SHIFT THE NEXT CLASS SHEI MAGAZINE’s Monthly Digital Mini | Volume 3 Issue 1 | SEPTEMBER 2016
SHIFT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Aaron Pelo
IN THIS ISSUE
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Courtney Evans FEATURES EDITORS PRINT Lauren Guldan DIGITAL Alexander Rakestraw FASHION EDITORS PRINT Mackenie Kimball Hannah Wasserman DIGITAL Audrey Klomparens DESIGN EDITORS PRINT Morgan Lovay Xinyi Liu DIGITAL Haley Fox PHOTO EDITORS PRINT Shannon Maiers Becca Rudman DIGITAL Brian Beckwith
02. masthead 04. from the desk of the editor-in-chief
06. crave knowledge, f*ck around An interview with Lawrence Schlossman, brand director of GRAILED.
VIDEO EDITOR Maggie McMillin DIGITAL CONTENT DIRECTOR Regan Anderson
PUBLISHER Kassie Wallace ACCOUNTS DIRECTOR Colleen Natzke MARKETING DIRECTOR Maddy Moog ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Hali Levandoski DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Amber Lam FINANCE COORDINATOR Lauren Ayers EVENTS COORDINATOR Maggie O’Connor OUTREACH COORDINATOR Carly Dineen-Griffin SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Sylvia Sankaran
Our mission is to inform, inspire and engage deeply with the University of Michigan ca provide a marketable media platform for students to push the boundaries of what has
Index | Volume 3 Issue 1
16. gpoy
Introducing the 2016-2017 SHEI Board of Executives
ampus community at the intersection of student and professional life within the fashion industry. SHIFT is intended to s traditionally been possible within print without compromising the level of quality associated with the SHEI brand.
THE NEXT CLASS
learning from the past; looking to the future
written by Aaron Pelo photographed by Alex Rakestraw
Letter from the Editor | Volume 3 Issue 1
W
hen I sat down with my staff back in April I made it clear that we’d all be graduating. Not just in the academic sense, which is now almost six months away for several members of our board, myself included. I meant graduating to a new level of fashion content. The University of Michigan campus is an exciting place to be, especially this fall – with a football program currently ranked at number four, an unprecedented presidential election now weeks away, and a two hundred year birthday party to last through spring. Homework is probably the last thing on everyone’s mind, but when it comes to fashion, my staff and I feel that students have some studying to do. This next year is all about applying a new kind of critical thinking to the world of fashion, moving away from the abstract, and towards investigative
and authoritative perspectives on the industry. In this kick-off and introductory issue of SHIFT, our monthly digital magazine, you can meet the new faces at SHEI, a team handpicked because of its expertise and dedication to informing our readers about fashion and why it matters. You’ll also read an interview with Lawrence Schlossman, brand director of menswear e-commerce site Grailed, in which he talks blogging, fashion in the social media renaissance, and how to effectively f–– around. So much of what’s going on in fashion is really exciting, and my staff and I can’t wait to share our enthusiasm with readers in the pages of SHEI and SHIFT. That being said, there’s a lot about fashion that deserves serious criticism, so I’m here to tell you that class is in session. SHIFT with us.
