly brilliant and creative and intuitive, the collection that he did before he died--” “--Plato’s Atlantis,” Steph added.

“--it was the most... I don’t even have words to describe that collection. In a lot of ways, I had never felt fashion speak to me that way, so when he died, it felt surreal.

And the more I learn--and I learned more about his life after his death than I knew before--about how tortured his life was, and that’s where his creativity came from.”

“That was huge for us,” said Steph. “I think my mom

Fallon likewise inherited an interest in fashion and design from her parents; her mother wanted to model in her youth, but grew up lacking the necessary height. “My mom is fairly young, so for her, a lot of those doors weren’t open to someone who grew up in the country and moved to Toronto when she was 17. She didn’t know enough to really make a career of it.” Yet looking at photographs from decades ago, Fallon feels more connected to the style of her father.

“I feel like I am the female version of my dad. I find clothes of his, and I’m like, ‘this is exactly something I would wear!’ There are these glasses at American Apparel that are big red frames that cover half my face, and I found a picture of my dad last year, wearing huge red glasses that are infamous in my family because he wore them everywhere. And it’s weird when you find these things, because [you see how style] becomes imbedded.”

Check out Fallon and Steph’s blog at www.thestylemonster.blogspot.com

even sent an email saying she was sorry [for his death].”

“Yeah, after Alexander McQueen died I think we both wore black every day for about three weeks!” said Fallon.

On that note, I asked them whether their families read their blog regularly, and how their parents’ sense of style influenced their own. Posting on The Style Monster proved yet again to foster communication throughout their lives, with memories emerging through writing on the blog. Both women felt a strong connection to their parents through the discourse of fashion and creativity, although it stemmed from sometimes unexpected places.

I remember the absolute shock I felt upon learning that the designer had hanged himself in February, 2010,

Steph described how her mother completed the fashion program at Ryerson, and how that passion has always

ENTERTAINMENT ||3939 ENTERTAINMENT

trickled down to her daughter. “She’s in upholstering right now,” Steph explained to me, “so she’s been sewing for my entire life; she’s sewn my clothes. So I’ve always sort of known about fashion, and grown up with it in this way. And I used to steal all her jewellery,” she laughed at the memory. “But I would say I think she let me discover it on my own, although she planted the seeds.”

FASHION | 45

the changing face of fashion advertising

BOOK REVIEW Peterkin, Allan. One Thousand Beards: A Cultural History of Facial Hair. Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press, 2001

In episode six of Mad Men’s third season, the new British owners of Sterling Cooper announce their plans to visit the New York advertising agency. The English businessmen sent across the pond to reconfigure the agency frantically scramble to prepare, encouraging the office to dress sharply and clean their desks. Although they grumble under their breath, no one raises opposition until an assistant tells the bearded, quasi-revolutionary Paul Kinsey that he might want to shave. Shocked and enraged, Kinsey responds, “who the hell are you people?!”

Although the assistant was only joking, Kinsey’s anger at the corporate involvement demonstrates the important role facial hair plays in the maintenance of identity. This is, after all, the decade that brought us Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical and a mustachioed Fab Four on the cover of Sgt. Pepper. Hair functioned as a site of rebellion, from the untrimmed beards that silently protested against clean-shaven military efforts in Vietnam, to hairy-legged feminist dissent against artificial aesthetic ideals. Other groups used hair to fit in, like an early gay rights group in New York who promoted shaving and dressing neatly to encourage acceptance from mainstream society. In his book exploring the history of facial hair, Toronto psychiatrist and journalist Allan Peterkin points out that this emphasis on hair styles scarcely belongs to the swinging sixties alone. He traces the rise and fall of the beard (and other styles) from ancient Egypt to post-modern North America, making it clear that facial hair is an issue that never belongs solely to religion, to revolutionary politics, or even to men alone.

Peterkin mostly divides his account into contextual concepts rather than on a historical timeline, which makes for a more interesting read. There are chapters titled “The Medical Beard”, “The Religious Beard”, and even “The Unconscious Beard”, which provides an entertaining account of Freudian analysis applied to hair (although I could have done without the comparison of shaving cream to ejaculation fluids). The main text is supplemented with a steady stream of literary quotes, statistics and plenty of images featuring remarkable facial hair, proving how fundamental beards are to our cultural history. He also supplies a large chapter detailing personal grooming and management, from how to create the perfect wet shave, to online resources for buying faking hair.

