SHIFT MAGAZINE Issue 5//Vol. 2

FEBRUARY 2016 VOLUME 2 // ISSUE 5

SHIFT PARADISE

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PREGAME, GAMETIME OR POSTGAME. BREAKFAST AWAITS.

BREAKFAST ALL DAY BURGER

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...wait. you’re not following us on instagram yet? awkward.

@shei_magazine

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MAGAZINE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Shannon King CREATIVE DIRECTOR Aaron Pelo

FEATURES EDITOR Lauren Guldan

FASHION EDITORS Mackenzie Kimball Debbie Cheng

DESIGN EDITORS Lexie Johnson Morgan Lovay

PHOTO EDITORS Rachel Beglin Courtney Evans

DIGITAL CONTENT DIRECTOR Regan Anderson DIGITAL FEATURES Alex Rakestraw

DIGITAL FASHION Hannah Wasserman

DIGITAL DESIGN Haley Fox

DIGITAL PHOTO Brady Mathieson

VIDEO EDITOR Christina Oh

PUBLISHER Samantha Zwick EXECUTIVE MARKETING DIRECTOR Olivia Cottrell

EXECUTIVE ACCOUNTS DIRECTOR Kirsten Ho

ADVERTISING Kassie Wallace

DISTRIBUTION Amber Lam Jessi Chudler

FINANCE Colleen Natzke

OUTREACH Maddy Moog

EVENTS Karen Bates

SOCIAL MEDIA Sylvia Sankaran

Our mission is to inform, inspire and engage deeply with the University of Michigan campus community at the intersection of student and professional life within the fashion industry. SHIFT is intended to provide a marketable media platform for students to push the boundaries of what has traditionally been possible within print without compromising the level of quality associated with the SHEI brand.

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L E T T E R F R O M T H E E D I TO R

THIS SIDE OF PARADISE

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Not always an elusive utopia, we explore paradise as a vacation destination, a state of mind, and a fleeting moment

rom Fitzgerald to Coldplay, Milton, and Bruegel, paradise has long served the arts as a muse. Historically, artists have been inspired by the search for paradise in a biblical or spiritual sense; since humankind’s proverbial exile from the garden, we’ve never stopped trying to re-discover the paradise that was lost. Pervasive throughout literature, visual art, music, and film, this paradise eludes us. It also occupies a place in the grand scheme of things – an overarching theme of the shared human condition, this elusive paradise is framed as a universal desire. Sometimes in art, paradise is found, usually in the form of love and usually temporary (think Zayn’s post-One Direction pillow talk paradise).

In this issue of SHIFT, we explore paradise on a micro scale.

Rather than tracking down an answer to the utopia question, we went searching for paradise up close and personal. The contributors were inspired by questions of what paradise meant for each of them and where we interact with themes of paradise during the everyday.

Paradise is often understood as a place, complete with geographic tropes. “Season for Blooming” (p.28) dives into the

visual landscape of paradise, flora and fauna alike. The idea of paradise in miniature, or everyday moments of paradise-like personal experience (love, daydreaming, and yes, food) appears in “Hotbox” (p.36) and this month’s installment of “The Frugal Foodie” (p.24). Paradise as a state of mind crops us in our take on the “American Daydream” (p.40). Rather than a paradise forever lost, these pieces explore a paradise found in small doses. And, in anticipation of our upcoming spring break, you’ll find paradise as a physical destination in “Bello Lo Vita” (p.14). Whether your idea of a perfect destination includes palm trees or ski slopes, hop on the plane to paradise and…

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SHIFT MAGAZINE

SHEI MAGAZINE’S DIGITAL MINI CONTRIBUTORS

FASHION amily yang simone pierce

maggie mcmilin

lily stackable

hannah wasserman

helen o’leary

kate johnson

LITERATURE alex rakestraw

rachel beglin

merin mcdevitt

natalie shochaki

PHOTOGRAPHERS courtney evans tina yu

brian beckwith

kristen eisenhauer

rachel beglin

shannon maiers

haley fox

becca rudman

DESIGN simone pierce

livia choi

jacklyn thomas

MODELS emily nagle

adiel rothstein

zach whitford

casey jong

SHIFT MAGAZINE is published monthly by SHEI MAGAZINE, 420 MAYNARD ST, ANN ARBOR, MI. SHEI MAGAZINE is a subsidiary of the Office of Student Publications and a registered orginizationat the University of Michigan. COPYRIGHT 2015 by SHEI MAGAZINE. All right reserved by SHEI Magazine.

Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

To place an Ad, please contact Kassie Wallace at advertising@sheimagazine.com

SHEI MAGAZINE OFFICE OF STUDENT PUBLICATIONS 420 Maynard St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

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IN THIS ISSUE ABOUT THE COVER:

Body Language // This shoot was conceptualized with the notion of the flow of the body’s natural form in mind. Draped chains, loose hair, glittering makeup and tight white apparel come together to form a juxtaposition of freedom and restraint. It calls into question the nature of the physical body and the ways its both solid and fluid.

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MASTHEAD

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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CONTRIBUTORS

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FASHION & CULTURE

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FLATLAY: LIFE’S A BEACH

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BELLA LA VITA

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Paradise Found: Alessandro Michele takes the House of Gucci in a bold new direction with his nostalgiainspired Cruise 2016 collection.

One student’s study abroad revealed to her where paradise really lies: the slow lane.

THE FRUGAL FOODIE: A SWEETHEART’S GUIDE TO VALENTINE’S DAY

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BIRD OF PARADISE

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OUR VERSIONS OF PARADISE

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HOTBOX

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AMERICAN DAYDREAM

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**Alessandro Michele takes the House of Gucci in a bold new direction with his nostalgia-inspired Cruise 2016 collection

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Photo courtesy of Gucci Cruise SS 16

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hen designer Alessandro Michele was given the creative reigns to Gucci in early 2015, the world watched with baited breath as the 42-year-old Italian swung the Italian luxury house in a bold new direction. Under Michele, Gucci has taken on new life. Gone are the days of stodgy monograms and neutral pallets. A brand notorious for resting on its laurels now marches to the beat of a younger, more playful drummer, all the while maintaining its reputation for craft and materials.

Whimsy has usurped tradition, and the results are nothing short of stunning.

Now, for the first time, the 2015 Fashion Designer of the Year has brought his inspired touch to a Cruise collection. Michele’s 2016 Cruise is filled with bright, nostalgic prints and embroidered jackets that evoke 1960’s chic. This is no psychedelic homage, however. Relaxed silhouettes seem drawn straight from photos of French Indochina rather than Woodstock. There are chunky varsity cardigans and even some trench coats. And while the color palette occasionally swings towards “counterculture”, details on even the wildest pieces (like the standout “Blue velvet corduroy jacket” shown above) are still rendered in Gucci’s iconic red-green-black. I’d almost call elements of the collection “trad” if the word weren’t synonymous with stifling Ivy League gingham. Just like Michele did with his FW15 debut, Cruise 2016 feels like playfulness within limits. After all, this is a luxury house – even the most mischievous animalembroidered sweaters are still made of handknit Italian wool.

That’s not to say any piece really seems austere, either.

Yes, the materials and craftsmanship are there. Yes, the collection includes luggage guaranteed to profile even the most understated vacationer. But it’s all done in a bold, youthful jet-set sort of way that manages to render Old World materiality in an optimistic skin. Most Resort/ Cruise/pre-Fall/“adjectives that describe European winter vacation” come across more as an extension of metropolitan lifestyle rather than clothes for a new environment. Just look at Valentino’s Cruise 2016: geometric designs, fitted silhouettes, and the gravity of power. You couldn’t vacation in that, at least not truly.

That’s why the latest Cruise by Gucci is the sort of headline-grabbing special that fashion world can’t stop talking about: Michele’s take on a saturated space is almost charming in its nonchalance. It’s not designer sportswear a la YSL sneakers – even that’s too serious. Instead, it’s carefree without an ounce of sloppy. You could be at rest in your loose knit polo.

You could find paradise in your floral t-shirt. Even the relatively-conservative suiting on tap are rendered in loud tonal pinstripes. Cruise 2016 is as much Austin Powers as it is Fashion Week; and for that, it is brilliant.