written by Alex Rakestraw photographed by Alex Rakestraw
CRAVE KNOWLEDGE,
F*CK AROUND
an interview with Lawrence Schlossman, brand director of GRAILED
Even if you’re a lifelong fashion geek, you probably haven’t heard of Lawrence Schlossman. In fact, you’d have to be a special sort of enthusiast to know Mr. Schlossman by name - for someone who fundamentally changed Internet fashion, he keeps a pretty low profile. Schlossman got his start in fashion with a menswear blog inspired by wasting on a job he hated; from then, he went on to co-write one of the most popular fashion Tumblrs in existence (the evergreen “F*ck Yeah Menswear”), and even published a book of the same name. He then joined Complex as a Style Editor before launching the infamous (and unfortunately now shuttered) Four Pins, a sardonic menswear blog responsible for everything from fashion memes to the popularization of the fire emoji. Now, Schlossman is Brand Director at menswear tech startup Grailed, which bills itself as the premier online destination for designer clothing resell. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
From publishing books to creating cultures to changing the way you shop online, Lawrence Schlossman is one of the prolific figures in menswear today. It’s a miracle he even has time to Tweet. Recently, Lawrence and I sat down at the Grailed offices to talk fashion, culture, and the hidden merits of just f*cking around. AR: How did you get your start in writing? LS: I just did it myself. As far back as I can remember, the classes that I enjoyed the most were always English and Creative Writing. I relished that writing process – not necessarily Creative Writing, but writing about perspectives to ultimately offer an opinion. I took this one Art History writing class where we wrote about our views on aesthetic topics, but even before then I always liked [that process.] So when it comes to me writing about fashion, it stems from me having this full-time job that I did not enjoy at all – and I’m the kind of person who if they’re not really feeling what they’re doing, they’re just going to shirk responsibilities. As a result, I just started blogging instead of doing this job I hated. This was also during the heyday of blogging, like around 2009 as the whole scene was just taking off. So I poured my time into [writing] rather than my real work, benefitting from reading that first real wave of menswear blogs like Continuous Lean, Street Etiquette, The Sartorialist, etc. Plus, I’ve always been into clothes, so there’s this whole combination of: I like writing, I’m reading these blogs, I’m unhappy and I’m bored at my job. I just started f*cking around and then ultimately plugging away at a Blogspot. That first site is still up, from what I remember [Ed’s note: link to Lawrence’s original blog, “Sartorially Inclined” ], and it’s not writing that I’m particularly proud of, but it was my style and my first real go at fashion writing. I’ve always tried to be honest and transparent in my writing: I didn’t start writing to make money at it. Even a couple years ago, you had the first real wave of people starting blogs to show product, who could make money by I don’t know… lacking transparency? By being paid to show products and not disclosing that they were, all of those hot topics now. I’m not trying to call anyone out, but for me, I just started writing with that transparent bent because fashion was something I was really
into already: I was already spending my disposable income on this brand, this trend, et cetera so I didn’t need to take money for it all. The signs, the timing, my interests were all there, so I was just like: “Might as well f*ckin’ do it.’ So you were there in the primordial ooze, doing something you loved, cranking out these honest and transparent articles – how did a project like “F*ck Yeah Menswear” come out of that? LS: Again, it was those early blogging days: back in that time, a lot of the people I associate with in the Menswear blogging world were really tight, because 1) it was a small community compared to the much larger Womenswear and Personal Style blogging worlds and 2) a lot of the blogging world hadn’t really ramped up yet. Back then, not everyone had a website. Me and this small group of enthusiasts were essentially guys just doing it for fun, writing as a hobby mostly just to entertain this small group. So my buddy Kevin [Burrows, the book’s co-author] and I just had this conversation once as members of this small group about how funny it would be if there was a “Hipster Runoff” [a popular Tumblr blog satirizing hipster culture] for menswear: both are these insular worlds, with their own codes and rules, even their own languages. I mentioned the concept as a joke, but Kevin just took it and ran with it. This was around the time that “F*CK YEAH” Tumblr’s were really popping off, so he started “F*ck Yeah Menswear” and made it this weirdly lyrical, poetic… thing. I just remember him sending it to me and me being completely enthralled. It was the funniest thing to me and I just wanted to add to it, so I shot back: “Give me the username and password, I’ve got a post.” It then became this back-and-forth where I’d just log in, check the site, see what Kevin had posted, laugh my ass off, and then just try to make him laugh in return. It was purely an exercise in friendship: Kevin lives in L.A., so this was our way to communicate and laugh and have an inside joke. It just so happens that this inside joke between two friends started to really attract a following. Then it reached this critical mass and I just remember talking to him once like “holy shit, this is has become a real thing. It’s not just this weird ‘pen pal’ exchange.”