Neckwarmer with moustache

by StudioCybele www.etsy.com Sea Beard Shirt www.threadless.com One Thousand Beards www.amazon.com Dali Mustache Necklace by jujulee

Although Peterkin clearly dedicated himself to lengthy research of the topic, I felt that his work lacked further analysis and commentary on the importance of facial hair. I can only take so many anecdotes about bearded men in history, even if there are pictures and bloody revolutions. For instance, I was fascinated by the role of facial hair in the military, an aspect of history that I had never thought of before, but all the information lacked a coherent structure. Alexander the Great demanded that his army shaved fully, in a time when beards denoted manliness, because the enemy might grab onto the hair and it would become a strategical problem. The Crusaders in the Middle Ages, on the other hand, were the only religious men allowed to have beards by their superiors at the time. The practical logistics of shaving while on the road in a strange country certainly factored into the decision, but it was also believed that wearing beards would help them to fit into the indigenous population and thus aid conversion efforts. Much later, WWI hastened the death of the Victorian affection for full beards, because gas masks would only fit properly on clean-shaven soldiers. In a modern take on the Samson tale, the U.S. government allegedly plotted to harm Fidel Castro’s guerilla beard, hoping to shake his confidence and damage his iconographic image. In an environment where authorities still retain full control over personal appearance, and even the image of remarkable leaders can mobilize their followers, the cultural history of facial hair in the army would have benefitted from a closer analysis by Peterkin.

AN ARTICLE BY GILLIAN MAYS

B

etween print media, television and the internet, posters on campus and billboards downtown, advertising exists in every corner of our lives.

Only slightly less ubiquitous are the emotional debates surrounding the ethics of advertising. Because it functions as one of the major forms of indoctrination by society, people react very strongly to the industry in their daily lives. It is nearly impossible to escape, difficult and time-consuming to form a rebuttal, and anyone with enough money has access to a persuasive voice. Advertising, however, is not just about selling fast food to children or Barack Obama to disillusioned youth. Fundamentally, the industry feeds on our desire to construct self-identity whether through possessions, experiences or categories, and fashion holds a major role in this field.

Fashion is, after all, one of the primary forms of public display and communication, and therefore subject to all our societal anxieties. Calvin Klein, for example, has crossed the line for two consecutive years in the label’s attempts to create attention-grabbing ads. In 2009, their Spring/Summer ad campaign featured a steamy video showing more skin than clothing, with models only a few buttons and several frames away from a very hot five-some. The ad was banned from the United States and YouTube--but got its share of publicity in the subsequent journalism media storm.

More recently, Australia banned Calvin Klein’s Fall/ Winter 2010, which featured much the same scenario as the year before, only with perhaps even less clothing and a chain-link fence instead of a ratty couch for a backdrop. This time, the campaign drew criticism

for glamourising rape and violence against women.

Is this a case of an uptight society refusing to consider context? (Other shots in the ads feature the female model, Lara Stone, tearing her own shirt off and pushing a buff guy up against the fence.) Or is it an example of a desperate label that will go to whatever extremes necessary to keep the name ‘Calvin Klein’ in our minds?

Thinking outside the box... and putting jack-in-the-box Because of these strong reactions, a well as the huge amount of press controversial ads garner on blogs and forums, the advertising industry constantly innovates its approach to selling fashion brands. Starting ‘em young is one option, explored by Hermès in their line of luxury products for children. The brand has realized the benefits of early brain-washing, and offers a 12-page, $130 colouring book complete with the horse-and-rider motifs so popular in other departments. Today’s modern child, as reads the message, only takes a crayon to the chicest styles. They also sell a $520 stuffed toy horse and a silver rattle--as if that silver spoon in the kid’s mouth since birth was an accessory short.

The Paper-Bag Princess As Hermès points out, selling an image should effectively address all facets of identity, including motherhood. Yet some brands have been shameless about advertising an enviable, high-status image rather than a focus on the garments. Diane von Furstenberg’s

FASHION | 47

Fall/Winter 2010 ad campaign features one shot of a model surrounded by DVF shopping bags, and wearing nothing but sunglasses and . . . a DVF shopping bag. The ads proclaims the message that the label makes the clothes, instead of the merits of the clothing making the label. Similarly, Victoria Beckham modeled for Marc Jacobs’ 2008 campaign, climbing out of a giant, labelled bag. Jacobs himself said of campaign to Beckham, “I like the idea of you being this product, of you being this product that Marc Jacob produces, like a doll or something”. Along with providing an example of celebrity status selling unrelated products--although Victoria Beckham has now in 2011 produced enough well-received collections to be considered a bona fide designer--this ad reveals the production of identity implicit in selling a fashion label.

