ISSUE 11 SP23
SPREAD DESIGN BY ARIANNA UNABIA AQUINO | DIRECTED BY CD OF DESIGN, OLIVIA SIMS
DIRECTOR INTERPRETATIONS FEATURING WILLIAM HOHE, KAILEY SEDLACEK, & OLIVIA SIMS
ENGINEERING: THE DRIVING FORCE TOWARDS THE FUTURE OF FASHION BY ALYSSA MEDVEDEFF
THE FUTURE OF FASHION: ACCORDING TO THE MEMBERS OF TFN BY RACHEL NEWMAN
SPREAD DESIGN BY GRACE HUNT | DIRECTED BY CD OF DESIGN, OLIVIA SIMS
DIRECTOR INTERPRETATIONS FEATURING WILLIAM HOHE & KAILEY SEDLACEK
THE HISTORY OF EXCLUSIVITY IN FASHION BY ARIANNA WINTERS
WHO IS TWIGGY? BY RACHEL NEWMAN
SPREAD DESIGN BY CASSIDY MARCUM | DIRECTED BY CD OF DESIGN, OLIVIA SIMS
DIRECTOR INTERPRETATIONS FEATURING WILLIAM HOHE & KAILEY SEDLACEK
DENIM: A BLUE TRUTH BY NOEL FISHER
THE EARTH IS NOT OUR MOTHER BY UMA LYNCH
SPREAD DESIGN BY ARJAV CHOKSHI | DIRECTED BY CD OF DESIGN, OLIVIA SIMS
DIRECTOR INTERPRETATIONS FEATURING WILLIAM HOHE & KAILEY SEDLACEK
PLUS SIZE WOMEN ARE THE BACKBONE OF SOCIETY BY KAILEY SEDLACEK
FEAR OF DOLLS BY SABRINA LONGO
AN INTERVIEW WITH CHESTER WILSON III - CONDUCTED BY BLOG DIRECTOR, MONIQUE ROBINSON
SPREAD DESIGN BY OLIVIA SIMS, CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF DESIGN
Hello! This is William Hohe, your currently serving president of The Fashion Network (TFN). It is with great privilege, pleasure, and honor that I am writing the president’s letter to you all for Issue #11 of TFN’s semesterly publication.
This all feels so weird for me to be writing this; it feels like only yesterday that I stepped foot with a cheetah print beret and my camera on the set of “Modern Western” in Fall of 2021 for my first shoot as an ambitious and intrigued freshman. Little did I know how powerful, important, and profound the acronym “TFN” would soon become in my life and the many lives that have touched my heart through this entire process.
“It feels like only yesterday” is a phrase I reserve for old people, or feeling old. This whole semester has been a nostalgic one for me and in that, “It feels like only yesterday” continues to ring bells in my mind amidst recollections of my time as a member in Fall 2021, serving as Photography Director in 2022, and now finalizing my first semester as president in Spring 2023. Where did all the time go? Seriously, I’m writing this 3 days, 12 hours, 47 minutes, and 32 seconds until CFE.3 WHERE DID THE TIME GO?
It’s hard to not feel nostalgic as I reach this halfway point in the college experience for me; I came into college as a COVID-19 graduate, giving a graduation speech from behind a floral printed mask, and not being able to give my favorite English teacher a hug at graduation (lots of love to you, Mrs. Fritts!).
In the time I entered college, I remember coming from the homogeneous, bubble-like suburbs of Chicago feining for a sense of community; for a cultivated culture of shared vision, appreciation, and dedication for the arts amidst all of the craziness of modern day life and keeping your sanity afloat.
I was not excited to come to college, in the beginning; seeing the inability to afford education in a pretentious and preppy NYC arts school seemed like a failure for me at the time and I reluctantly waved the orange and blue at graduation parties and celebrations the whole summer. The main worry on my mind was that I wouldn’t find any friends, colleagues, or collaborators to express my creative ambitions with, partner in elaborate projects on, or confide my dreams and desires of becoming a creative director with. UIUC was for STEM-people and individuals who excelled in the likes of AP Calc and Chem with ease (not me, at all. I got a 1 on the exam. I hate Calculus).
I’ve meditated on writing this letter for quite a while and regularly practice writing letters to my past and future self. In a way, I want this letter to be both for me but also for you all, my lovely TFN family, to prove to you that the community I was yearning for was only 2.5 hours from home. If I could back and do it all again, I would have only applied to UIUC from the start; and the overt reason for this is overwhelming because of The Fashion Network.