“The signs, the timing, my interests were all there, so I was just like:
Might as well f*ckin’ do it.“ - Lawrence Schlossman
Basically, it was just two friends riffing off each other about a shared passion? LS: It was really just two writers who loved menswear trying to make the other one laugh, and then it kinda snowballed. And Kevin’s hilarious – he’s a modern day Renaissance man who has written and produced comedy. He even did an animated comedy series for GQ [Gentleman Lobsters]. So it was Kevin and I trying to one-up each other, and the content apparently resonated with a lot of people a lot more than I would’ve thought; then it took off, and suddenly, there’s a book about it on the shelf at every Urban Outfitters in the country. What I always thought made it special was that you and Kevin had such a deep, deep understanding of menswear but went on to make this anthropological view of the whole subculture – almost like an anthropologist looking from the outside. What was it like to be in that early menswear scene but seemingly always ready to lampoon it? LS: I think it’s natural that if you love something to death like Kevin and I did with men’s fashion, you’re always going to find something hilarious and ridiculous just because you’re so embedded that you forget what that passion may look like to the outside world. You don’t acknowledge any of those ridiculous things at the time, but with any sort of perspective, that “second nature” passion part disappears and you can then either laugh at what you see and keep doing it, or get jaded. I think that when you love something intensely, you have to be able to laugh at yourself and laugh at the stuff that goes on around you. Was it ever difficult to transition that laughing, joking, “f*cking around” mentality we’ve talked about into building credibility within fashion, an industry characterized by its seriousness? LS: I’ve never had an issue where I felt a direct person wasn’t taking my seriously because I think honesty, across any medium or industry, is refreshing, but I think I toiled away a little bit when I first started because of my mentality. My first job in fashion was as a publicist at BPMW – which I loved, by the way, they’re a great company, and that was a definite grind, and not always productively. But oddly enough, I think that having that
[joking, yet honest] writing in my back pocket was actually a big help for building my career in fashion. You don’t have this resume that’s just topto-bottom bangers like someone who’s worked in the industry for a decade plus, but having the writing and the blog act as almost a portfolio for my taste level and opinions in a way helped validate all of the rest. I never really felt like I wasn’t being taken seriously even though my writing was based in f*cking around because anyone who more experienced probably recognized some of those same absurdities I write about. I mean, they love fashion just as much as I do – they may have laughed about the same topics before. So while fashion is seen as a serious industry, I never felt like I got in trouble for like, “being too real” or even just f*cking around with my writing. Do you think that whole idea of bloggers and personalities “being too real” is a cheap trick? LS: Absolutely. I think that idea really came about in the post-Four Pins landscape. Once Complex shut down Four Pins, menswear as this insular little thing become almost like a snake eating its own tail. Now, I think we’re back at a point where people are craving knowledge. Not that a good joke doesn’t go a long way, but because menswear has become so hyper-trendy as the industry has changed and the audience has expanded, there’s now a large group of people seeking to know why a brand blows up one week then doesn’t matter the next. They want a little but more substance in their editorial. That’s not to say that a funny writer or an honest writer will always be better than someone who is super clinical, but I’ve seen things move away from that whole “devil may care” attitude where part of the voice is this whole “you don’t even know what I’m talking about, so I’m going to talk down to you” shtick. That worked at a point because it made new menswear fans crave more, kinda like when you’re in middle school and the girl that likes you is super mean to you [Ed’s note: no girls liked me in middle school], but that whole angle reached a critical point. That whole Four Pins voice still finds an audience on social media – especially Twitter – but now, people want to learn rather than just make in-jokes. I think you can teach and still have fun, but as a whole, the menswear community has moved away from the “too real” attitude.