WRITTEN BY ALEX RAKESTRAW LAYOUT BY LIVIA CHOI

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W H AT T O W E A R : L I F E ’ S A B E A C H 9

1. Torn Jeans - One Teaspoon 2. Tank Top - Brandy Melville 3. Passport Case - Louis Vuitton 4. Keychain - Rebecca Minkoff 5. Shorts - One Teaspoon 6. Skin Care - Kiehls Day Recovery 7. Hair Care - R + Co 8. Makeup - Urban Decay NAKED 2 9. Back Pack - Fjallraven Kanken 10. Shoes - Steve Madden 11. Shirt - Project Social Tee 12. Bag - Forever 21

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W H AT T O W E A R : L I F E ’ S A B E A C H 1. Swimsuits - Acacia 2. White Shorts - Anthropologie 3. Sunglasses - Quay 4. Candle - Voluspa 5. Jean Shorts - One Teaspoon 6. White Top - Stone Cold Fox 7. Tropical Skirt - Forever 21 8. Headphones - Beats 9. Hair Products - Kevin Murphy 10. Flip Flops - Tory Burch 11. Throw Bag - Vintage 12. Shirt - Forever 21

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**One student’s trip abroad in Italy taught her many things, but most importantly, the pleasure in taking it slow and finding paradise in every passing moment.

Written and photographed by Rachel Beglin.

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ne criticism of the American way of life is its pace – we fast forward through the commercials, eat food fast, and deprive ourselves of sleep in pursuit of more things to do. But one step onto the paved stone of Italy can make even the most dedicated email-checker pause for a moment. Italy is a country of leisure, of reflection, of beautiful spaces and beautiful people.

Piazzas speckle the cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice, providing open space for chasing the pigeons, soaking in the architecture, nursing a strong cappuccino, smoking a cigarette, or picking at a pastry. These undeniably gorgeous cities overflow with the delicious smells of fried artichoke in the Jewish ghettos, just-butchered meat in the markets, and freshly-made pasta. The people take to the streets to

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socialize, shop, walk their dogs, and enjoy the vibrant night life. None of them hurry while they do it.

It’s the most pleasant surprise – one moment you’re in a square surrounded by shops and cafés, the next you find yourself before the stone that Julius Caesar was cremated on, or you turn a corner and find the Colosseum poking out from between the narrow streets. To think of the miracle that

was the amphitheatre, created without cranes or computers, and see it standing to this day – to stand where the gladiators and lions alike had their final glimpse of the sky. One is struck by the mere longevity of these cities, walking amongst the ghosts of centuries of history. There’s something charming about the laundry swaying on clotheslines, the rhythmic pace and steely beauty of the Venetian (cont. on pg. 22)

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canals, the balconies outfitted with delicate gardens, the old ladies in mink coats gathering to gossip about the old men reading the newspaper near the river. How could one not be delighted to encounter the handmade leather, the famous wine, the resounding, “Bongiorno!”

Viewing the cities of Italy from above is simply breathtaking.

Each with their own unique landscape, less grid or sprawl

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and more curved, breathing, organic. Alleyways flowing into alleyways. Tributaries feeding the city’s flow. Within, a constant stream of la dolce vita: Accordion players. Fresh bread. Violinists. Peddlers offering tourists selfie sticks.

Cats roaming the Roman Forum. Glass blowers turning liquid fire into horses and vases and chandeliers. Gondolas inching by, gelato at every corner, water fountains pouring

out water from aqueducts created two thousand years ago.

The Vatican. The Sistine Chapel. Morano. Grazie. Leonardo da Vinci. Michelangelo. Galileo. Basilicas and domes, parks and sunsets, tourists and descendants. Statues with unseeing eyes who’ve been witness to pain and love, war and peace, pollution and activism; who’ve seen many rulers, religions, and regimes; who’ve seen every fad, every

technology, every human victory and failure. One is struck by the miracle of it all. Just how did these jigsaw cities of Neoclassicism and Renaissance and Ancient and modern come to fit together so beautifully? They simply weren’t in a hurry.

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED

BY RACHEL BEGLIN

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A $weetheart’s Guide to

Valentine’s Day 24

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From artisinal cupcakes and candy bars at Zingerman’s (previous page, top left) to a chocolate pot du creme at Mezzevino (following page); from the churros at Aventura (right) to a little something sweet from MoJo (bottom left), there’s definitely more than one way to indulge locally this Valentine’s Day.

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or Valentine’s Day 2016, restaurant app OpenTable published a list of the top 100 most romantic restaurants in America. The list featured everything from lavish 5-star dining to back-alley date spots, all perfect for two.

Each restaurant was gorgeous, and their highbrow conceptual dishes looked delectable, if sometimes confusing (delicatelyplaced pine needles: ingredient or decoration?)