With that in mind, I want to thank this community for showcasing, inspiring, and working so hard this semester. Each of you, through 4 photoshoots, countless workshops, socials, and CFE.3, have proven your dedication, openness to experimentation, and love for creative collaboration.
It has truly been the highlight of my year to serve as president. I want to take a second to thank my
executive board: Olivia, Thomas, Kailey, Sophie, Monique, Nolan, Naina, Alysa, Samantha, Anu, Sam, Alex, and Francesca. Each of you has worked tirelessly to make this semester the biggest one yet for TFN; your work does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. We could not have done this without all your specific roles and expertise. You all continually amaze me and I am beyond grateful to lead this organization with you all.
To all the photographers, videographers, MUAs, models, stylists, creatives, and individuals who helped support TFN, lead the charge, and encapsulated the spirit of this community, I thank you. One thing I have come to love about the college experience is that the desire to try, the desire to learn, and the desire to commit yourself to something is much more apparent due to the time constraints amidst these busy 4 years. Each of you devoting your time and making space for TFN in your life warms my heart; that desire to commit yourself to art is the energy that keeps TFN thriving. I adore each of you; I look forward to continuing leading you all next semester and eagerly anticipate our return to the runway in the Fall.
They/Him SP23 TFN President
KAILEY SEDLACEK
SHE/HER
CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF STYLING
OLIVIA SIMS
SHE/HER CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF DESIGN
MARKETING + SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM
FRANCESCA DUMITRESCU
THEY/SHE PHOTO/VIDEO DIRECTOR
SAM CRUTCHER
HE/HIM SET DIRECTOR
CREATIVE TEAM
NOLAN NEMEROFF
HE/HIM FASHION DESIGN DIRECTOR
ALEXANDRIA LIMOV
SHE/HER MARKETING DIRECTOR
Photographed by Isaac Tu
Photographed by Francesca Dumitrescu
Redefining Twiggy, Second Shoot of TFN SP23 Season
Spread Design by Grace Hunt, Redefining Twiggy Graphic Designer
Directed By Olivia Sims, Creative Director of Design
Photographed by Lyla Stern
Photographed by Eileen Kim
Photographed by Kara Yoo
Photographed by Eileen Kim
Photographed by Olivia Wallace
Photographed by Isaac Tu
The use of neutral nudes and white, combined with authentic surgical props: bandages, needles, gloves, and IV Bags etc. displays the surrealist and emotional elements of the human body with stylistic inspired elements of Maison Margela’s infamous anonymous runway masks. With the rise of surgical alterations surfacing in media like BBLs trending on Tik Tok and reality shows like Botched on E-network, Body Modification serves as a commentary to channel one’s insecurities through a heightened and dramatized artistic platform.
Regarding the photographic creative direction, emotionless versus emotional is at play. So many people utilize body modification as a way of self-expression, but others just play into the trends and just aim to fit in. What emotions do you think a person going through various surgeries is feeling? Maybe not feeling? Surrealism is also a key attribute to this theme - as real as body modification is, there is an element of surrealism in the concept.
The clothing direction prioritizes shocking neutrals such as nude and white slip dresses, white and nude linens and flowy pieces - an overall simplistic and classy appearance. Surgical bandages as casts are ideal as well. Creating a cast around the face frames the features and holds the entire story together. The makeup has a lot to do with drawn-on features here. There’s a ton to play with in terms of prosthetics and highlighting specific camera features. Prosthetics, heavy cheekbones, caved-in eyes, strong contour, large foreheads, etc. This
AN INTERVIEW W/ CHESTER WILSON III, THEY/THEM UIUC CLASS OF 2022
CONDUCTED BY BLOG DIRECTOR, MONIQUE ROBINSON
VISUALS FROM PINK HEARTS CLUB - ISSUE 05 | SPRING 2020
MODEL - CHESTER WILSON III
PHOTOGRAPHER - NORA POTTER
STYLIST - HEATHER ROBINSON
MUA - ESTHER ARMENT
I joined the second semester of my freshman year when I saw photos on TFN’s Instagram. I instantly became hooked and obsessed. I’ve always loved fashion and clothes, especially what clothes can do for people. I started out as a stylist, because I love putting clothes on people, and putting together outfits. I also was a model for a few shoots. It was overall a really fun experience.
VISUALS FROM PLAYFUL (WATER SHOOT) - ISSUE 04 | FALL 2019
MODEL - TYLER HIXON
MUA - LIZ KARLOVICS
STYLIST - CHESTER WILSON III
PHOTOGRAPHER - JOSE HERNANDEZ
“
I started out as a stylist, because I love putting clothes on people,
VISUAL FROM ON THE COURT - ISSUE 06 |
MODEL - CHESTER WILSON III
PHOTOGRAPHER - BRIELLA HENDERSON
My senior year I became an Executive Board member as the Event Coordinator. All of the little events, mini-shoots, and handling the Discord were all in my department.
