8 minute read

Runway Realway

RUNWAY REALWAY JUICY

BY DORI GRAY PHOTOS BY PROVIDED

It was the year 2002, and paparazzi captured the signature blonde pigtails of Britney Spears walking in London. Wearing a mustard Penny Lane coat and low-slung sweatpants, the star of her mismatched ’fit was a blue Juicy Couture tee with bold orange letters spelling out two short words: DUMP HIM.

After launching in 1997, Juicy Couture quickly became synonymous with celeb off-duty style. Juicy clothing was artfully tailored to look stylish on any body type and consumers took notice. Founders Pamela SkaistLevy and Gela Nash-Taylor would gift their products to celebrities as a marketing tactic. Consequently, candid photos of the brand’s classic velour and terry cloth tracksuits — and their signature “J” zipper pulls — appeared on glossy magazine pages, giving the brand more exposure. Even more enticing, Juicy was accessible luxury: for almost $200, one could twin with their favorite movie star.

Juicy Couture was a favorite brand of many 2000s darlings. Both Spears and Tori Spelling gave their bridesmaids Juicy coords. Jennifer Lopez wore a pink hoodie-and-shorts set in her 2001 “I’m Real (Remix)” music video with Ja Rule. The early-2000s reality show The Simple Life starring Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie was basically an extended Juicy Couture ad campaign.

And for Hilton, the loyalty is real.

“I love Juicy Couture’s velour tracksuits,” she told The Guardian in 2019. “I probably own 100 of them in every color.”

Not only was Juicy Couture flattering, but it was also fun. Tees with slogans like Spears’ “Dump Him” were popular, as were spinoff product lines with perfume, jewelry, purses, and even dog accessories.

In 2003, Skaist-Levy and NashTaylor sold the company to Liz Claiborne Inc., known now as Kate Spade & Company, but the founders did not part ways with their brainchild until 2010. Then, Juicy was sold to Authentic Brands Group in 2013, and all U.S. brick-and-mortar stores closed. After striking a deal to sell products in Kohl’s beginning in 2014, the brand made a series of soft relaunches, rebranding its main collection to Juicy Couture Black Label in 2015, collaborating with designer brand Vetements for Spring 2017, and releasing its first runway collection in 2018.

The newer generation’s affinity for Y2K style included a renewed appreciation for Juicy Couture by both celebrities and normies alike. Even Lil Timmy Tim, sorry, Timothée Chalamet, caught the vibe in 2020 and wore a baby pink Juicy hoodie from his personal closet in a GQ photoshoot.

In 2021, Forever 21 launched a Juicy Couture economy line à la Baby Phat, which served as a stepping-stone for the brand to make a full comeback to the masses.

The phrase “often imitated, never duplicated” holds true for Juicy, as countless brands have attempted to produce their own velour tracksuits. Because Juicy has existed since ’97, broke college students can find “vintage” gems on resale platforms like Mercari and Depop. If that is too much work, simply pair any velour hoodie with matching slim-fit sweatpants, apply lip gloss, and slip on a giant pair of sunglasses to hide from the paparazzi.

RUNWAY REALWAY

LONELY GHOST

BY CARLIE REESE PHOTOS BY PROVIDED

“I love you say it back” is the phrase that made Lonely Ghost a staple clothing company. Lonely Ghost was launched in 2019 by social media influencers India Blue Severe (Indy Blue) and Bronson Christensen. The pair set out to launch a clothing brand that was inclusive and could make anyone feel loved. Featured on the brand’s clothing are phrases of fondness, such as “I love you say it back,” “text me when you get home,” and “it's cool to care.” Lonely Ghost is all about bringing people together in a safe place to be lonely together.

Their clothing items include T-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, accessories, and, just recently added, home items. Shortly after Severe had her baby, Lonely Ghost introduced a kids line.

Adorned on Lonely Ghost’s tops are quotes that let its consumers show love in different quotes. “I love you say it back” is the quote that made its runs on social media and had everyone obsessed. Lonely Ghost makes it cool to care about your friends and loved ones.

Lonely Ghost clothing collections come as “drops” that almost always sell out within just a few hours of the initial launch.

Most recently, Lonely Ghost decided to debut a physical store in Provo, Utah, called Ghost Grocery in late 2020. Severe and Christensen modeled their store as a typical grocery store with checkered floors, actual ghostthemed grocery items, such as paper towels and cereal, as well as, of course, their clothing.