I’m interested in your comment about teaching and learning. You’d think that as the menswear audience grows, you’d have enough people getting that “first lesson” – don’t wear this with that, don’t wear these colors – that the content would be common knowledge and no longer really appealing. But you feel like we’ve gotten to a point where people crave that teaching more? LS: I guess I don’t really find myself interacting with people who are at that first level. That’s no comment on those people, but most people that would know of me connect with Grailed or Four Pins and are almost past those first learnings. But even that is case-by-case: the community is so large and so diverse now that it’s impossible to generalize and say something like “all menswear readers are acting this way” – all we can really do is extrapolate based on what we see and who we talk to. It’s truly hard to say. From my experiences with Grailed especially, I think there’s been a real shift towards more educational content. There are just so many trends popping up that even the more experienced
customers want to know which trends have legs, which they should skip, etc. and naturally look towards a voice of authority and experience to help them. End of the day, it’s all about knowing how to spend your hard-earned money on fashion – am I buying a Vetements hoodie that costs a ton but someone thinks has staying power? Or am I buying vintage tees because I see them on Instagram and therefore think they’re popular? With all the visual noise on social media, it’s only gotten harder to analyze trends, and therefore the teaching and learning editorial has a new importance. So you’re now starting to see more of that “intermediate” customer coming to Grailed? Correct me if I’m wrong, but Grailed used to be a worst kept secret that catered mostly to really experienced fashion guys. LS: Word – I mean, think about it: people want to save money. That’s the thing with Grailed. You can get what you want cheaper than retail, from the super high-end to the relatively newer sections
like “Hype” [Supreme, Palace] to “Basic” [J. Crew, H&M]. There’s some crossover between sections, but the guy looking to buy 10 J. Crew dress shirts because he just started a job yesterday is way different than the dude browsing Hype looking to buy Yeezy’s for like, one penny less than two thousand dollars or whatever the f*ck those go for now. They’re all different types of people, but now they’ve all got a place on Grailed. Relating it to the editorial “teach and learn” thing, people come to the site because they trust our opinions and the general taste-level we represent, whether that’s applied to Rick Owens cargo pants or an H&M tee. I think that part has certainly helped the site’s expansion to pick up more of those interested beginners, but again: people aren’t shopping on Grailed because we have the f*ckin’ funniest memes or because our blog [Dry Clean Only] has the most fire fit pics. I think they come for this more authoritative personality, both newer and more experience customers alike. How much of that developed personality was you coming in as Brand Director vs. the
community shaping itself? Was this your plan for Grailed when you joined the team in April? LS: Nah – these guys were doing great things way before I got here. From a press perspective, me being here helps shape that authoritative personality, but it’s hard to say. I don’t want to give myself too much or too little credit, but I think that my impact here has been more about taking my journalism skills and then applying them to something new, something not in the press. The stuff I did at Complex, at Four Pins, set me up to join Grailed and help these guys navigate their brand through the world of the fashion press, but in terms of some master plan for the community, that wasn’t it. I think that’s actually a fairly common transition in the fashion industry: journalism to brand. If you go and talk to X creative director at Y brand about their work history, you’d be surprised at how many of them have press experience. Journalism provides such a versatile skill set that it can transfer pretty much anywhere.
What are your thoughts on that relationship between the fashion industry and the media? LS: It’s super incestuous. Maybe it’s not the most (pause) ethical. Not like there’s anything terrible happening, but fashion and fashion press have almost become one and the same. Especially now with members of the fashion press being personalities and having their own brands, thanks to social media. You can be a writer, sure, but now you can also have this whole machine running off to the side that may be more of your career than the job that put that “personal brand” machine in motion. That’s not so different than the brands you’re reporting on. A writer is curating an Instagram feed, just like a brand does. I think that’s the nature of where we are in 2016, where everyone is quote-unquote “a brand”, but in the fashion industry, that’s even more apt. It’s a more superficial industry in some respects – well, not in some, it is a superficial industry. Compared to other stuff, I mean it’s not global security. But because it is a superficial industry, those lines between press and brand are heavily blurred. Just look at “personal style bloggers”: they