february 2012
no12
SELL US YOUR WOMEN’S & MEN’S CLOTHES - CURRENT STYLES Photo: RACHEL IWANYSZYN
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Fashion Recycled
EVANSTON 1730 sherman ave. 847.492.9400
LINCOLN PARK: 2711 n. clark st.773.296.1000 WICKER PARK: 1519 n. milwaukee ave.773.227.5300 www.crossroadstrading.com
Contents 13 SHOOT
“Gilded” by Nick Arcos 17 FEATURE
Student Merchandise by Kendra Vaculin.
19 PROFILE
12 6 14
Jessica Kahkoska and Alex Nee star in “We Found Love.”
looks letter from the editor contributors
10
pleasures
40
42
CONTENTS CONTINUED 5
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
6 LOOKS
Dispatches from Paris, illustrated by Eileen Hinckle.
8 PLEASURES
Items for your pleasure, collected by our staff.
10 SPOTTED
24
Northwestern street style, captured by our STREET TEAM. VALENTINE’S DAY
Celebrate the day of love in the Windy City, by Corinne White.
25 2DO
27
Learn to fishtail braid or discover the latest music from the experts. LAST WORD
Rachel Nussbaum challenges the student fashion formula.
NORTHWESTERN
INSTUTE FOR STUDENT BUSINESS EDUCATION
NUISBE.ORG
“Where
FOR EXCLUSIVE BEHIND THE SCENES COVERAGE OF WE FOUND LOVE (TOP) AND GILDED, VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.STITCHFASHION.COM
were you when you found out about The Keg?” It’s the sort of question that might be better suited for the results of a presidential election or the arrival of Blue Ivy Carter, rather than the closing of a dingy bar. Still, like Cheers before it, The Keg of Evanston was that iconic gathering place, boasting better attendance most Mondays than a Wildcat Welcome Week Essential NU. At the Keg, characters from every corner of the Northwestern community intermingled under one roof (or on one crowded dance floor, depending on your vantage point). It’s impossible to overlook the Keg’s ability to bring together the Northwestern population. Since the beginning of North Campus/South Campus debate, Northwestern has fretted over the seemingly disseminated state of the student body. Even without the Keg, I argue there is a distinct sense of cohesive fellowship on campus. NU’s symbiotic evolution of community and culture encourages the unity of the student body, the students who regularly do incredible things serving as rallying points. This past Friday I was lucky enough to attend a rousing and powerful presentation of Spring Awakening, starring the respective heartbreakers Jessica Kahkoska and Alex Nee (We Found Love, 19). The audience was diverse, and Evanston townies were in tow, but for that performance, we all were united in awe of the performance. No matter the type of student contribution, athlete or actor, ASG or A&O, Greek or non-Greek, Northwestern’s separate camps all share something special: their ability to bond us a campus, to remind us why we are a part of this strange but exciting community. (Student Merchandise, 17). There’s always opportunities to get involved, and while STITCH may be my niche, I encourage you if you haven’t already to find what makes you excited and run with it. The Northwestern community is all encompassing and all embracing-- a joyful testament to how wonderful this university and the people who make it up really are. You may evolve over the course of your time here, and the friends from that freshmen dorm might shift into new arenas in your life, but you’re never truly alone. Because, Keg or not, there’s always a place at NU for a friend to greet you with a big cup and a smile.
yours,
5| stitch
Nadina Gerlach
STITCH Editor-in-Chief NADINA GERLACH
want more?