Rather than a tired gimmick, advertising campaigns that blatantly reveal their own status as a tool of profit and image construction explore the metafictional frontier of style. They directly address the potential costumer, immediately making us co-conspirators of the industry. Ads featuring the label’s own store bags demonstrate that they do not pretend to exist apart from economics; they comfortably proclaim that they are a business, which in turn makes us slightly uncomfortable. However, identity-forming tools such as Hermès’ baby toys and metafictional ads like Diane Von Furstenberg’s paper-bag princess will grow as a valuable marketing tactic in the future.

my closet: angela cooper AN ARTICLE BY CYNTHIA OH & ANDREA NAZARIAN

Know someone with killer style and a magical wardrobe? ENLIGHTEN us: muse.queensu@gmail.com

A

ngela Cooper, third year Psychology Student, comes from Melbourne, Australia, a place where she says, “fashion is a priority”. Angela’s personal style is a refreshing medley of vintage and trendy, feminine and edgy, cutting-edge and classic. Angela’s first outfit is a daytime look, something she would wear to class or hanging out on campus. Her shoes, doc martens, are normally seen by fashion-followers as edgier and more “punk-rock”. She found a pair of docs with a bright, floral pattern splayed all over them, nicely contrasting the hardcore look of the shoe. The mix of soft, ethereal patterns and colours with the ‘heavy artillery’ shoes creates a really original style and brings a sense of playfulness to this look. Angela’s T-Shirt and Poncho are made by Australian brands Gorman and Max and Co., adding an international flare to her outfit. The oversized fit and heavy-knit texture of her Gorman poncho not only draw attention to her killer legs, but also nicely compliment the dark-wash skinny Extinct brand jeans.

M: What are some of the major differences you see between fashion at Queen’s and in Melbourne?

A: “From what I’ve seen in Canada, the style here seems a lot more relaxed and comfort-oriented, at least at Queen’s! Melbourne’s fashion scene, to me, is a lot more about standing out. Individuality is highly valued in Australia and people seem to try and steer away from the trends and fashion fads they see in major stores rather than the follow them.”

When Angela put on her second outfit, she looked like she should’ve been walking down the runway in Milan rather than studying her Psych notes in Kingston. Her evening outfit consisted of a Gorman leather mini, an Emporio Armani silk top given to her by her “crazy boss

in London, England”, absolutely incredible-cool Marc Jacobs platforms, and a sheer burgundy Adam Lippes floorlength robe to pull the look together. Angela pairs edgy and feminine pieces in this look as well, combining the funky and sexy leather mini with her girly, demure Emporio Armani top. Her mix-and match style keeps us on our toes and always pleasantly surprised. The long length of the robe she paired with the skirt and top really make the outfit pop and

downplays the ever-creeping-up hem of her skirt (we’re not complaining, she’s got the legs for it!) She topped the outfit off with a chunky necklace given to her as a gift from her parents, adding a hint of african/tribal style to this already amazing look.

M: Who/What are some of the influences on your own personal style?

A: Some celebrities who’s style I love are: Chloe Sevigny, Alexa Chung, and Mary Kate Olsen. They pair pieces that would normally not be seen on and make it look completely original. Its so refreshing to see. I also love the dramatic and theatrical visions of designers like Vivienne Westwood and Miu Miu. “ Angela’s final outfit was one that she says she could wear all day and all night. It is something she can wear to her Psychology lecture and rock out in later that night at Alfies. Her army green button down blouse (given to her by her fashion-forward mum, which Angela says she used for painting) is definitely something you can find in all trendy stores today. Her skirt, a high-waisted baby blue American Apparel piece, is actually made of a corduroy material, giving the outfit a school-girl feel. The colours she chose to play with in this look bring out her blonde locks and make her look like some of the top models we see on the covers of Vogue and Fashion. She finished off the look with a pair of tan leather clogs, made by the Australian brand Sports Girl. Clogs are definitely something that were huge in the Spring 2010 season and her wearing them in autumn brings back the carefree, warm and youthful looks of Spring into the chilly Fall.

M: What would you suggest if someone asked you how you put together your style with a student’s budget?