release and market their own products, so are they designers? Bloggers? Models? To some extent, everyone is everything now. And as someone there for the beginning of fashion blogging, you’ve watched this entire transition, for better or for worse. LS: It was honestly unavoidable, just based on how important social media has become for fashion. Even now with Snapchat – regardless of what you do for a living in fashion, it’s now so easy for you to become some level of a public figure. It’s all enabled this interest in people personally. In fashion, if you dress well and are a good looking person, regardless of what your day job is, you could very much find yourself with a profitable side job, but also as someone now managing a personal brand. Social media made this inevitable, but I honestly can’t say if it’s bad or good. I guess when it comes to actual reporting of substance outside of The Business of Fashion or The New York Times, maybe the effect has been overall negative on the journalistic product that now reaches the readers. But, then again, it’s also fashion: I don’t know what people really expect, but in my opinion, it’s
not changing the world. Some people will disagree and tell you it’s the most important f*ckin’ cultural force on the globe, but I don’t agree with that. In short, it was inevitable, and for better or worse, it is that way. I’m not one to wax poetic and say “I miss the old days of dot-blogspot” because that’s a huge waste of time; and again, we’re not talking about politics, we’re not talking about global security, we’re talking about clothes. I don’t really care either way. It is what it is. Would it be fair to say that fashion in the age of social media has almost become entertainment? LS: Eh. I don’t know. Maybe? But in my opinion, probably not. I think the thing that fashion will always have is that there’s a true utility to getting dressed – there’s form but also function. When you take the “art” thing out of it, fashion still has utility. You can’t really apply that to something like watching a movie. People still need to get dressed. Regardless of price, regardless of how cool something is, there’s a true inherent value to clothes. Because of that, I think fashion will always stay out of that pure entertainment world, like television or film. I mean, even if it’s high-end, it’s still a shirt: you need to wear one to get service at a restaurant. Unless you live in a nudist colony, you have to get dressed every day. That makes fashion always somewhat important. One last question: since we are in the Grailed offices, what’s your all-time shoe grail? 1985 Air Jordan 1 “Royal.” Nike made the Air soles a certain way so that they don’t crumble with time – I could put those shoes on today and they’d be as solid as they were 30 years ago.
A special thank you to Lawrence Schlossman, Alyssa Vingan Klein, and Jessica Minkoff for making this interview possible.
GPOY introducing the SHEI 2016-2017 executive board photographed by Brian Beckwith, Courtney Evans, Shannon Maiers and Becca Rudman
Courtney Evans Creative Director I’m Courtney Evans and I’m the Creative Director of SHEI this year. I’m a Senior, double majoring in Political Science and Communication. I spent my summer in Washington D.C., and I’m already having withdrawals from my favorite morning coffeeshop. I’ve been a member of SHEI since my Sophomore year, and I’d definitely say that I regret not joining right away as a Freshman. Through SHEI I’ve had the opportunity to work with the most amazing and creative people, and I’ve watched as our tiny ideas have grown into beautiful work for the print magazine each semester. This year, I’m looking forward to putting out the best issues of SHEI yet! Also I really like small cacti.
Regan Anderson Digital Content Director I’m Regan, a California native studying Art and Design and Entrepreneurship! I joined SHEI my sophomore year and I have loved being part of a community where people are passionate and creative. In my spare time, you can find me running my lifestyle blog Always A Clothes Call, and stalking the fashion week shows. I spent this summer in New York City interning for Saks Fifth Avenue working with the Editorial Team and I hope to pursue a career in the fashion industry after I graduate in May.
Morgan Lovay Design Editor, Print I’m studying Communications and Business with a passion for graphic design, and my goal is to pursue a career that blends those three interests. I like to think I live a colorful life, despite the fact that my closet is entirely neutrals. My favorite flavor combo is dark chocolate and raspberry, I would rather win an Oscar than a Grammy, if I don’t have any Diet Coke in the fridge I start referring to my home as a dry house, and my dog is the sun that lights up my life. So excited for my final year with SHEI, and looking forward to all the talent and enthusiasm this year’s staff will bring.
Xinyi Liu Design Editor, Print My dream dog ensemble consists of a corgi, golden retriever, german shepherd, and samoyed. I really like cream cheese, I eat it by itself sometimes. I wish raccoons were domesticated because I really want one as a pet, I love their tiny hands. My favorite ways to eat eggs are over hard and hard boiled. And I am a strong supporter of #JusticeForBarb, she didn’t deserve it.