Senior Editors JAYA SAH, CORINNE WHITE Director of Photo-Shoots ERIN CAMPBELL Multimedia Editor DIANE TSAI Online Design Editors ROSALIND MOWITT, NICOLE HERMAN Online Assistant Editor SARA CHERNUS Design and Multimedia RACHEL NUSSBAUM, SOPHIE FRIEDMAN, ALEXANDRA SIFFERLIN, TAYLOR THOMAS, REBECCA LAI, MEG BAGLIEN, SOPHIE JENKINS, EILEEN HINCKLE, MICHELLE CHANG, JESSICA KANE, EDEN SCHOOFS, KATIE BRENNAN Photo-Shoots CARLY SHAPIRO Staff Photographers NICK ARCOS, LUKE VOGELZANG, HILLARY THORNTON, CHRISTINA JAMESON, JUSTIN SCHUMAN, MAGGIE GORMAN, CHRISTINA WELCH, KATE VILLA,TRACY LIN, MADELINE SACHS, IVONNE CALA Staff Writers KENDRA VACULIN, MATT GROSINGER, SAMANTHA BRODY, ALEXA WONG, ALIA WILHELM, ARABELLA WATTERS, BETH GLASER, BRIANNA KEEFE, CATHALEEN QIAO CHEN, DELIA PRIVITERA, EMERLY SOONG, ERIN KU, HANNA HOWARD, IMANI MIXON, JAZMYN TUBERVILLE, KALINDI SHAH, RACHEL NUSSBAUM, SAMEERAA PAHWA, VICTORIA CASTRO, XANDER SHEPHERD, IAN HENDRICKSON, KIRSTIN NORDHAUS, JAZMYN TUBERVILLE, Copy Editing GABRIELLE HURWITZ, CATHERINE CLARK, SAMANTHA KAISER Editor-At-Large KATHRYN CANNADY BUSINESS Director of Public Relations Director of Funraising LOGAN DAUM ALEXANDRA SHANAHAN Director of Advertising ALEXIS GUI
Treasurer CATHERINE NING
Public Relations DANIELLE PIEERE, ANDY GARDEN, TIM HUGHES, REBECCA RODRIQUEZ, ANDREAS FAUTSCH
M O C . ON DAILY I H S FA DATED H C UP STIT
Fundraising NEELIMA AGRAWAL, DIANA TSENG, AMY BEADLE Advertising ALYSSA CLOUGH, LAUREN SCHIAPPA, REBECCA LIRON, SONALI DASGUPTA, JACQUELINE ANDRIAKOS, CLARKE HUMPHREY, KATLIN BOLE
STITCH | 7
Guillaume Henry makes magic again at Carven this season, striking a perfect balance between bold color, intricate tailoring, and wearable basics for Carven. This mustard yellow coat is perfect with contrast collar and waist-tie belt, adding a figure-flattering element to a less structured piece. Compliment earthy tones with a chunky grey turtleneck underneath and tortoise shell shoes to give the look a more retro vibe. For pre-fall, Phoebe Philo sticks to Celine’s spring leathers, but incorporates them into a pair of exaggerated boyfriend trousers. These are offset by a bold color blocked sweater that adds a pop of bright red, breaking from the pastels of spring. Turtlenecks are back, but paired with a sleek hairstyle and nude pumps to avoid looking too much like a bad 80’s throwback. This season, girls weren’t the only ones to get a more pared back, yet retro vibe. Balenciaga extends this trend to the boys with their mixed gender pre-fall show. This look features a simple coat, but in a more earthy tone, taking men out of the boring outerwear cycle. Complete with bright blue top and black trousers, this look hits a retro vibe without being too kitschy. Two toned shoes are the final surprise, adding a more current piece to this look. 7| stitch
Carven
LOOKS
Celine
Balenciaga TEXT: KATHRYN CANNADY. ILLUSTRATIONS: EILEEN HINCKLE.
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PLEASURES
THE HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY (KINDLE EDITION) $16.85, AMAZON.COM
THE FLURO SATCHEL $172, CAMBRIDGESATCHEL.CO.UK
GALAXY PURPLE LEGGINGS $80, BLACKMILK.COM
WHITE COLLAR: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON, $20.45, AMAZON.COM
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ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS NECKLACE $19.00, ETSY.COM
2 JAR VALENTINE’S GIFT BOX $18.00, RAREBIRDPRESERVES.COM
VIOLA AND WILD STRAWBERRY TEA, €12.50, FAUCHON.COM
WALE, AMBITION $11.99, AMAZON.COM
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TEXT: ROSALIND MOWITT. PHOTOS COURTESY OF: RARE BIRD PRESERVES, WARNER BROTHERS RECORDS, NADINA GERLACH, SOCIETY 6, BLACK MILK, RPS SHOOT. KENDRA CAPTURES, STARBRIGHT 31 VIA FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS
SOCIETY 6: AFFORDABLE ART PRINTS, IPHONE CASES, AND T-SHIRTS, SOCIETY6.COM
SPOTTED
street team
spotlight BY: MAGGIE GORMAN 11| stitch
boots: Crossroads
Nicola rinow major: theater year: sophomore
shorts: Urban Outfitters tights: a Christmas present jacket: from an Atlanta thrift-store called Vintage Warehouse
sweater: pulled from her mom’s closet.