A: “Vintage shopping is the best way to save money and mix your own style in with whatever is considered “trendy.” You can go to a vintage or second hand store and find loads of sick pieces. If you pair those with one trendy piece, the whole outfit looks original rather than just a copy of what we see in magazines. That way you can add your own flare to whatever fashion dictates is “‘cool’.”

M: Any final tips about dressing and fashion?

“My whole theory about clothing is that you have to wear it every day for the rest of your life, so why not enjoy it and express yourself while you’re at it. Take something that’s necessary and make it enjoyable.”

FASHION | 46

profile: suzanne carlsen AN ARTICLE BY GILLIAN MAYS

W

hether it is a brooch that has its own framed wall art, accessories for your bicycle or hidden illustrations, nothing about Suzanne Carlsen remains one-dimensional or static. As a Craft Studio Resident at Toronto’s Waterfront Harbour Centre, she works with metal silver, copper brass and hand embroidered textiles to explore the narratives she witnesses in everyday life. Carlsen pulls together contrasting forms, materials and themes, creating pieces that could never be confined to one interpretation.

In October she wrapped up an exhibition at the Lafreinière & Pai Gallery in Ottawa, showcasing intricate necklace­­s inspired by some quick sight-seeing via the Internet. Pieces with titles such as “Paris and Rochette in 30 Minutes” and “Google Flight 2-636: New Zealand Stopover” prove that it only takes a few minutes to tell a story. The bright colours of the fabrics and embroidery invoke the excitement

of travel, whereas the metal parts, which were inspired by national crowns and regalia, evoke the more sombre historical narrative. Carlsen further explores the issue of framing a narrative by translating a jewellery box into wall art; one framed rectangle of fabric features an embroidered desk in a bare room, complete with a removable computer pin that can be worn as an accessory.

Along with a solo show at Quirk Gallery in Richmond, Virginia this December, Carlsen is officially launching her new line of bicycle accessories, including saddle bags and chain guards. The line, called Poka Cycle Accessories, marries style and function in a way that makes us wonder why we had never thought of our bike as part of our outfit before.

M: What is it about narrative that you find so compelling?

FASHION | 51

BLOG WATCH

< http://whatiworedrawings.blogspot.com >

If you have ever told an acquaintance that you like her

for an interesting anthropological study), but it provides a

shoes, only to be regaled with the epic saga of the time

more storied window into the artist. People rarely perceive

she went to an amusement park with her ex-boyfriend

themselves objectively, and their personalities shine through

and almost lost one of them on a roller-coaster, then

in their self-portraits; from the poses they draw themselves

you have experienced first hand the multiple, emotional

in, to the size of their hair, it all comes together as part of

layers of an outfit. And that’s what What I Wore Today

their identity. Plus, most of the drawings include the histories

Drawings sets out to document online. The founder,

and the origins of the outfits, the details of the day and the

Gemma Correll, sorts through drawn representations of

thought-process behind pulling on clothes in the morning.

a day’s outfit submitted to the flickr group, and posts her

Every drawing is a story, a small tid-bit of conversation with

favourites on the blog. As in the more traditional groups

the artist, and it reminds us that style is one of our main

that exchange photos, the art is inspiring (and makes

methods of communication.

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR I guess it is my illustrative tendencies that draw me to narratives and it being really hard to tell a story without pictures.

M: Do you think that if different people wear your jewellery, or even wear it with different outfits, that the narrative changes?

I think that everyone interprets my work differently based on their own experiences. I have been told at times my work is really funny but then the next person will find it sad or some what depressing.

M: What are your favourite materials to create with? Are there any mate rials that you don’t work with right now, but would love to try one day?

I find fabrics and textiles really inspiring, especially anything with pattern. But to create with it really depends on the work and what I feel like is the best to convey my message. I just bought some bamboo veneer that I am planning on doing a small production line with. I also really like a couple of your works with brooches and pins, where you created a framing picture to display the piece of jewellery when it’s not being worn.

M: Why did you feel it was important to ground the piece in this way?

I think the jewellery box is an interesting place when thinking about peoples history, how they value things and just general storage and for me one that is always a mess.

I guess I wanted to create a jewellery ‘box’ for my pieces, creating a larger narrative that the pieces fit into. Also a big thing was trying to justify my jewellery as art, therefore if I create a picture and frame maybe it becomes more art then ‘just’ jewellery.