Haley Fox Design Editor, Digital Likes jerk chicken, dislikes jerk people. I pulled that one directly from my Tinder profile. Proud mother to many plants, loves to complain, Senior majoring in Communications and minoring in Business and Digital Studies. Spends way too much time in the Student Pubs building and is really, really good at eating sushi. I’ve been on SHEI since the first month of my freshman year, and I’m so excited to start the year strong. That being said, I’m also really excited for the Brown Jug’s happy hour.
Mackenzie Kimball Fashion Editor, Print In my spare time, I enjoy studying the human body, distressing my clothing with box cutters, and predicting who is guilty in crime shows. Over the summer, I shadowed a primary care physician in New York and took the MCAT in hopes of attending medical school in the near future. I love being a part of SHEI, because everyone is so talented and we function not only as a true publication, but also as a family. I cannot wait to see what we can all accomplish this year! XOXO
Hannah Wasserman Fashion Editor, Print Creativity comes in a variety of different art forms: painting, photography, film, writing... the possibilities are inexhaustible. Personally, I use fashion to express my creativity. There is nothing I enjoy more than a fur coat and a pair of thigh high snakeskin boots, and of course, some lavender lipstick.
Audrey Klomparens Fashion Editor, Digital I believe that dreams don’t work unless you do, also in always dressing to impress. I have a main color scheme that I center everything in my life around: Black, White, and Gold. Every season I throw in a pop of color, and for this Fall I chose mint. While I believe in all forms of creative expression, especially fashion, I do have other interests. I’m on track for a dual degree in both Business and Spanish, with my ultimate goal being to work for an international consulting firm. “You can never be overdressed or overeducated” - Oscar Wilde.
Lauren Guldan Features Editor, Print From a young age, I always knew I wanted to be The Little Mermaid, but I have put that dream on hold for the time being—sort of. I am a senior in the School of Information where I study Social Media and UX Design with a minor in Writing. I love observing how the creative arts evolve in a society that has become more and more inundated with digital technologies; as the tides continue to shift towards tech-centric existence, I hope to be a part of their preservation in the future.
Alex Rakestraw Features Editor, Digital My name is Alex, and I’m a junior in the Ross School of Business studying Marketing. I’m a lifelong passionate writer, voracious cultural consumer, and sneakerhead to the nth degree. This past summer, I was in New York City interning for Luxottica (sunglasses) and Cadillac (not sunglasses), and hope to one day go back to the city to work in luxury goods. In my downtime, I love to run, cook, read, and keep a fashion/lifestyle blog of my own (asrakestraw.com). One time, I had a nightmare my Flyknits got dirty.
Becca Rudman Photo Editor, Print I am a lover of travel, the great outdoors, and watching Dirty Dancing on repeat. It is my passion to help people see beauty in themselves through photography. As a sophomore in the Ross School of Business, I hope to use my experience at SHEI to help me enter the business side of the fashion industry. I’m so excited to put together some amazing shoots this upcoming year!
Shannon Maiers Photo Editor, Print As an Art & Design major with a minor in Art History, creating is my favorite thing to do. Whether it is projects for school or photo shoots with SHEI, I strive to tend to every detail, enjoying the process of producing quality work. As Print Photo Editor, I want to ensure that the photo team creates meaningful work that we can be proud of. When I’m not creating, I can be found curled up in bed with a hot black tea, surrounded by candles, watching the entirety of The Office for the millionth time.
Brian Beckwith Photo Editor, Digital Hi! I am studying Communications and Psychology with a minor in Business through Ross, and I am interested in advertising or brand management. This summer, I was a global media strategy and research intern at Starcom Mediavest Group in New York City, for the Samsung account. I have had a passion for photography and graphic design since high school, and I am really grateful that SHEI has allowed me to continue with it in college. I also love music - mostly pop and indie, but I am open to anything - as well as cooking and coffee. Fun fact: my first job was at Starbucks and I used to hate coffee until I started working there.