STI
CHECK OUT MORE STREET TEAM PHOTOS AT STITCHFASHION.COM
TC
H
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GILDED BY NICKARCOS
MODELS:
UCHE NWOSU (WCAS 15) KELLY CADDEN (WCAS 15)
model’s own bracelets/ blue ring: $60/ multi-stone ring $65/ turquoise/gold three strand necklace $20
THIS PAGE: 3 STONE TOPAZ NECKLACE, $ 96. GREEN EARRINGS, $12. HEADPIECE MADE BY STYLIST. OPPOSITE: BLACK EARRINGS, $12. GOLD NECKLACE, $20.
red earrings $12/ 3 part gold necklace stylist owned / beaded necklace $18
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14| STITCH 15| stitch
THIS PAGE: BLUE RING, $60. MULTISTONE RING, $65. TURQUOISE/GOLD THREE STRAND NECKLACE, $20. BRACELETS, MODEL’S OWN. OPPOSITE: BEADED NECKLACE $18. UNLESS SPECIFIED, ALL JEWELRY FROM: GIGI BOTTEGA, 612 DAVIS ST., |15 EVANSTON, IL. ,STITCH 847-425-5158
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FEATURE
student merch
by kendra vaculin
I knew that I didn’t want to join a sorority when I came to college (an all girls high school maxed out my sisterhood quota), but there was a moment fall quarter freshman year when I almost changed my mind. My largest class, an English lecture, was a prime people-watching location, and every week I observed tons of girls walking down the center aisle of the auditorium in awesome sorority merch. It was a serious dilemma. I can’t rush a sorority. But I love that shirt. Really can’t do it. But REALLY want that SHIRT!!!!! Spoiler alert: I got over
cieties to sports teams, it
for the gym? And why is
it, and have since joined
seems that everyone has
merchandising
multiple student organiza-
at least one t-shirt in their
on a college campus? Troll-
tions that present me with
closet boasting the exis-
ing the campus for unique
kickass pieces of merch on
tence of a campus student
and fun student group swag,
a regular basis. It’s a hot
group across its front. So
I learned about different or-
topic of conversation, and
how do you make your
ganizations’ impetus for or-
I’ve found that I’m always
group’s merch stand out
dering merch, the thoughts
for it. Maybe I like stuffing
from the masses?
What
behind designs, and what
my drawers full of wear-
items can you brand with
it takes to elevate a t-shirt
able publicity paraphernalia.
your organization’s logo to
from simply publicity to
Or maybe I just know first
keep from adding to the
hand what it can do to an
pile of v-necks you reserve
stylish in its own right.
important
unsuspecting passerby. Merchandise for student organizations on campus makes up a large percentage of what we see on the student body (and on the students’
bodies…sorry)
everyday. From Greek organizations to performance groups, philanthropic so17| stitch
SAMANTHA BEACH SIT & SPIN PRODUCTIONS “When there are multiple groups that do similar things, our merch has to be something that distinguishes us, or at least is a clue to the board’s personality. We feel like a team when we wear the jerseys all together. Hopefully people covet them.”
JEREMY SHPIZNER A&O PRODUCTIONS “Its actually surprising how effective merch can be for a student organization. When you have a different or interesting design, people come up to you and say, ‘That’s a cool sweatshirt, what is that a logo for?’ It gets them intrigued and then it gets you talking.”
“For a rush shirt, like this one, its all about being visible on campus for the freshman. There are open submissions for the designs, and everyone votes. Most other fraternity merch is made to commemorate events. The pieces are passed down from pledge fathers, so they end up being a fun thing to collect. “ MICHAEL FU - ZETA BETA TAU FRATERNITY
A new take on the symbol tshirt, Theta’s sheer and open-backed piece makes for cool under-layering and easy styling. “Theta merch promotes, as corny as it sounds, the sisterhood of it. You get a ton during pledge mom week, and when you’re new its cool to see all of your pledge class with the same shirt. I really like when we get interesting merch like this shirt, and the puffy vest we have with the crest. They’ve really become pieces of my wardrobe.” TRACEY COOK - KAPPA ALPHA THETA SORORITY
MAX KELSTEN & JESSE ROTHSCHILD JEWISH THEATRE ENSEMBLE JR: “The JTE merch really creates a community on the board. Its fun to have, and to make for the shows that you’re involved in. Pretty soon your entire closet is memories.” MK: “That is so cheesy.” JR: “Max is just trying to slowly change JTE into a baseball team.” MK: “I always wanted the hats, and eventually everybody came around. It’s a good way to get your name out, and I think they’re eye-catching!”