M: Do you feel that incorporating a ‘secret’ aspect, such as a hidden panel or message, is a way to communicate with the people who will wear your jewellery?

I have never really thought of it as a way for me to communicate with them, more as a way for the wearer to communicate or not with other viewers. I always think of jewellery as being a very static object that is added to an outfit or the body, where as if I add a secret that has to be explored or shared then the object can start or become a piece of a conversation, less likely to be over looked. I also just find secrets so fascinating, everyone has them no matter the size or how they are manifested.

Visit www.suzannecarlsen.ca & www.pokacycle.com

Iconic knitwear design house Pringle of Scotland

a blown-up image of a pill, or a line-drawn

celebrates its 195th anniversary this year by a series of

gas mask. Swinton, however, surprised us

collaborations with Serpentine Gallery, producing some

by failing to surprise us; her bottle green

tongue-in-cheek interpretations of classic knit forms. Inspired

cardigan is simple, a “sort of eternal heraldic

by the basics of argyle and the sweater vest, artists such

uniform...darned with loving care, as every

as Tilda Swinton, Julien David, Colette, Ryan McGinley and

truly legendary Scottish cardigan eventually

David Shrigley added a dash of 21st century whimsy to a line

ends up being”. We only wish this WAS our

of knit wear. Our favourites include the “Hacker Sweater”

uniform. Maybe we should petition the AMS.

twin set, designed by Colette and Julien David, who opted “to mix the classic Pringle argyle with the modern keyboard

Exclusively

print”. It was far from a stretch for David, who often uses

colette.fr.

available

at

Colette,

contemporary images in his own line; his bold scarves feature

FINALLY CROSSING THE POND Ikou Tshuss, a Swedish label

new ideas, producing garments that are truly world-inspired. Their

specializing in hand-printed and

knits are lovingly crafted by

-knit clothes, opened it’s first store

a team of 16 grandmothers

on this side of the Atlantic in the

living in Zurich, a system

NoLiTa district of New York, during

they aim to copy in the

Fashion Week in September. Yet

States. “We hope to have

the duo behind the graphic clothes

a tailor come in once a

and accessories, Guya Marini and

week,”

Carmen D’Apollonio, bridge the

“and some American ladies

international world in more ways

knitting for us.”

than one; Marini lives in Zurich and

Visit ikoutschuss.com for

D’Apollonio is based in New York. They Skype everyday to discuss

says

D’Apollonio,

stockists.

FASHION | 53

runway report love it or hate it, these trends have dominated the runway and are here to stay for the season AS OBSERVED BY GILLIAN MAYS & STEPH RUDYK

: combined neutrals Forget using them as a base; neutrals made their own stand this season, completing an outfit without the help of a blast of bold colour. Instead, designers used different textures and emphasized proportion to create interest, layering fabrics of different weight or drape. The neutrals ranged across the spectrum of rabbit fur hues, from buttery beiges to crisp whites to icy grays.

: tough lace The use of lace this season ranged from virginal white sheaths to rough, masculine jackets. Designers refused to use the material solely as an embellishment, and dressed their models in head-to-toe lace. Unconventional patterns, cut-out panels and dark, sombre colours all kept the outfits from becoming too delicate or prissy, making it a bold statement. The message was clear: when it comes to lace, go hard or go home.

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FASHION | 55

: season-less staples Pan-season dressing showed up on the S/S 2011 runways in abundance, challenging the rigid notion of seasonal wardrobes. The key to this trend is in the layers. Pairing tights with a pair of tailored shorts takes them from summer fun to school girl chic.

Neutral colours like black, grey and white look fabulous no matter what the weather while pops of bright colour keep your fall clothes from looking drab come spring. Added bonus: season-less dressing is budget-friendly.

Instead of re-vamping your wardrobe each season, add pieces gradually throughout the year.

: architectural structure People born in rabbit years are said to be artistic, and a flair for the creative design definitely shone through this season. Stiff ruffles and volume added unexpected shape, whether on a dramatic hat or or the hem of a floorlength gown. Designers explored the limits of proportion and defying gravity, rarely stopping at just one embellishment and piling round coats over flared skirts.