What this list doesn’t offer, however, is somewhere for those of us who aren’t yet railroad tycoons to enjoy something sweet with someone sweet on February 14. Fortunately, Ann Arbor has a serious sweet tooth, and plenty of restaurants are happy to satisfy this craving. SHIFT found delicious, romantic options that any student can afford. Whether your “friend with benefits” wants “benefits” to include chocolate, or your long distance flame is coming to town with high expectations, there’s sure to be something sweet coming your way.

For Strong, Independent Chicas Who Just Want to Have Brunch: Being single on the most romantic day of the year doesn’t mean your tastebuds have to be bitter, too: Aventura (216 E. Washington St) is the perfect spot for a Galentine’s Day brunch.

Whether your group consists of proud single ladies or girls who already subscribe to Modern Bride, Valentine’s Day offers time to reflect on the true loves of your life: churros, and also the sauces that come with churros.

Oh, sorry, did you think I was talking about the love between friends? That too.

This popular tapas restaurant offers lots of tasty, light fare, but their churros are a real standout. Avoid the pricey small plates and grab some coffee and churros, which are made fresh to order and come with three delicious sauces, including one

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favorite that tastes like melted vanilla ice cream. One order is plenty for a table to share, and it’s a great way to enjoy the restaurant’s hip atmosphere while you celebrate friendship.

For Friends with (Chocolate) Benefits: You’re in a noncommittal kind-of friend thing. Relationships are so 2015. Like, who has time for something serious on top of your demanding minor in General Studies, not to mention his Crossfit schedule (when is he going to shut up about goddamn Crossfit!)? You text plans for a meetup where you hang out and talk and eat food together...but it’s not a date. Definitely not. Then you check the date, and realize too late that it’s February 14. This not-a-date is putting this not-a-relationship in the commitment danger zone. Zingerman’s (422 Detroit St) is the perfect place for your relationship. Which is not a relationship, okay? Zingerman’s is a tried-and-true classic with desserts you know you’ll love, but it doesn’t signal I want to have your babies like a white tablecloth establishment would. Then, there’s dessert: Zingerman’s cake and cupcake frosting is phenomenal, and if you’re looking for something to make a late night Netflix and Chill even better, grab an artisanal candy bar or locally-sourced chocolate bar on the way out.

For the Facebook-official Couple: I know you and your hubby made a New Year’s resolution to sign up for all those Couple’s Zumba classes and phase out the Insomnia cookies...but hey, it’s Valentine’s Day! Going splitsies on some tasty flatbread from Mezzevino (120 E. Liberty St) not to mention one of their appetizing desserts - is worth it for the Insta post alone. Photos of the classy restaurant and bae looking his finest will inspire social media envy. If that’s not what Valentine’s Day is all about, then I don’t want any part of it.

Mezzevino is a winner in terms of food presentation and ambience, for surprisingly reasonable prices. Their chocolate pot du creme is yummy, but not as thick and decadent as expected. Fortunately, the restaurant’s bread pudding has the perfect texture and is served with scoops of thick, delicious ice cream alongside.

For Your Tinder $weetheart : The dining hall may not be one of the most romantic spots on campus. You swipe (your MCard) right, grab whatever looks decent that day, and leave as quickly as you can. It never looks as good as it did in the picture. In other words, it’s kind of like the culinary equivalent of the one night stand — which means it’s also the best option when you and your casual acquaintance to grab a quick bite. Your wrinkled sweatshirt and dishevelled bedhead might look out of place in any respectable restaurant, but here, you just look like any other hungover student. That doesn’t mean you can’t have an awesome 1 PM brunch with the casual acquaintance who watched approximately 35 minutes of “The Bee Movie” with you. That soft serve machine was installed for this very situation, my friend.

WRITTEN BY MERIN MCDIVITT PHOTOS BY COURTNEY EVANS

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BIRD

PARA Directors Amily Yang Maggie McMilin

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Stylists Lily Stackable Kate Johnson

Hair & Ma Helen O’Le Tina Yu

DS OF

ADISE

ake-Up Photographers eary Tina Yu Kristen Eisenhauer Shannon Maiers

Model Casey Jong

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SEASON FOR BLOOMING Kimono from Pitaya

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OUR VERSIONS OF PARADISE o7

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aradise. When the word is spoken, the mind immediately jumps to the image of a white-sand beach with palm trees blowing lazily in the wind, a teal-blue ocean stretching on for miles, a sprawling and commodious house with windows lining the eastward wall, a vibrant sunset sinking slowly past the horizon. Paradise: a place to travel to, a thing to wish for, an idea to be marketed. From ancient and biblical times when “paradise” was a reference to the infamous Garden of Eden, to more modern times where paradise is a marketable commodity splashed across various advertisements selling anything from cruise trips to insurance to alcohol, paradise is a thing that is on the verge of being unattainable, a thing that is yearned for, a place far away filled with overwhelming beauty and enjoyment. Paradise is something far from the mundane.