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we
found
love
Jessica Kahkoska (SoC ‘13) and Alex Nee (SoC ‘13) lead a suprem cast in a new TI staging of the Tony-darling Spring Awakening. 24| STITCH PHOTOGRAPHY: HILLARY THORTON. TEXT: SAMANTHA BRODY.
mely talented THIS PAGE: Vestal white watch; overstock. com. H&M belt; H&M (312) 640-0060. White plastic earrings; GAVIN Evanston 1939 Central Street, Evanston (847) 328-7407. Victoria’s Secret white silk slip; victoriassecret.com
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PROFILE
Spring Awakening is, as described by the musical’s leads Al best and the most painful parts.” Set in Germany at the end tress that still defines adolescence today, making it feel sur sal. “You get to relive your first crush,” Alex
SPRING AWAKENING IS PLAYING IN TH DAY THROUGH SATURDAY A 21| stitch
lex Nee and Jessica Kahkoska, “a coming of age story – the d of the 19th century, the show reflects the passion and disrprisingly modern – and, as Alex and Jessica insist, univerx says before Jessica quips, “It’s disastrous.”
HE BARBER THEATRE FEB 10-26, THURSAT 8 PM AND SUNDAY AT 2 PM.
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28| STITCH
xxx
february 14th So, it’s
“Can Valentine’s Day just stop already? It’s such a crass, commercial excuse to sell cards and make people feel lonely and—”
UH HUH I WON’T HEAR ANY MORE OF IT, HATER. JUST FEEL THE LOVE.
Whether you’re single, paired up, or in some sort of in between, STITCH has some ideas to make the admittedly iffy holiday a guaranteed good time.
xxx
TEXT: CORINNE WHITE. PHOTOS COURTESY OF: PRESS BOX PICS, TOURING CYCLIST, 20 LETTERS, MARIT & TOOMAS HINNOSAAR, THECULINARYGEEK,BORKUR.NET VIA FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS
For the Male Valentine Hater: Bulls Game. Versus Sacramento Kings. United Center. The only red you have to see is their jerseys!
For the foodie: Nosh on a heartshaped deep-dish pie from Chicago classic Giordano’s. Yes, they’re making heartshaped pizzas.Yes, they can warm even the coldest of hearts…and bellies.
For the nerd: Was your love for Seth Cohen as ardent and true as mine? If you were even close, head over to Union Park for their “Nerds at Heart Love Fest,” where singles can bond over board games and trivia.
For the socialite: You can only hope your Valentine’s night will be as hot as River North Paris Club, who is hosting a fancy fundraiser for the Primo Center for Women and Children. Buy your ticket at redhotmidnightkiss.com.
For the music lover: Groove to Cate Le Bon over at Schubas. Le Bon, who looks like a mixture of Twiggy and Patti Smith, sings sixtieslike alternative for you to swoon over with your sweetie.
For the Female Valentine Hater: Enjoy an all-female comedy routine at hipster favorite Sopo on Southport. If your Valentine’s Day is with the ladies, at least you can laugh about it.
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HOW-TO:
fishtail braid
Though braids were once thought to be appropriate for Dorothy, Pippi Longstocking and challah bread, sophisticated braids and twists are a new runway trend for 2012. Alexander McQueen,Valentino and Michael Kors all incorporated braids into their runway shows and displayed the manners to update and reinvent this girly statement. One of our personal favorites? The fishtail braid. Its name stemming from the distinct appearance that resembles a fish skeleton, the fishtail braid is easy to create and has the potential to be implemented in casual or formal events. It’s simple, sophisticated and avoids hair foul due to the Chicago wind. The requirement for medium to long hair is the only downfall but if that condition is met, then anyone can make one. Though it looks elaborate and time-consuming, it’s easy and quick to create. Here’s our tips:
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1 2
2
DO
1. Ensure your hair is clean, shiny and knot-free. If your hair is prone to fly aways, dampen the section of your hair that will be put into the braid to ensure that the hair adheres better and will help the braid set in place. 2. Gather all hair to the side of your head and separate it into two even sections. 3. Take a small amount of the hair from one of these sections and join it with the opposite section. Then repeat on the other side, pulling it a bit tight to create a firm, cohesive braid. 4. Continue through the end of your hair. 5. Once you’ve reached the end, secure the braid using a hair elastic. Gently pull on the sides of the braid if you want to create a teased, messy look.
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5
TEXT: JESSICA KANE. ILLUSTRATIONS: SOPHIE JENKINS.