FASHION | 56

FASHION | 57

Novellino: The Fashion Haven AN ARTICLE BY TAMMY L GODEFROY

When the wonderful girls at Muse asked me to write this article the first thing I said, was “Yes” (obviously). The second was, “What do you want me to write about?” and their response was pretty specific: “The history of Novellino, who you are and how and why Novellino is so popular with Queen’s students”, which I actually interpreted as “Tell us why the fashion conscious Queen’s students should listen to you”. Easy. So to all you students, here it is in a “nutshell”. Who I am, what Novellino is, how it came to be and what exactly it is that we do.

As for my background, I’ve worked in the fashion industry now for 19 years. I actually got hired at my first retail job when I was only 14 years old and since then I’ve been involved in all aspects of fashion from managing, training, selling, buying, designing, styling, model scouting and directing photoshoots, so I’ve pretty much done it all. I even traveled as a district manager for a major fashion retailer where my job was to hire and train the entire store staff as I helped open up new stores for them across Canada. I also have my degree in graphic design, which has come in very handy during the 5 years running my own business as I do all my own artwork and design, and both my parents owned their own businesses when I was growing up so I

learnt how to run a business from them, in addition to working for other companies.

Novellino’s story begins in 2005. After working hard and learning the ropes in the retail industry from other successful companies, I made my own dream of owning a new trend setting boutique a reality. Even the store’s name (Novellino is Italian for “young/new”) reflected my personal goals of bringing positive change to the fashion scene on Princess St. No longer would shoppers have to suffer trying to find what they needed in shops that didn’t care about the customer.

Flexible, forward thinking and innovative, Novellino has claimed the fashion title in Kingston. In 2006 we began shooting our own ad campaigns by using local girls that I personally scouted and turned into Novellino models (which I am still doing regularly each year). In 2007 Novellino was featured in “The Treasures of Ontario” coffee table book as one of the top places to shop in Ontario. In 2008 we started our own online store www.novellino.ca. In 2009 I was nominated for the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. And this year we introduced our Novellino Vintage Collection, which are original accessories from the 1920’s-1980’s

that remain just as stylish today. I regularly travel around the world seeking out specific vintage accessories for the store including jewelry, bags, scarves and some limited designer pieces from companies such as Hermes and Chanel.

Needless to say, I am very excited and honoured to be coming aboard at MUSE to write about what’s happening in fashion for each issue of the magazine. I of course have an endless amount of ideas about what I want to write about and I am looking forward to sharing them all with you. This was just an introduction, a “get to know me” piece so you understand who I am. I invite you all to come in and visit me at Novellino in person just to say hi. Feel free to send me a friend request and/or join our group on facebook where you can get updates about all the new products and events happening at the store and where you can join the rest of the Novellino family. I’m looking forward to telling you more about the fashion world and I encourage you to let me know what you’d like to hear about. If it’s fashion related, I’m all over it, for you.

Novellino welcomes you to MUSE magazine.

Get up close and personal with Tammy L Godefroy, Creator and Owner of Novellino A: 286 Princess St, Kingston E: tgodefroy@novellino.ca

up close and personal with stacey mckenzie Thanks to the Queen’s Business Forum on the Fashion Industry (Q’BFFI) our entertainment editor, Natasha Kucerak got behind the scenes and caught up with Canada’s Top Model: Stacey Mckenzie.

a fashion lover’s travel guide / An article by steph rudyk

For more about Stacey, visit: www.staceymckenzie.com

S

tacey told the story of her desire to become a model – after unexpectedly coming across a magazine where Madonna & Jean Paul Gautier were photographed together. Falling in love with the fashion, style, Stacey knew right then and there that she wanted to become a model. Describing how she was frequently turned down at the beginning of her career for being “too distinctive”, she emphasized to the audience how she was fearlessly determined to make her dreams come true. Describing herself as having had “tunnel vision” while on her difficult journey to the top, she offered delegates some powerful words of advice, “you must love and believe in yourself… you CAN create your destiny”.

Now at the top of her career and having modeled for the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier, Thierry Mugler, Chrsitian Lacrois, the Late Great Alexander McQueen, Betsey Johnson, Tommy Hilfiger, Todd Oldham, Michiko Koshino and has also been photographed for magazines from Harper’s Bazaar to Vogue. Stacey also hosted Stylissimo on MTV Europe, Fashion File and BET Teen Summet - and let’s not forget her budding acting career, Ms. McKenzie is one hell of a woman. While we love her from the couch as a judge on Canada’s Next Top Model, she seems to be most proud of her own company, ‘Stacey McKenie Walk This Way’ which runs a series of workshops for aspiring models to develop confidence and as a way to provide guidance and support for those looking to get their foot in the door of the fashion and modeling industry. When asked about the reasons for developing this, Stacey replied, “it’s my way of giving back”.