It seems as though we are at a time in which people are constantly striving towards this paradisiacal idea.

Work is a means to an end, like a luxurious vacation or a house with five bedrooms overlooking the pacific coast; in essence, it becomes a way to earn enough money to buy your way to paradise. These aspirations are posted and flaunted across social-media sites. You’ll find it in a friend’s Facebook post of a palatial mansion captioned “dream house” or in another’s Instagram of a Bugatti they one day hope to own. Paradise has become a goal and a commodity, a thing that can be purchased at a high cost.

It is a way you can buy out of the banal normal.

In response, a vast number of companies and advertisers are harnessing this movement. Flipping through various magazines or television channels reveals a slew of ads denoting extravagant scenes coupled with different marketable products: a perfume bottle sits on a table in Paris, a beer lounges on a beach in Maui. Advertisers and companies alike are acknowledging the idea of paradise as a purchasable item and applying it to their products. If paradise is seen as a thing to be desired, then coupling that desire with their products is certain to bring about profitable results.

Slowly but surely this produces an environment in which the commodification of paradise is augmented, and we in turn begin to seek paradise more and more in these purchasable products, products that promise to help us escape from the doldrums of the everyday.

But does paradise have to be this grand, purchasable thing that is far from the everyday? What happens when we bend this grandiose idea of paradise and try to fit it within the confines of the commonplace, the everyday?

What happens when we ask, “What is your everyday paradise?”

Stripped away from its archetypal definition, from its commodification, paradise begins to manifest itself in the small pieces of life; it takes different shapes and sizes for each individual. For some, paradise in an everyday context becomes a place where you can be alone: an empty lacrosse field filled with endless balls to shoot, a room filled with natural light, a place near a window where

the natural light streams in. For others, paradise is about being present with those you love: your family gathered around the table, an inviting bed to watch a movie with a loved one after a long day. Instead of being things or monumental places, paradise transforms into a simpler arrangement of moments: going on a run, waking up early to cook breakfast as the smell of fresh coffee swirls around in the early morning light, sitting outside a coffee shop being warmed by the sun, reading a book. These ideas and moments are sometimes small and precise, such as a hot cup of coffee and a sunrise, while other times expansive and broad, such as having a peaceful mind or simply being loved. These individual moments merge and work together to suggest an altogether different version of paradise than its historic definition and modern use has allowed. Perhaps paradise is not simply something slightly out of reach, some far off destination, or some costly item, but something much different. Perhaps we are thinking about paradise all wrong.

Paradise is an obscure concept; a concept that people have always tried to name and put a face to, whether it came in the form of The Garden of Eden, or a beach in the Bahamas. Paradise is thought of as grand and desirable, a place of beauty and peace and happiness.

It is a thing that we have always yearned for, strived to have, and at times strived to buy. Though paradise can be all of these things, it is clear that a version of paradise lives and thrives in the everyday. Amidst the goals of grandeur and bombardment of advertisements, there resides a simple and sometimes forgotten paradise, one that each individual can define in their own way. As we purse paradise in our lives, working toward a certain end goal, we may forget to notice the paradises that are already intricately woven into our days, like the way the sun feels sliding across our face, or the excitement that comes when opening a new novel. Perhaps in our constant striving for the extraordinary, we need to take a second and exist within the ordinary, the everyday. And who knows, we may just find our little paradise when we do.

WRITTEN BY NATALIE SHOCHAKI LAYOUT BY JACKLYN THOMAS

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HOTBOX Shoot Directors Haley Fox

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Photographer Haley Fox

Model

Emily Nagle

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American DAYDREAM Directors Hannah Wasserman Simone Pierce

Photographers Brian Beckwith Becca Rudman

Models Adiel Rothstein Zach Whitford

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SEE

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NEXT MONTH! MAGAZINE.COM

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