Lonely Ghost is still a fairly new brand, but thanks to Severe’s social media influence, it continues to grow with every launch. It will be fun to see how they continue to grow in the future. A clothing brand company that spreads love to others and gives people a safe space is essential in 2022. Be sure to look out for more Lonely Ghost this year.

Dennis Rodman

Celeb Style

BY KATIE JOHNSON PHOTOS BY GRACE BRASLAWSCE

Dennis Rodman retired from the NBA after 14 seasons, but his boundarybreaking style never retired. Rodman played for four NBA teams but, his style was never influenced by the city he was in. The style was always unapologetically himself.

Rodman never refrained from saying what he wanted to and he dressed how he wanted to no matter the trends, NBA standards, or the confines of masculinity. From his numerous stacked facial piercings, to his tattoos, and to his hair. With painted nails and makeup, he accessorized himself like no other NBA player.

In 1995, when drafted to the Chicago Bulls, Rodman said he was shocked they picked him because he thought he was “a little too eccentric for them”. However, eccentric is just one of the words to describe Rodman, let alone his style. Hair was a creative outlet for Rodman to dye a wide number of hair colors and styles while on the court. The bright and artistic buzz cuts from the court in the 90s influenced style today with artists like Frank Ocean, Tyler The Creator, and Kid Cudi dying their buzzcuts and incorporating colorful, abstract designs into their hair.

Dressing like no other NBA player in the 90s, he wore cropped tight-fitting shirts, mixed prints, and faux furs. He also accessorized with scarves, bizarre hats and so much more. Rodman paired a lot of his outfits with typically feminine design styles like sparkles, lace, pearls, and other feminine articles of clothing like dresses and halter tops.

These style choices broke many stigmas around the NBA standards and men’s fashion. Rodman told GQ in an interview that he gathered style inspiration from attending gay clubs and drag bars. He went on to say he felt like he was a “sharp contrast” to fellow NBA player Michael Jordan, who was practically the main image of the NBA.

Although he got lots of staring eyes in the 90s, Rodman’s style right in with the fashion of today and the ongoing blurring of gendered styles in fashion. Now 60 years old, Rodman still sports the styles that made him known. Rodman challenged NBA standards and he made sure everyone can express themselves. Proving forever that fashion can never be too eccentric.

Farrah Fawcett

Celeb style

BY CARMEN SZUKAITIS PHOTOS BY SARAH HOUPT

Nearly a decade after beginning her career, Farrah Fawcett finally gained the popularity that she most graciously deserved. She became a household name overnight in the mid-’70s with one photograph: the swimsuit poster. Fawcett posed in a red one-piece swimsuit with gold accessories and, of course, her well-known feathered hairstyle termed “The Farrah.” The image became one of the best-selling posters when it sold 12 million copies. A few months later, in 1976, Fawcett acted in one of her most notable roles on television, Charlie’s Angels.

Although Fawcett continued her acting career until the early 2000s, she was critically acclaimed for her California girl style. From high-waisted flared jeans, to fabulous gowns, to her fluffy windswept curls, Fawcett’s style was one that people were trying to emulate (and still are). Fawcett’s fashion was about expression, and she was not afraid to think outside the box, break the rules, and try new styles. She was extravagant with fur coats and feather boas. Anywhere she went, she made a statement made with her outfit.

Fawcett loved to dress up in formal wear. However, she was also into her laid-back, casual looks. Fawcett loved tennis and participated in many charity tournaments in Hollywood. There, Fawcett sported white sweat shorts, a polo T-shirt, and Adidas sneakers. Neutrals and preppy pieces were her best friends. She wore high-waisted jeans or light corduroy pants with white button-downs or knit sweaters and blazers.

Most notable is the iconic hair of Farrah Fawcett, which has been named after her. Her signature windswept hairstyle defined her look. The curls were fluffy and lush, falling just past her shoulders while the bangs swoosh upward to frame her face. Fawcett’s hairstyle changed over her years in the public eye, however, the volume and curls always stayed the same.

Previous generations’ fashion trends always have a way of making their way back into our closets, and the trends that Fawcett set are still relevant in fashion today. She served the glitz and glamour of Hollywood while simultaneously keeping her style timeless and simple. Farrah Fawcett’s radiant energy, smile, and style captivated everyone, and we will not soon forget it.

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