NK: Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

SM: I would love to have “Walk This Way” schools across Canada and the United States… having children - little Stacy McKenzies!

I see myself having a family, settling down but continuing with speaking engagements. *Stacey’s company, ‘Walk This Way’ runs a series of workshops for aspiring models to develop confidence NK: Who is your favourite Canadian designer at the moment?

SM: “Mark Fest. I’m on a Mark Fest fetish. I love him.”

NK: Favourite designer to model for?

SM: Jean Paul Gautier!! I love him! He’s unique, different…He’s crazy!

NEW YORK CITY

NK: Do you have a favourite moment (full circle moment) in your career?

SM: Walking on the runway behind Madonna and Gautier!

NK: In this industry, one day you’re hot, the next day you’re not. How have you stayed afloat all these years?

SM: I looked into other avenues. The key is to diversify…to reinvent other parts of myself. I model but I also host, act, judge, and now I teach.

NK: Who are you wearing this evening?

SM: Dress – BCBG:Max Azria, Shoes- Manolo Blahniks, Jewellerygold bangles from NYC (fun fact: she collects them!)

A

s we hastily double check our Google map for the road to Syracuse, the window to catch our train is rapidly closing. After asking a half dozen locals for directions to the Amtrak station, including one heavily tattooed car mechanic with a eye patch, we skid into the station without a second to spare. We enter our excessively air conditioned coach, breathless, but excited. Destination? New York City.

Emerging from the subway, we catch an iconic Yellow Taxi and direct our driver to The Jane, which will provide my mom and I with a home for the first night of our adventure.

The Jane pretty much epitomizes what New York is all about. Located in the once industrial, now hip Meatpacking District, it was originally built as a sailor’s inn. Complete with portal windows and bunk beds, manual elevators serviced by congenial bellhops and maids dressed in the traditional black and white aprons, staying at The Jane makes it easy to forget that it is in fact 2010 and not 1950. In the interest of full disclosure, the rooms are about the size of a slightly larger than average walk-in closet, but go for a reasonable price ($99.00 for ours). For an authentic New York vibe, they were just the ticket.

We spent our first morning riding along the Hudson pier on The Jane’s

complimentary bicycles, followed by breakfast in the inn’s deliciously eccentric Cafe Gitane, which more than made up for our room’s lack of floor space.

Now, as my first visits to New York occurred once when I was thirteen, and painfully unaware of the city’s reputation as a fashion capital of the world, and again two years ago in the blustery and snow covered month of December, I would say that this visit marked my first proper New York Experience if there is such a thing.

Exploring the Meatpacking District on the first afternoon, I was reveling in fashion glory inside Alexander McQueen’s stand-alone store where his Plato’s Atlantis collection could still be experienced. And experience is surely the only word to do it justice.

Up close, the clothes were even more breathtaking than in pictures, which is certainly not the case for every collection with a designer price tag. After taking a cheesy picture outside the shop, my Mc-

Queen loving mother and I reluctantly continued on our way.

America perceive, create, and wear clothing to this day.

Next stop was the Chelsea Market. Set up in an old industrial warehouse building (think exposed brick and cement floors) the ground floor has been transformed into a mix of specialty bakeries, coffee shops, and restaurants nestled alongside independent gift boutiques, while the warehouse spaces upstairs house some of New York’s top photographer’s and film-maker’s studios and fashion publicity and production houses. Our ultimate destination though, was Anthropologie, where I coveted just about every item in their house wares section and also managed to drop a significant portion of my shopping budget on a smoky grey ruffled, chiffon dress and pink ruffle tiered top for my summer wardrobe.

If you’re like me and have grown up spoiled, and surrounded by greenery and nature, you can take a break from the bustle and concrete of the Upper East Side and stroll, run, bike, or hike through Central Park. Though manicured to perfection, its 843 acres of green space and relative insulation from the sounds of traffic and city life make it a mini getaway in itself. If I had more time, I would have started each morning with a run in the park.

In actuality, we stopped by Dean and Deluca (which is pretty much any foodie’s Mecca) and bought the cutest, most delicious cupcakes we could find to savour as we watched all the healthy exercisers pass us by.