MUSIC REVIEW by Matt Grosinger
Matt’s Top 10 Playlist 1. Azealia Banks “212” 2. Porcelain Raft “Drifting In And Out” 3. Sharon Van Etten “Warsaw” 4. Frank Ocean “Voodoo” 5. Lower Dens “Brains” 6. Cass McCombs “The Same Thing” 7. Charli XCX “Stay Away” 8. M.I.A. “Bad Girls” 9. Schoolboy Q “Nightmare on Figg St.” 10. D’angelo “Devil’s Pie”* *in celebration of his return from a 12-year hiatus
Making Mirrors by Gotye
2011
was the year that “pop” stopped being a dirty, scurrilous word. Arcade Fire won the Grammy for Best Album, Adele reaped unanimous adulation from fans and critics, and I’m not even ashamed to admit that Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” was my favorite song for like a solid four months. All of this is to say that pop stopped bearing such a negative connotation because, well, its definition changed: we are at a junction where the digital underground has finally surfaced to meet the mainstream. How else could you explain Lana Del Ray? (besides “shitty”) Enter Gotye (pronounced “go-ti-yay”), aka Melbourne native, Wally de Backer. Making Mirrors marks Gotye’s third LP and his most conceptually cohesive effort as a genre collagist. The vacuum created as a byproduct of the M&A between indie and top 40 has afforded Gotye a unique opportunity to survey a volatile soundscape and reflect. In short, this is the time and place for Making Mirrors. From his vista, Gotye curates the history of pop –where it has been and where it is going –from Motown (“I Feel Better”) to Tropicalia (“Somebody That I Used to Know) to psych-rock (“Easy Way Out”) to the ebullient sheen of 80’s pop –he sounds exactly like Daryl Hall --(“In Your Light”) But to the degree that Making Mirrors is retrospective, it manages a concurrently progressive mien. This is achieved in two ways. The first being his instrumentation throughout the record. Although you are immersed in the genres he excavates, sometimes you will hear a synth, as on “Giving Me a Chance,” and remember that this album was born post-2000. The second being the thematically relevant focus of his lyrics: ”Brain-dead form boredom / I’m lead to distraction… Nothing really happens / But it’s easy to keep busy.” Such is the affliction of the digital age, and no amount of pastiche can ever really mask it. And to this effect, the album title gets it just right: reflexive but forward looking. Sort of like that optical illusion when you situate yourself perfectly between two mirrors and stare right back at yourself, but it looks like you can see on forever.
2
DO
photo courtesy of Gotye’s Flickr Photostream
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A
LAST WORD
fter I finished my last calculus exam senior year, I told myself I was done with formulas. No more variables and no more inputs. It was over. And yet as much as I imagined college was all about experimentation and trying new things, I see myself and my peers relying on a formula almost every day. A fashion formula, if you will. Leather boots plus black leggings (sub in skinny jeans if it’s cold) plus an oversize sweater and I’m out the door, as is almost every other girl on campus. It’s tried, true, and feels oh so good. But as the saying that I’m just making up now goes, she who eats a dozen Girl Scout cookies all at once because they’re her favorite, feels sick afterwards. Moral of the story: I can’t eat Tagalongs anymore, and too much of something ruins it. Fashion is meant to surprise, delight and serve as a personality business card, almost, for when the perfume doesn’t linger. So while some may imagine that the stereotypical “college girl” outfit says they’re
too busy to waste time picking out an outfit with self-expression, I think it says the opposite. If they’re too busy to think about who they are, how can they think about what they’re doing? I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure how to write this. I’ve thrown on a black sweater, jeans, boots after sleeping for three hours. I’ve succumbed to the formula, and it’s felt fine. But there’s just such a difference b e t w e e n
a formula
for fashion
27| stitch
by Rachel Nussbaum
seeing another girl wearing a variation on your outfit in the library and having to laugh off that hollowstomach feeling, and wearing an outfit that you spent time putting together, that you thought through, that has direction. It’s been said before but I’ll say it again, because in midterm week sometimes the only way to understand is through repetition: personal
style is just that. Personal. It doesn’t matter where you shop or what clothes you have, it’s the attitude behind the outfit. Which brings us to the tough part. Who do you want to be. Quick break for identity crisis. And we’re back. It’s a scary question, but the beauty of fashion is that it’s fleeting. One day you can ride the sixties revival trend with a cardigan and a skirt with a grosgrain waistband, and the next go nineties with boxy button downs and the floral patterned leggings that everyone rocked in preschool. Or you could go into uncharted territory, where the only thing to guide you is yourself. Fashion is freedom, something we don’t often get enough of between course packets and research papers. It’s identity, letting you try new ones on until you find the perfect fit. It’s what you can’t include in a cover letter. So go on, get out of here, you special snowflake, you. Just keep in mind that as hard as it may be, you learn more when you’re not given the formula sheet.