The hardest part of being the event coordinator was managing the Discord. In the beginning I was doing the Discord for like fifty people, and it became more difficult moderating the Discord as it grew to two hundred plus people. I started in 2018, and in 2021 TFN blew up. I definitely did not expect the boom of new members.
My favorite thing about being event coordinator was hosting events where I would bring members to thrift stores. It was so much fun. We also did a lot of things on the quad. We once had a big group picnic with cute outfits on. Photos were taken, books were read, and homework was done. We all just chilled on the quad on a 90 degree day.
I truly love themed events and getting to wear costumes. It was my bread and butter on campus. We wanted each quad day to have an aesthetic theme and have people come in certain outfits, like pajamas for example. The dressing up didn’t happen very often because of Covid but I wanted to do more.
I don’t know consitently what’s up with TFN lately, but hearing about all the new workshops like posing, makeup, and screenprinting, it is so cool to hear. It makes me want to come back! You guys are just so incredible and it just makes me feel super proud of the work we have done, and the work you guys are still doing, and it’s only gonna get bigger and better from here.
WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEING A BLACK PERSON WITHIN A CLUB THAT’S PREDOMINANTLY WHITE?
HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR TO BE SEEN AND SHOWN WITHIN THE CLUB?
I was a really shy awkward kid, so being a Black boy and being able to model was such an eye opening experience, and it’s been lovely giving that to other people. Photoshoots at TFN were my first dose of RAW confidence with being in front of the camera and being hyped up by the president at the time, Liz. When you were in front of that camera, they really made you feel like a star. Afterwards, I was like ok I love this. This is something I never want to give up. If there is anything I have to say, it’s this. The confidence that TFN gave me 100% shaped the person I am today. I probably will continue to use my TFN photos until I’m thirty because they’re just so good. I had a great time during them, and everytime I look at them I just have great memories. When it comes to advocating for more people of color within the club, I think it really began with a lot of us (other Black members within TFN and I) communicating with our friends and talking to them about TFN. Mostly talking about what it represents and what we do, while also selling the idea that you have an entry into the fashion world even if you’re not perceived to be a part of it. Word of mouth, especially among my Black friends, helped increase attraction to more people joining. Overall, it was a different experience, and the club isn’t nearly as big as it is now.
VISUAL FROM
| SPRING
MODEL - CHESTER WILSON III
MUA - MASON GREGG
STYLIST - GRACE T.
PHOTOGRAPHER - ISABELLA ZHAO
It was the Valentine’s day one, The Broken Hearts Club. Pink is my favorite color, so I had to do it! As soon as they said the theme I screamed because I had a pink leather jacket, and I was like I can make this into an outfit.
VISUALS FROM PINK HEARTS CLUB - ISSUE 05 | SPRING 2020
MODELS - JADA FULCHER | CHESTER WILSON III
PHOTOGRAPHER - NORA POTTER
STYLIST - HEATHER ROBINSON
MUA - ESTHER ARMENT
“Pink is my favorite color, so I had to do it! As soon as they said the theme I screamed because I had a pink leather jacket, and I was like I can make this into an outfit”
VISUALS FROM PINK HEARTS CLUB - ISSUE 05 | SPRING 2020
MODELS - JADA FULCHER | CHESTER WILSON III
PHOTOGRAPHER - NORA POTTER
STYLIST - HEATHER ROBINSON
MUA - ESTHER ARMENT
VISUALS FROM MONOCHROME - ISSUE 06 | FALL 2020
MODELS - JADA FULCHER | CHESTER WILSON III
PHOTOGRAPHER - ISABELLA ZHAO
STYLIST - HEATHER ROBINSON
We also had a monochrome photoshoot, and the color that I got was brown. I wore this cool brown corduroy suit, and my friend Jada, who was the previous Writing Director, wore these brown bell bottoms and we went to pose around downtown Urbana. It was really fun and so cold! Someone even stopped us and asked if I had just graduated law school.
In their defense, I did look like I graduated law school.
“I still use TFN photos for everything, like is a permanent fixture in my life”.
I thought the dream was going to be moving to California, but I decided that my heart was in New York. I’m trying to get into the publishing industry here. Currently, I work for a literary magazine, Hooligan, where I’m an associate poetry editor. I also just got the Cave Canem Fellowship for Black poets in New York, which is what I majored in.
TFN has absolutely helped me within my career.