One of the best parts of New York is its virtually 24 hours of humanity. People are walking, biking, eating, shopping, sitting in squares, interacting and just living at all hours of the day and night. In Manhattan, walking home from a club, concert or dinner at midnight is just as doable as at 2 a.m. because there are people around ALL the time.

Now, you may ask, who cares about food and culturewhat about the shopping? Well, shopping in New York delivers every kind of retail therapy imaginable. Broadway Avenue in Soho is pretty much your best bet for stylish chains like H&M, Forever 21, Zara, J.Crew and Topshop as well as the iconic Bloomingdale’s. Though, if you’re going to shop on Broadway, do so either early or late, because it gets so busy in the middle of the day that huge line-ups for change rooms and checkouts are the norm.

Brushing by a distracted looking Mike Myers on Bleeker St. and later, one of my favourite Canadian models, Alana Zimmer, on her way out to dinner in Chelsea were two unanticipated, but welcome highlights of our Meatpacking District evening.

Day two brought some variety to the usual eat, walk, shop, and repeat itinerary, with a much awaited visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Really, the whole origin of our pilgrimage to the Big Apple was to experience the Met and Vogue’s annual costume institute exhibit, this year called, American Women: Fashioning a National Identity.

The exhibit, which was meant to be a journey through the evolution of American style, begins with ‘The Heiress’ of the late 19th century - meaning lavishly embellished Victorian ball gowns with itty-bitty corseted waists. It ends with a room-sized video slide show of iconic modern American women like Brooke Shields, Beyonce and Michelle Obama alongside heir designer counterparts like Oscar de la Renta, Micheal Kors, and Calvin Klein. Showcased in between this vast period of fashion history was the sporty Gibson Girl, the sultry and exotic Bohemian, the conservative and pragmatic Suffragette, the free spirited Flapper, and the 1950s Hollywood Screen Siren, all shaping the way women in

Bleeker St. in Greenwich Village caters to a slightly more upscale crowd with small designer boutiques like Marc

by Marc Jacobs, and Ralph Lauren as well as the delicious Magnolia Bakery made famous by Sex and the City.

We also made the trek to Brooklyn where Bedford Ave. and its surrounding streets are indie heaven with vegetar-

ian cafes, a well-stocked Salvation Army and an interesting combination of new, vintage and second hand clothing shops. Among the most notable shops on our visit were Peach Frog (which has a mix of vintage, and significantly reduced designer over-stock clothes, house wares and accessories) as well as Beacon’s Closet. Beacon’s has a dizzying mix of vintage and second hand clothes in a warehouse-like space, organized by colour and style, as far as the eye can see. I could have spent days browsing this overwhelmingly gigantic store. And just a tip: many wealthy New Yorkers bring their cast-offs to Beacon’s, so pay attention to the labels. I found a Marc Jacobs cocktail dress, and Michael Kors pumps both for around $30.00.

Between sore feet from walking through just about every one of Manhattan’s many neighborhoods, and coming down with a temporary case of shopping fatigue, I felt like the weekend was a success, and had given me just a little taste of the city’s energy and humanity. As a lover of all things fashion, New York is pretty much the North American fashion Mecca. It’s the first choice destination for style lovers on a time and travel budget, for whom making the cross continental trek to Paris or Milan just isn’t in the cards. Not that visiting the city that never sleeps is anything in the way of compromise. On the contrary, New York City is iconic in so many ways that pretty much just about anywhere you choose to experience is a safe bet.

FASHION | 63

a day in the life PHOTOGRAPHY BY Kylie Bignell Makeup by moonsun jang MODELS (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE): JOHN PANGALOS.MING ZHU.ERIKA MOLL ERIKA GUTE.ANYA MIELNICZEK

58 | MUSE

THIS PAGE: ON JOHN, clothing from Trailhead Kingston and Raw Squared Boutique ON MING,clothing from Tricolour Outfitters OPPOSITE PAGE: ON JOHN, clothing Trailhead Kingston

MUSE | 59

ON JOHN, jeans and blazer from Raw Squared Boutique/ tee by Oil Thigh Designs ON ERIKA M and MING, pieces from Tricolour Outfitters/ bag from Felicity and Fritz ON ERIKA G and ANYA, pieces from Starling Vintage Lovelies, bags from Felicity & Fritz

ON BOTH PAGES: ANYA and ERIKA G, all pieces from Novellino, hair accessories

by Ezia Couture, hair and beauty products from Diva Salon