Maggie McMillin Video Editor I am an English and International Studies double major minoring in Community Action and Social Change, and this is my second year as a part of the SHEI team. I love getting to know people and hearing their stories, and those passions have fueled my interest in film and videography as a hobby. Outside of SHEI, I work at the Center for Educational Outreach and the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives, and I’m particularly interested in educational equity and outreach. I’m really excited to use videos to show everyone what happens at SHEI and to share the stories and styles of people at U of M!
Kassie Wallace Publisher I am an Economics major aiming to pursue a career in sales...but I love fashion! Lucky for me, I found SHEI and gained the opportunity to be a part of something where I can express my creativity and passion for fashion. I love SHEI because of the driven and creative individuals I get to work with and be inspired by every day. I am obsessed with shoes, and would wear high heels every day, if only my feet could handle it. I hope to be living in New York City next year embracing the fashion culture and working on my street style game.
Colleen Natzke Accounts Director I am a Senior studying Business Administration with minors in German and History. A Michigander born and raised, I moved out of the state for the first time ever this past summer to live in Minneapolis and intern in retail merchandising. When I’m not working with SHEI, you can find me at rehearsals with my dance group, Relevé Dance Company, reading novels, or singing karaoke with my roommates. I’m so excited to be working with the SHEI advertising, distribution, and finance teams this year as accounts director!
Madeline Moog Marketing Director I am studying Communications with a minor in Writing and Digital Studies and I absolute love it! My goal is to pursue a career in public relations and basically be the Leslie Knope of PR (shout-out to all of my Parks and Rec fans). My favorite colors are navy and gold and you will probably always see me wearing some type of stripe. I am excited to support the social media, outreach, and events team this year in order to best market SHEI across campus and beyond!
Hali Levandoski Advertising Coordinator I am so excited to be on the board for SHEI this year after being on the outreach and public relations teams over the years. I love fashion and I am obsessed with New York City and planning to move their after graduation. I love to read in my free time and you can always find me shopping online. My biggest celebrity crush is Leonardo DiCaprio, and I almost died when I saw him over the summer. I am looking forward to another great year with SHEI!
Amber Lam Distribution Coordinator Hey there! I’m Amber. If you don’t know me, I’m the blonde Asian on board. I grew up in Macomb, Michigan, but I’m a total city girl at heart. I love traveling and I actually spent this past summer interning abroad in Singapore. In my free time, you can find me at a concert or music festival, out on the water, or planning my next getaway. P.S. I’m trilingual!
Lauren Ayers Finance Coordinator I have always loved everything related to fashion. This year, I think SHEI has immense potential to grow and increase its reach on campus. Style is so important for personal expression and confidence, especially when finding yourself during college. I love being a part of SHEI and I am so excited to watch the magazine continue to grow. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family, reading, and listening to Alternative music. My favorite spots on campus are the Arb and Espresso Royale. My days consist of early morning coffee, lots of laughs, and killer sunglasses.
Maggie O’Connor Events Coordinator Hello everyone! My name is Maggie and I am so happy to be joining the board this year as Events Coordinator. There are few things I love more than planning a good party. My other interests include pina colodas and getting caught in the rain. I’m also a lover of dancing, practicing yoga, cooking (or trying to) and basically living on the porch of my house. I can’t wait for a great year of fashion, culture, and events!
Carly Griffin Outreach Coordinator I’m just your average Communications major with a Digital Studies minor who has taken way too many classes about video games. I am a self-proclaimed ice cream enthusiast and my true goal in life is to find the world’s best cupcake (buttercream frosting is my weakness). I can guarantee that I have watched your favorite show on Netflix, and my closet is essentially just black, gray, and navy. I’m so excited to promote SHEI’s brand on campus so I can share this amazing organization with so many others. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish this year!
Sylvia Sankaran Social Media Coordinator I’m a Senior majoring in Communications Studies with a minor in Digital Studies here at UofM. I’m a social media junkie, a lover of The Office, and I like anything to do with fashion and beauty. When I’m not promoting the latest content from SHEI, you can find me watching Michigan football or makeup tutorials on YouTube. Working with SHEI Magazine has been one of the most rewarding choices of my college experience so far, and I am looking forward to another year on board!
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