Doing what we did at TFN, from just a managingpoint of view, was so hands-on and really gave me the skills to be able to succeed. I feel like I was a lot more cluttered before TFN, and then I kind of got it together. TFN gave me the opportunity to embrace fashion in a way that I hadn’t really been doing. I love a good skirt, and love how fashion has no gender. Doing shoots that embraced the idea of gender fluidity made me feel like I can do this! I can wear a skirt and have a really good photo of me in the skirt.
Oh yeah! A lot of the models, stylists, and photographers have all kind of stayed together, and it has become this little network of people. It’s so cool. For example, Isabelle, TFN’s previous Photography Director, graduated before I did, but she came back to do a photoshoot for me with my frat. I also still keep in contact with Jada, who was the previous Writing Director for TFN.
It’s kind of how I start my day, and I’m kind of really picky about clothes. Whenever I put on an outfit and I’m like “I don’t really like this” or “I really like this,” I feel like the root (whether or not it’s good for me) of all my confidence is how I build myself in the morning. Fashion has become an avenue of making myself look and feel great.
If I’m being completely honest, a majority of all of my clothes are from thrift stores. I haven’t really shopped at a clothing store in a while. I’m such a hoarder of clothes, I just have a lot of clothes and I don’t really need more, and when I want more I go to thrift stores. Everything I wear is something I’ve modified in some way or I’ve gotten from a thrift store. I used to wear a lot of H&M, GUESS, and ZARA, but then I began reading about fast fashion, especially within the past three years of TFN doing more work in fashion sustainability. I’ve done a complete 180 with my shopping habits.
MODEL - CHESTER WILSON III
MUA - MASON GREGG
STYLIST - GRACE T.
PHOTOGRAPHER - ISABELLA ZHAO
VISUAL FROM WONDERLAND - ISSUE 06 |
FALL 2020
MODEL - CHESTER WILSON III
STYLIST - EMILY LUO
PHOTOGRAPHER - JOSE HERNANDEZ
It’s kind of how I start my day, and I’m kind of really picky about clothes. Whenever I put on an outfit and I’m like “I don’t really like this” or “I really like this,” I feel like the root (whether or not it’s good for me) of all my confidence is how I build myself in the morning. Fashion has become an avenue of making myself look and feel great.
I definitely didn’t really have my own personal style for a bunch of years. Fashion has become a further exploration of myself. Once I went to college and went through TFN, I was able to establish my own fashion identity. There’s always a way you can infuse a bit of yourself into style, which is what I really like about fashion. It’s malleable. It’s like cooking.
I would say Iris Van Herpen is one of my favorite fashion designers because their dresses are really modular and flowy. I don’t know how to describe it but they look not real. I just love when fashion does that, when clothes look like they aren’t clothes, when they are. It’s fascinating when clothes become shapes, I just love that.
I feel like I should do more of that, but I’m more into isolating really bold colors into my style right now. I’ve worn so many black, gray, and muted tones for so long, especially during middle school and high school. Once I came to college it was like BOOM, I can wear color! And now I’m walking around in lime green pants and bright pink sweaters. I just love the harsh clash of colors, very much like the Disney aesthetic of many colors and patterns at once, not so much the multiple layers though. But like they really had a thing for color, and I like my jeans to be bright and colorful.
It’s different! I thought I was really pushing the envelope. I am not pushing the envelope at all. People here dress really, really cool, and I’m always trying to subtly take pictures of peoples clothes so I can memorize them. It’s very much like I walk outside and I just have my notes app open, and I’m kinda just like ok write down the brand of this and write down the type of jacket etc. It’s just so cool, and people are so unafraid to wear things. Everyone either wears all black or the people who wear an outfit or put it together really PUT IT together. It’s just mind blowing sometimes.
MODEL - CHESTER WILSON III
MUA - MASON GREGG
STYLIST - GRACE T.
PHOTOGRAPHER - ISABELLA ZHAO
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING TFN?
Do it! Just do it! wait let me be more specific...
It’s such a confidence booster. It’s just a really lovely collection of people that has gotten so big. If you are ever even the slightest bit curious of what you would look like in a professional picture, being styled, looking your best, DO IT! If you are ever just not really having a good day, a little TFN photoshoot will perk you right up.
A thank you to the Art + Design Building, Sibel Center for Design, & Country Arbors for allowing TFN to use their spaces.
CREDITING INDEX WILL BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK, BY FRIDAY, MAY 12TH. THE ENTIRE MAGZINE WILL BE REUPLOADED/REPLACED WITH THE COMPLETED INDEX VERSION.
